
My life has never followed a traditional path. I’m a multi-passionate individual, and I’ve never subscribed to only one, singular pursuit. I’m incredibly restless and curious about the world. Feeling stagnant or doing the same thing over and over is like a death sentence for me. It probably doesn’t help that I’m diagnosed with ADHD, so I need constant stimulation to feel calm. As the daughter of an immigrant, my only choices of career were in business or STEMI. I’m very cerebral, emotionally intelligent, and very hands on, so I thought that nursing would be a good fit for me.
From Healthcare to Filmmaking
Cut to 10 years later from my first year of being a nurse, and although it was difficult, I cannot say it was a total waste. It taught me a lot about the real world and real trauma. I have so much PTSD from nursing, I could probably write a novel about it. And that’s even before the COVID pandemic in 2020 occurred. I never stayed in one speciality of nursing for more than a couple of years. I’ve worked in ICU, med/surg, behavioral health, chemical dependency, a wellness center, home health, and even an electroconvulsive therapy unit. One that set me apart from my fellow nurses was my very neurodivergent brain, always seeking out new, efficient solutions to problems and a high tolerance for stress and multitasking.

I felt incredibly guilty by starting to feel uninspired by nursing, finding it to be not all I thought it was when I entered. My dreams of feeling appreciated and feeling like a hero were unmet. I painfully struggled in the first few years of nursing, training myself to think like a healthcare professional. Deep inside, I’ve always been a closet creative, but it’s not something encouraged in the STEMI field. Creativity can sometimes be seen as risky, a red flag, an unpredictable variable.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
Like many, I was inspired after the pandemic to look more within for what my true passions were. I pursued a side hustle of marketing for a time, but found that even that had its challenges. I thought marketing was yet another “safe” type of career I wouldn’t be embarrassed to share with my family. I knew I needed to find “safe” people who would give me space to be myself. And that’s how I ended up on MeetUp.com to find other creative groups where I could nurture my free spirit. It felt almost like divine timing to have stumbled upon the Collective’s enrollment meeting so early on in its inception. I was certain I wouldn’t be accepted considering I had NO BACKGROUND in filmmaking. Why on earth would they accept a nurse?

Filmmaking was always a creative medium I never allowed myself to consider as a viable career path. My parents steered me away from anything in the arts, seeing it as an unattainable dream meant only for the hyper talented, rich, and connected. Filmmaking is my passion because I am incredibly invested in stories. As a nurse, listening to everyone’s story was my greatest privilege and nourished my soul, even during times it felt like nursing would break me. I loved how filmmaking could make you really see and feel different perspectives. I loved the magic being created by groups of people, pooling their talents together.
What Surprised Me About The Film Industry
Let me tell you something that surprised me about the film industry: if you are able to be organized, professional, and flexible, you are already suited to be in the industry, even if you have never worked on a set before. I was accepted into the community based on the passion I showed in my application for storytelling and my previous creative work in marketing. And although I was a beginner, I quickly found myself taking important roles in the community. My skills as a nurse weirdly suited me to the chaotic environment that is filmmaking. I’m able to manage people, plan ahead for contingencies, be accountable, and quick to communicate. These skills are apparently universal, no matter what field you’re in. There’s a shocking amount of information about camera equipment and filmmaking that I could just watch for free on YouTube. This reinforced the idea that I don’t have to go to film school to become a filmmaker.

What I've Learned in my First Year in Filmmaking
What I’ve learned in my first year in filmmaking is that anything is possible. If you really want something made, nothing can stop you. You just have to take a chance on yourself. Making social connections with other creatives changed my life. You may think there are no avenues that lead from your industry to another, but that isn’t true. There are people and organizations out there that exist to help people trying to break into the industry, you just have to go for it. And if it doesn’t exist, you can take the initiative to make it happen. I never would have predicted that a year ago I’d already have experience being on a film crew for a music video and for a short film, getting hands-on experience doing crafty services, being a production assistant, creating a shot list for behind-the-scenes, and producing a short film. I’m so excited for every single wild, crazy, unpredictable production to come and all the ways I’m growing as a person.
Take the Leap!
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