Do you remember my friend Karissa Wheeler? We got to hear from her experience being a Christian and an actress who was moving in NYC in Dream Big: A Chat w/ Karissa Wheeler.
Well, she’s awesome.
And now she’s living in NYC and doing that acting thing. And I’m so proud of her!
Let’s check back in with her to see how her 1-month acting conservatory at Michael Howard Studios went!
. . .
Quinnterested: How long have you been in NYC now?
Karissa: 3 months!
Quinnterested: Tell us about your acting school experience!
Karissa: It was INCREDIBLE!!! I really can’t even put into words how transformative the experience was. It pushed me mentally, physically, artistically and emotionally in all of the best ways. I was able to make lifelong friends as well, which was a cherry on top of the sundae.
Quinnterested: What did a typical weekday look like for you, while you were in the conservatory?
Karissa: I would wake up at 7am to get to the subway station with my friend Connie by 8:10am and then make it to the studio by 9.
We had three classes a day of everything from improv to clown to animal to Meisner to Alexander…all technique focused. It was really all-encompassing and concentrated at the same time. Incredible training and fantastic instructors.
Quinnterested: That’s so cool! Now that you’ve graduated from Michael Howard, why are you staying in NYC?
Karissa: I really feel like the Lord has called me here. I am ultimately just being obedient to what I feel like He’s telling me to do at this time in my life.
Quinnterested: Love it. Ok, how do you balance being in such a busy, wild city with maintaining decompression time for God and yourself?
Karissa: I’m still in the learning process honestly. I’ve surrounded myself with faith-based relationships, so that’s been a huge source of encouragement to stay rooted in the Word. My new church home is FANTASTIC! Worshipping and the teachings on Sundays have gotten me through the past two months. I’m still going through the Annie Downs devotional “100 Days to Brave” which has been encouraging as well. OH! AND THE DAILY BIBLE READING I’m doing with you!
Quinnterested: Yes! If anyone wants to join us in the daily Bible reading, check out the “Read Through the Bible” plan on YouVersion!
Quinnterested: Now that you’re living in NYC, how do you make friends/build community?
Karissa: I was really blessed to have a community through the studio, but outside of that, I have a really good friend, Allie (also from Nashville), who has been the biggest blessing throughout this season! She and I got plugged into an awesome church which has made Sundays our absolute most favorite days. Aside from that, I’ve moved in with some incredible roommates who have taken me in under their wings and showed me so much love. I’m super grateful!
Quinnterested: If/when you have bad days, what do those look like, and what gets you through them?
Karissa: This last week was really difficult. I was coming out of conservatory and didn’t really have a strict schedule throughout the day, so I really had to turn to my community–my family, friends and mentors. I probably called like 5 or 6 of my mentors and kind of word-vomited my feelings. They were all so gracious and supportive, as were my friends and family. My friend Suxin actually drove into the City to have dinner with me which was super needed–definitely a God thing!
Quinnterested: What advice would you give to someone who’s just getting to the city to pursue acting, like you were three months ago?
Karissa: Just do it…get up, go to the audition, go to the class, meet the people. There will be really hard days…and really good days, but you just have to remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. Keep a vision of your purpose and your end goals in mind. Remember your why.
I hope you’re inspired by this sweet friend’s step of faith! I know I am.
I’m thankful to know and be encouraged by you, Karissa!
Hey guys, show Karissa some love and encouragement today!
When I think about our friendship, I kind of have to laugh at how weird and cool God is. Karissa and I met at a callback almost 10 years, and have been friends pretty much since then. But we’ve only hung out in-person a handful of times! It just cracks me up how a dear sister-in-Christ and digital pen-pal can be someone I spend so little in-person time with!
There’s so much I could say about Karissa:
She’s a talented, driven actress and singer.
She just graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of the South with a double major and a minor.
Oh, and she’s moving to NYC in less than a month to be a full-time acting student.
But, more than anything, Karissa is a child of God who desires to be a vessel for Him, to love on and impact the world.
Karissa is a world-changer, no doubt, and I’m so thankful to have her in my life.
To all the “real people, not actors,” I’m thinking God’ll use this to touch you, too.
Karissa, you’re such an inspiration. Thank you for being you!
Quinnterested: What’s your dream?
Karissa: One of my biggest dreams is to go into this [entertainment industry] business and to be a light for the Lord…whether that’s in theatre/tv/film. You’re given talents and you’re supposed to use them.
Quinnterested: Why do you want to be a light?
Karissa: I think that, as Christians, we’re called to be light. And I think that everything is a ministry. You don’t have to be a preacher to minister to people. You don’t have to go to Bible college and get a degree in theology to be able to shepherd people to Christ.
My grandfather, who was a pastor, would always say, “Everything is a ministry.” Hearing him say that really stuck with me and made me open to any sort of career where I could be a light.
Quinnterested: How have you already pursued being a light in the industry?
Karissa: When I was choosing colleges, I wanted a place where I could grow as a performer and I also wanted a place where I could grow my faith, and grow emotionally, spiritually…all these facets of being me. Choosing the school that I chose gave me the opportunity to do that.
Even though I didn’t choose to go to the schools that focus solely on performing, I was still focusing on performing, but not just on performing. It was four formative years where the Lord showed me that my identity is in Him, and not in being an actor.
I’m reading this book right now–Rooted: The Hidden Places Where God Develops You, by Banning Liebscher. It’s about not rushing the process of growing and developing into…the God-given dream that you have.
That’s something I struggle with: trying to rush the process. The Lord is like, “Karissa, you need to take a step back, to take a deep breath, and you need to listen to what I’m saying and not jump the gun and do it all on your own, because I have a plan and your steps are ordered.”
Quinnterested: What’s your dream role?
Karissa: Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
Quinnterested: Has anyone ever discouraged you from pursuing your dreams?
Karissa: Yes…especially with careers in the arts, people are very discouraging…because it is a very hard business, and it is a business that doesn’t pay a lot all the time and it isn’t necessarily secure…But, when you know what you’re supposed to do and what the Lord has called you to do, you have to do it, no matter what anyone says.
Where He leads you, He will provide.
Quinnterested: What steps should someone take to pursue acting?
Karissa: Classes are a must. I was taking a master class, and [the teacher said], “I still take class every week.” Training is the base of what you’re going to do.
-Your body is your only instrument in this profession, so taking care of your body as your temple is also a must.
-Work ethic is huge. Somebody recently told me that, in the business, you can have talent, but, if you don’t have a work ethic, you’re not going to get anywhere. Drive is super important.
-Just [have] a love for art and storytelling and for sharing your character/story with the audience to invoke that empathy. And hopefully that storytelling will change how they’re viewing that situation, or even change the world!
-Trusting the Lord: I think faith is so important, SO important in this profession. I would not still be pursuing it if I didn’t have my faith. There’s no way. Being told “No” is something that you have to get used to in the business. If your identity is in the Lord, your identity is in being a daughter.
You’re going to be told how/who you should be, but you have to hold true to who you are in Christ and in who He’s called you to be.
Quinnterested: What would you say to someone who feels led to the arts but is scared to pursue it?
Karissa: There’s like a fire in me that knows that it has to burn and change the world! I have to! I have to!
If you have that, and you have a work ethic paired with it, and you feel God calling you to that [the arts], then those are the three things that should let you have peace in the decision. A lot of it is passion, but a lot of it is Him making a way for you, and trusting Him through the rejections and periods of no job.
It’s a trust thing, but you should definitely pursue it.
Quinnterested: What’s one thing you’re working on in yourself right now?
Karissa: Trusting that His timing and where I am right now is where I’m supposed to be, [and] working towards patience and peace in that. This season is weird. It’s not at all what I expected upon graduation.
I think the biggest thing I’ve had trouble with is that I want to be a world-changer…right now. But the Lord says, “No, this is a step and this is a step and this is a step.”
Quinnterested: Who’s your favorite Biblical character?
Karissa: Esther. Her story is a reminder that the Lord’s plan is one that is good, and that He took one person and changed the world through her obedience to Him!
. . .
Are we noticing a theme? I think yes. Karissa, God is already impacting the world through you, and I don’t see that stopping. You keep embracing the child of His that you are, and He’ll keep doing what only He can do. What a combination!
Karissa, thanks again for doing this interview!
Friends, please be praying for Karissa as she embarks on this new journey and follows where God leads her!
Hannah and I have been friends for around…5?…years (math is hard), and, earlier this month, she moved to YWAM’s (Youth With A Mission’s) Kansas City branch to work with students at the base. Hannah has been involved with YWAM for a few years now, and I’ve been blessed to see her grow a ton! She is bravely willing to speak truth in love and has a beautiful relationship with Jesus.
Let’s all be more like Hannah.
She also dropped some major truth bombs throughout our interview, so put on your inspiration glasses (what?), and let’s GO!
Hannah teaching in Tanzania
Quinnterested: What’s your dream?
Hannah: One of the dreams I’ve had is to be a missionary. That’s something that started when I was a little girl, and something that I’ve never really felt qualified to do. And so, up until this point, I just didn’t think I’d be good at it, so I didn’t do it.
In 2017, during DTS (Discipleship Training School) at YWAM (Youth With A Mission), someone said: “God didn’t call the qualified, He qualified the called,” and that really put things into perspective for me; That it wasn’t so much about me actually being qualified to do it, but about me having the desire to say yes to the Lord and His plan for my life.
Quinnterested: What does being a missionary mean to you?
Hannah: Being a missionary means that I am sharing about God’s love everywhere I go. It doesn’t always mean saying Jesus’ Name or talking about God. It’s just that I’m always loving like God would, and sharing His love with other people.
Quinnterested: Has anyone ever discouraged you from pursuing your dreams?
Hannah: A little bit, especially with long-term planning. At first, my dad was really nervous about me being at YWAM, because he didn’t want my needs to not be met. But, as the year went on, he started to see the Lord provide. He is still nervous at times, but not as nervous, because God keeps following through on His promises. As a whole, my family is very supportive, but I know that there are some concerns about long-term plans and if I will have everything I need, being in missions. I have the same concerns, but I’ve seen the Lord provide in ways that I’ve never seen Him before, because of the needs that I have.
Quinnterested: What would you say to someone who’s afraid of pursing their dream?
Hannah: I would say go in fear. And what I mean by that is just don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams even when you’re afraid. Even if you’re terrified, you’re still growing even while you’re doing it.
Quinnterested: How does your faith help you be fearless?
Hannah: Getting into the Word and really proclaiming the truth about what God says about you has been really powerful.
Quinnterested: What’s one thing you hope you learn in this next season of pursuing your dream?
Hannah: I want to get better at friendship. and pursuing other people above the goal/task/whatever else is going on.
Quinnterested: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Hannah: I tend to be a goal-oriented person, instead of a people-person…my mind works in to-do lists, and it’s hard to measure people’s progress in checklists. I want to keep learning how to love them in the way that they need, and not so much in the way I need.
Say again, please?
I want to keep learning how to love them in the way that they need, and not so much in the way I need.
Don’t we all?
Thank you, Hannah, for doing this interview with me!
Friends, please commit to praying for Hannah as she embarks on this new, exciting time of her life! As a friend at church pointed out the other day, “We know a real missionary!” 🙂
Each week of the series, we’ll get to hear from someone in my life who…
1. Has a dream
2. Is actively pursuing that dream
We’ll also hear what they have to say on their relationships with Christ, and on the relationship between God & their dreams.
I really hope we all learn from these fabulous people.
(I might be *slightly* biased, but I think they are indeed fabulous.)
. . .
This week’s interviewee is Margaret Tant.
Margaret is a very dear sister-in-Christ to me. We’ve been close friends for about 3-4 years now, and she is such an inspirational, joyful blessing to have in my life.
This was a super last-minute interview, but I’m so glad I got to interview her!
If I may be so bold (I mean, you literally put this in bold, so that doesn’t seem like a problem for you, Q), please stay until the end. We had some very special guests “hijack” the interview, and their responses are quite good.
I love this family.
Margaret as Rebecca Shackelford in Remember the Goal
Setting the scene: We’re sitting in comfy chairs in Margaret’s living room.
Two very active on-lookers/commentators (namely, Margaret’s 14 and 8-year old sisters) join us.
I’m playing my daily Spotify mix in the background. It’s a lively time to be alive.
Quinnterested: What’s your dream?
Margaret: Pursuing film, something to do with music, and [to] write a book someday.
Quinnterested: How do you feel about those dreams?
Margaret: Really excited. I always have wanted to do stuff in politics, but, the more acting I’ve done, I realize that that might be my dream, more than politics.
Quinnterested: Why?
Margaret: It’s just something about singing and acting [that] is freeing–it’s liberating. This is so cliche, but you just can express yourself in a way that you can’t with anything else.
Quinnterested: Why do you think you gravitate towards those creative outlets?
Margaret: Again, it’s cliche, but I like telling stories and being able to recreate characters in my own unique way. Rather than picturing how a certain actor would portray it, I want to portray it in my own way.
Sometimes acting is not acting. I’m learning how to truly act and respond in a way that’s authentic to yourself. Don’t think about how Chris Hemsworth might read this script–think about how you read it.
Quinnterested: How have you seen God open doors for your dreams?
Margaret: Obviously the first big role ever was RTG (Remember the Goal), and that was honestly a God-thing, because it honestly just fell in my lap. I was busy, and my friend just texted me about the audition, and I was like, “I’ll audition.” …I didn’t think I’d get it. That was honestly the biggest door that opened, and I think I also realized my passion for [acting].
And, since then, [another open door is] just having good people around you and a great network who care about you as an actor–my agent is constantly giving me tips.
Quinnterested: How do you take steps to pursue your dreams?
Margaret: I submit for everything I can find that seems good. I use social media a lot to navigate all that. You have to always be on top of it and seek [opportunities] out.
Quinnterested: How do you find the balance between pursuing acting jobs and letting God lead?
Margaret: I feel like it’s really hard to hear [God leading], unless there are certain circumstances where you can see that. If I got the opportunity to do a film but there were scenes that I wouldn’t want to portray, that would probably be my boundary.
Quinnterested: How do you draw those boundaries?
Margaret: I mean, gosh. I wouldn’t want to portray anything that goes against the Bible. It has to line up with biblical principles, and there’s no compromising on that. But that doesn’t always mean just being in the Christian film industry, because I think you can make an even bigger impact in Hollywood.
Quinnterested: What impact do you want to make?
Margaret: Just a positive, uplifting impact. I want to speak truth.
Quinnterested: Tell me more about the book.
Margaret: Good question. I’ve always wanted to write a book of some sort. I don’t think it would be a biography…*Margaret inserts straight-forward comment about how she thinks her life is, apparently, boring (note: it’s not)*…but maybe about an opportunity I had, or about how something impacted me in a certain way. I don’t know what it would be on. *Margaret continues to brainstorm* Or maybe a devotional.
Quinnterested: Has anyone ever discouraged you from pursuing your dreams?
Margaret: Honestly, we’re all our own biggest critics. I haven’t vocalized that dream [of writing a book] to a ton of people, because I know it’s a dream that will probably happen later, because I’m not focused on that right now.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten flack from people. But, I will acknowledge it’s not an easy process–making your dreams come alive. You can’t really listen to other outside voices–you just kinda have to go for it and ignore those other people.
Quinnterested: What one word/sentence would you share with someone who’s afraid of pursing their dream?
Margaret: We’ve all been afraid at some point of doing something or starting something new. You can either live in that fear for the rest of your life, or just go for your dreams right now, [saying] “If I fail, I fail.” I don’t even like saying it’s failing. Failing is just [part of] the journey. I would just say go for it. We’re all scared of stuff…don’t be afraid of failing. If you are, you’re not gonna go through with what you’re gonna do.
Quinnterested: Anything else?
Margaret: One more thing about fear: Once you push through your fear, it’s very liberating. There’s a lot of freedom on the other side of that. If you get through one fear, your confidence level goes up.
Quinnterested: How does your faith help you be fearless?
Margaret: Most people who are afraid to fail. But your identity is not in your failures, or in what you’re trying to do. Your identity is in Christ. You fail everyday; That’s inevitable. I think [it’s important to] just realize that, at the end of the day, your failures don’t define you.
. . .
At this point, Margaret’s sisters were pretty much answering every question while Margaret was.
So we thought it’d be a good time to turn the tables and hear from them.
Quinnterested: Anything you have to add?
Lauren (14): My dream is to become an EMT, just because I love it and I want to help the world in this way. I don’t care if I’m famous or not. I’m not very grossed out by the sight of blood.
In the future, I think there’ll be more robots working than people. I could totally like go against everything–how they’re going to change the world. If people right now pursue their dreams, some people have dreams that they can actually help the world stay how it is now.
When you want to pursue your dreams, it will help the world, no matter what you want to do. If you want to become a health inspector at a factory–that can really help the world. Do it. Pursue your dream, no matter what it is. *Spoken from the heart* (Lily Kate, Margaret’s 8 year-old sister, sarcastically comments)
Lauren (cont.): Whenever I have a dream, I go for that dream. I don’t let anything stop me.
Yeah, well, you’ll see. If I fail, *I don’t think I have yet* Lauren matter-of-factly comments, I will start again, and then keep trying until I do it.
Like Thomas Jefferson with the lightbulb. *Wait, did he do the lightbulb?* We then pause and have an anxious discussion about who invented the lightbulb.
Lauren (cont.): He tried 100 times, I think, and then, on the 99th time, he got it right. Look at us now: We’d probably lived in a pitch black world. He literally changed the world. If I stick with my dreams, I could change the world.
*Lily Kate (LK), who, technically, was promised an interview before Lauren was, decides to add her questions to the interview mix*
LK: What would your dream be if you could do it at home?
Lauren: Homeschool your kids
LK: Can you go to private school?
Lauren: Yeah, but they’re still not the best place.
LK: What inspired you to be an EMT?
Lauren: Well, I really like the medical field, and I’ve seen a lot of shows where the nurses are stressed out–I can deal with that stress. I could totally operate surgery. Of course, I’d be scared if the patient I’m operating on died, but I wouldn’t be stressed out–I’d be calm the whole time. Calm is way better than stress. Calm is when you’re thinking about what you need to do and it’s good. Stress is when you’re like thinking about what could go wrong. It’s not the best thing to have on your mind when you’re doing a really serious surgery. Obviously I can’t go work in a hospital right now, but, being an EMT right now—you don’t have to be a trained nurse to do it. If you’re in a situation where you see someone who got in a really bad car accident and you can fix that, and the ambulance won’t get there in time and you know they’re gonna die, helping them could either save their life or not do anything. Like, I could be doing EMT work now–hospitals and ambulances are not everywhere.
We snuck in Lily Kate’s interview before she went to take a bath (and to belt loudly, radiating passionate lyrics from the second floor to the rest of the house, while preparing to bath).
Quinnterested: What’s your dream?
Lily Kate (8): To be a famous gymnast. I do [think I can pursue my dream]. Well, I taught myself how to a cartwheel at four and a round off at four.
*Lauren has now taken over asking similar interview questions, so I can focus on typing…or just because she wanted to…Either way, I’ll take it.*
Lauren: How have you taken steps to pursue your dream? [And maybe another question?]
Lily Kate: Right now, I just want to practice it so whenever I am famous, I can be really good and not mess up. Also, I’m trying to save up [money] to turn our toy room into a gym room.
Lauren: [Something about how being a gymnast will affect LK’s life]
Lily Kate: It’ll affect me by a lot, because you can win a lot of stuff, and I like winning.
Lauren: What do you like about it?
Lily Kate: I really like it because it’s risk-taking, which I love doing, but it’s also safe, because you have mats, but whenever you move up you don’t, so that’s the risk-taking part.
*It’s a little spicy. Got a little kick.* Lily Kate comments on the chicken she’s eating on a fork like a popsicle right now.
Lily Kate (cont.): I want to prove to my sister that I’m actually a good decorator for cupcakes.
*I believe that you’re good, but just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that accidents aren’t gonna happen. If I have this whole blueprint in my mind, I get very–*
*–protective*
*–protective about it…*
*Back to the interview*
Lauren: When you pursue your dream, what is your end goal? Gymnastics is not really life-saving. What are you gonna do with your dream when you live it out?
Lily Kate: Whenever I live it out, I will probably go into more baking than gymnastics. Just because that’s like the only thing that’s keeping me good. I wanna do baking with my free time, because whenever you do gymnastics and you’re in competitions, you have to do a lot of traveling. If I have the time i will probably bake, but it just depends on how many kids you’ll have. Because, if I’m away, then I don’t have to take care of them.
(Inspired by Lily Kate’s matter-of-fact comment on kids, I extended the interview a little to hear about another dream these three sisters all have.)
Quinnterested: This is a little off-topic, but you all want to get married. What do you look for in a future husband?
Lily Kate: Um, funny. And nice. Cute. Someone I like. *Squeaky giggles*
*Good qualities* Margaret comments
Lily Kate (cont.): Someone that I can have in common stuff with.
Lauren: You don’t want to have too many things in common to where all you do is the things you love. You do want to kinda go off-road and try new things. For example, I want to be a mom, bake, and be an EMT. If he likes other things, then I can like choose to go along with those, if I want, but they’re just more options.
Quinnterested: Other qualities?
Lauren: Sarcastic, like me. But not too sarcastic, where you’re not even sure if he’s being sarcastic or not. I am pretty sarcastic most of the time, but sometimes I am serious. Funny….
Definitely a Christian, but some people are like super Christian; Literally all they do is spend their entire day with this routine. We are given a world to enjoy, and we should actually use the things we are given for praising God instead of all the time praying.
I think the best way to end this most-interesting interview is to leave you with an original (at least, that’s what we’ve been told) quote from—you guessed it—Lily Kate.
“Wishes come true, but not all of us live the dream.”
-Lily Kate, 8 years old
Feel free to do with that what you will. Just remember, you’re on this earth for a reason, and God has given/will give you everything you need to do what He has for you to accomplish.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
What’s your dream? Comment below with how you’re pursuing it!
Quinnterested 