There’s a version of success I used to imagine that looked clean and linear: go to college, focus on classes, graduate, and then step into the professional world fully prepared. But that version didn’t account for what happens when the “professional world” starts knocking while you’re still in the middle of your education; when auditions turn into contracts, and suddenly you’re not just a student studying acting, music, and psychology… you’re doing it. For real. Now. Working as a professional actress while finishing college as a double major in music and psychology has been one of the most rewarding, and honestly, one of the most destabilizing, experiences of my life.

On one hand, it’s everything I’ve wanted. Building a network, collaborating with directors and performers, gaining real-world experience: these are things you can’t fully replicate in a classroom. Every rehearsal room has taught me something new, not just about performance, but about people, discipline, and the industry itself. I’ve learned how to take direction quickly, how to adapt when things change (because they always do), and how to advocate for myself in professional spaces. These are skills that make me a stronger artist and a more confident person. But here’s the part people don’t always talk about: while your career is accelerating, your academic life doesn’t slow down to match it. If anything, it becomes harder to keep up.

There’s a constant tension between being present in your professional work and staying afloat academically. Rehearsals run late, classes meet early, assignments pile up, and suddenly you’re making impossible choices. Do you spend the night memorizing lines or finishing a psychology paper? Do you miss a networking opportunity to study for a music exam? Or do you take the risk and fall behind in school to say yes to an opportunity that could change your career?

For me, that tension has been overwhelming at times. I’ve fallen behind in classes in ways I never expected to. There have been moments where I felt like I was failing at being a “good student,” even while succeeding professionally. And that disconnect can really mess with your sense of identity. You start to question: Am I doing this right? Am I sacrificing too much?

The truth is, there isn’t a perfect balance. At least, I haven’t found one.

What I have found is that navigating this life requires a lot of honesty with both yourself and with others. Professors don’t automatically know you’re juggling a professional career. Communicating early and often has been crucial, even when it feels uncomfortable. Some professors are incredibly supportive when they understand what you’re managing. Others are less flexible. Learning to navigate both responses is part of the process.

I’ve also had to redefine what “success” in school looks like for me right now. It’s not always about perfect grades or staying perfectly on track. Sometimes success is simply getting through a week where you showed up—to rehearsal, to class, to yourself—in whatever capacity you could. That doesn’t mean lowering standards forever, but it does mean recognizing that your path is different, and that’s okay.

One of the most unexpected challenges has been the mental load of constantly switching identities. In one moment, I’m an actress in a rehearsal room, fully immersed in a character and creative process. In school, I’m a psychology student trying to analyze research or a music major preparing for a performance or exam. Both worlds demand focus, energy, and emotional investment. Moving between them isn’t seamless. It’s actually pretty exhausting. And yet, there’s something incredibly powerful about existing in both spaces.

Studying psychology has made me a more thoughtful actress. Understanding human behavior, emotion, and cognition deepens the way I approach characters. My music training strengthens my performance skills in ways that give me an edge in auditions and roles. And my professional experiences bring a level of real-world perspective back into my academic work. Even when it feels chaotic, these parts of my life are feeding into each other.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that sustainability matters. Saying yes to every opportunity might feel right in the moment, but it’s not always the best long-term choice. Learning when to say no, whether to a project or even to overloading your schedule, is just as important as saying yes. I’m still figuring it out. I don’t have a perfect system or a clean resolution. But I do know this: pursuing your career while finishing your education is messy, nonlinear, and deeply challenging, but it’s also incredibly meaningful. Because at the end of the day, I’m not just waiting for my life to start after college. I’m already living it.