* 1 Step Closer To A Dream Come True… *

Hi, my name is Mary Liu and I am 15. I have dreamed all my life to be able to become an amazing actor; One who can bring happiness, laughters,and tears to the people who watch me and share my deep, burning love for acting with the world!!!  Now that I have the amazing opportunity to go to Hollywood, Los Angeles to train at possibly The Second City this summer, I wouldn't miss it for the world! It would mean everything for me if I could go on this trip! It would help me get the right professional training and foundation to become a better performer, and bring me just that one-step closer to fulfilling my ultimate dream!!! Even just being able to go to Hollywood would be the best thing that I would ever wish for and the best place to start training towards my dream goal!

The Second City summer program runs from July 15th to August 2nd 2013, (approximately 3 weeks) which means that finanacially, I would need to be able to support myself for 3 weeks which would be pretty much impossible without financial support! I would have to find housing for three weeks, pay the tuition for the program, save up food money, and also pay for the plane ticket as I am currently living in Vancouver, Canada.

My parents are trying their best and working extremely hard every single day to try to support me and make my dream come true. Seeing them come home everyday from either all night shifts, or a whole day of working all stressed out and tired makes me really sad, and I just wish I could do something to help them feel better and relieve some stress as they have committed their whole lives to giving me the best that they can and raise me to be who I am today. My mother is a single mother who does her very best to raise my 10 year old brother and I for the past 9 years. She has given up everything for us, and I love her so much with all of my heart!!! Even though my parents are divorced and I may not have the perfect family since there are and have been many extremely difficult and complicated hardships throughout these years, it is perfect for me. Both my mom and dad love me with all their heart and would do anything in the world just to see me happy!!! Without what they have sacrificed for me, I wouldn't even be close to even having thoughts of maybe one day being able to accomplish and achieve what I want in life.

I do know one thing for sure though. As hard as my life may get, nothing will stop me from working my butt off to achieve what I'm working towards! I am an extremely hard working person and I don't give up easily. Once I have set my heart on something, I will work at anything to make it the best I could ever wish for! I have also been dancing ever since I was 4, and I love it a lot as well. During the year, I usually train on average 25-30 hours a week. I can push through all the pain that I have to face and will keep challenging myself towards the new hardships that come along. Whether it's music, dance or acting, without it, the world would be so plain! It look me a long time to realize this, but I've finally realized that I wouldn't be able to survive without the supernatural force of 'magic' that acting brings in. It is the only thing in the world that lets me express myself in all the ways possible, whether through movement, speech, or facial expressions, there is no limit!!! I love it so, so much and I really hope that things in my life will work out and allow me to follow my heart and where it leads!!!

Thank you so much for taking your time to read this! You don't know how much I appreciate this!!! If there is anyway that I can be supported to make this trip possible, I would greatly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, and feel so greatful!!! This would really be the most amazing, once in a life time opportunity ever for me to explore and improve who I want to be!!! Thank you so much again!!!!!!

Here is a basic breakdown of the costs I would have to cover:

Tuition: $750 USD

Housing: approx. $700 USD

Food: approx. $150 USD (I will use as little as I can on this and work my way around providing enough food for myself.)

Plane Ticket: approx. $400-$450 USD