Help Eva make her dream come true at AMDA New York

“All you need is 5 seconds of insane courage and it can turn everything around. Just go for it!” My friend was repeating this to me for years on and last year, this is exactly what happened.

Hi, my name is Eva, I am from Zagreb, Croatia and my friends would describe me as a small-town-girl with a big dream.

My dream is New York, precisely The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York. And let me illustrate the journey of how this became my dream.

Three years ago, my self-esteem was non-existent, I started a treatment for eating disorders and trying to cope with everything that has brought me to that low point. I was also a psychology student imagining how one day I will help all those young people like me who were struggling inside for years not being able to express themselves and feel safe and acknowledged.

Then I signed up for my first musical theatre class and gave everything I had. I started to embrace all my differences and tried to see them as my assets not my deficiencies. As I was growing and accepting myself as a performer, two years later I had and opportunity to participate in a workshop organized by AMDA in Zagreb. Something clicked for me there and in the middle of a workshop the sentence from the beginning had a big influence. “All you need is 5 seconds of insane courage and it can turn everything around. Just go for it!”.And I went for it! I applied for an audition and after just two days I was performing in front of the AMDA representatives. I got in! I got a big scholarship from them; my audition was a success, and they were as excited as I was to start classes next year! I immediately saw all the potential in this not just for me but also for everyone that can relate to my story and see something in it. I genuinely believe that AMDA is a right school for me and that I am the perfect asset to AMDA because I know how much I appreciate this opportunity and how far I can go when I commit to something completely.

But recent global pandemic and unexpected events affected my already ambitious plans for financing.

In Europe pandemic came in March, we were in a complete lockdown and as we were struggling to adjust to this stressful situation, a huge earthquake hit Zagreb and made an already hard situation somewhat unbearable. We had suffered a huge financial loss and I went to my mom’s house outside Zagreb to have a safe place to live through all this. Also, I was at the time getting my bachelor’s degree and it was just impossible to get a job or keep one. With pandemic my mothers’ job was at risk and incredibly low income. She is trying her best and is highly creative in making her way out and still provide for us. I am also doing everything I can to help with finances and save money, but everything is very uncertain and there is no safety net currently to catch on.

My goals and my aspiration of becoming an artist, fulfill my dreams and give back have helped me push forward. And now I need your help. Help me show everyone that nothing is too big for us if we are determined, dedicated and going with our gut. Of course, you have to be a little crazy too.

My aspiration will always be to help other young people express themselves and their full potential but now I realize in what way that can be achieved and I cannot wait to see all the beautiful things coming out of this opportunity!

Thank you for every one of your donation and for seeing a potential in me!