Support Timmy’s MFA!
Fundraising campaign by
Timmy Ong
-
US$875.00raised of $50,000.00 goal goal
Hey, this is Timmy here! (TL;DR version below!)
I am a working actor in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I have been performing on a part-time basis, while keeping a corporate job, for the past 6 years. As I am not a performing arts graduate, I took the time, and the advantage of having a stable income, to hone my skills and build my artistry.
While I am grateful for everything I have learned in a corporate environment, I know from the start that my day job is not my dream job. Now, my desk job's contract is about to expire, and I feel more ready than ever to make the jump and be a full-time performer!
A New Chapter
As the first and biggest step of my new chapter, I have decided to go back to school to earn an MFA in Acting. This is because pursuing the post-graduate program is in line with a few goals of mine:
1) To further sharpen my tools as an artist
2) To build an international network to work globally when I graduate
3) To earn a qualification that allows me to teach and nurture the next generation
The Effort and Results!
I have been working on going back to school since 2018, and I am very happy to say that it is coming to fruition! I am absolutely grateful to be accepted into:
1) East 15 Acting School, London (Immediate admission right after my audition!)
2) The Actors Studio Drama School, New York City (Also immediate admission right after my audition!)
3) The New School of Drama, New York City
Currently, I am still weighing my options, but I am more inclined towards studying and living in the Big Apple. However, the cost of attending any of these prestigious schools is not cheap!
This is me exploring downtown Manhattan after my successful audition with The Actors Studio Drama School!
The Problem
At the moment, combining my savings from six years of being in a corporate job, some help from family, and scholarships and financial aids from the schools, I roughly have enough funds to cover the first year (about $50,000). But that is basically all the money I have, and I will have to quit school after that due to the inability to support myself studying and living abroad!
Furthermore, the sum of my current funds does not meet the requirement to apply for a student visa, because the universities have a blanket estimation of cost of attendance ($70,000) that is much higher than the actual fees ($50,000).
The Request
Therefore, I am starting this campaign to ask for your support to pursue this journey of mine. The plan now is to raise enough funds to:
1) as an emergency move, fulfil the student visa requirement
2) as a longer term, forward-thinking move, partially or fully cover the second year of study, while I find more ways to cover my the third/final year!
It doesn't matter if you are able to contribute a small or big amount; any amount is greatly appreciated, because the money directly goes into:
1) The tuition fees
2) The cost of living in a foreign city under a student visa!
Thank you so, so much for your help! Your support means the world to me, because it directly helps me in my career change and pursuit of happiness!
Kindly share this with your friends and family, and anyone who you think can give me a hand!
The TL;DR Version
Hey, this is Timmy here! I am a working actor in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who has been accepted into some amazing acting schools, and I need your monetary support to qualify for a student visa, and if possible, pay for my second year of school! Thank you so much for your support, and kindly share it with anyone else who you think might want to give me a hand!
What's Next?
I know there must be lots of questions regarding all the what, why, where, when, who, and how of this story! I will try my best to illustrate all of that through weekly updates! Please subscribe to these updates to gradually find out more about this story!
Meanwhile, follow me on these platforms to get a bigger glimpse of what I have been doing regarding this journey!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heytimmyhere
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCULC5o-AGiVZyS8kJ...
This is me walking back to my lodging after a long day of callback audition and networking meeting with The New School! And yes, that is the Empire State Building in the background!
Rewards
Organizer
- Timmy Ong
Donors
- Anonymous
- Donated on Jun 14, 2019
Best wishes to you Timmy! We are sad to see you leave but very happy for you and look forward to hearing of your new adventures.
- Anonymous
- Donated on Jun 14, 2019
One Month Anniversary!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 10:30 pmYesterday was my one-month anniversary of going to school in NYC! 🗽😱 Although anxiety on financial responsibilities for October is eating me up, I just want to take a moment to celebrate my small win of not just surviving but living in NYC in a balanced manner! I'm mostly timely. . . . .
It's Happening!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 04:37 amSorry I disappeared! I have just been through packing, moving, flying, more moving, Orientation Week, and I am almost done with my first week of classes!It is all taking a lot of me, but it is also all very exciting, and I am learning a ton!Having said that, I am. . . . .
What's Next?!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 08:35 amNow that my visa has been approved, aside from housing and flights (which are getting expensive! 😬) and preparation for the other end, the biggest immediate task to do is actually to move out of my room/residence of six years! So many things to sort and pack to toss or. . . . .
Visa!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 04:24 pmThose who have gone to the US Embassy in KL before, for any sort of visa interview would know that paper I'm holding. It contains the instructions to collect your passport. Which means...Yes! 🔥 My student visa has been approved! 😱 The preparation leading up the appointment seemed never-ending, the. . . . .
Forward!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 10:24 amYes! 🔥 Things are finally going somewhere! 💪 With a little help from my brother signing as a "sponsor", and after getting new documents from banks to prove the liquidity of my not-so-liquid funds, my I-20 has finally been issued! 🙌It is now being shipped to KL, and once I. . . . .
Concert!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 02:57 pmIf you don't know yet, I am holding a small, intimate little concert to help with my fundraising! It will also be a small farewell show if everything is successful and I am able to fly over to NYC in August! ? Also, I have gotten new documents from a. . . . .
I Need To Move It!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 08:37 amToday, it really hit me that I really need to do more and move faster if I want to make it to school! So much anxiety but I'm going to use that to fuel me!Incidentally, sharing a new video this hump day! A "miracle story" of my audition for The
Rejected!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 06:47 amI am very lucky that this only happened at the first stage liaising with the school (to obtain the I-20 for the F1 student visa) and not the embassy. But the story is, because I am feeling anxious and pressed for time on the visa application, I put in everything. . . . .
Progress!!!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 04:59 amAfter pooling together my financial resources, from mutual funds to EPF to savings to the donations both online and offline, I am now about $12,000 away from qualifying for the student visa!!! 💪 Please keep the donations coming, and reach out to me if you have more ways to raise. . . . .
New Video: My Audition for Columbia University and DePaul University!
Update posted by Timmy Ong at 09:01 amHere's Part 2 of my audition adventure in New York City! 🗽 This covers my audition for Columbia University and DePaul University! Be sure to subscribe to follow the rest of the series!
Donors & Comments
- Chacko Vadaketh
- Donated on Jul 31, 2019
All the best Timmy in getting to the New School. I did a summer program there in acting, film making and directing! Wonderful to be in the heart of the Village. You have the talent and drive to do great things!
- Anonymous
- Donated on Jun 14, 2019
Best wishes to you Timmy! We are sad to see you leave but very happy for you and look forward to hearing of your new adventures.
- Anonymous
- Donated on Jun 14, 2019
- Anonymous
- Donated on Jun 14, 2019
A small angpow to you. Best Wishes.
- Thuan Chye Kee
- Donated on Jun 11, 2019
- Lorenzo Hardy
- Donated on Jun 04, 2019
You got this Timmy!! So much has happened for you since our BITS day, hope you’ll soar higher! Don’t forget me ya if you make it to Broadway hahaha. 😘😘 - Lolo
- Anonymous
- Donated on May 31, 2019
Goodluck in pursuing ur dreams Timmy!
- Yunchuan See
- Donated on May 27, 2019
Timmy! Here’s a small amount though it probably can’t help much. You’ve been moving on so much with life to the place that you wanna be at and it’s just gonna be greater paths and challenges ahead. Just wanna let you know your courage and perseverance is kicking ass and I wish you all the best!
- Anonymous
- Donated on May 26, 2019
- xyz
- Donated on May 24, 2019
Timmy, all the very best!! I look forward to seeing you perform someday :)
Followers
Support Campaigns
Create a support campaign in seconds!
Support campaigns allow you to get your own fundraising page dedicated to 'Support Timmy’s MFA!'
You'll have your own unique link that you can share, and all funds raised will go directly to 'Support Timmy’s MFA!'. It's the ultimate way to show your support!
Create support campaign
All the best Timmy in getting to the New School. I did a summer program there in acting, film making and directing! Wonderful to be in the heart of the Village. You have the talent and drive to do great things!