Fulfiling My Dream
“I know one reason I did so well is because of the help and encouragement I received from Deseret Industries.”
Since I was a little boy, I have wanted to be a performer. I taught myself how to play the guitar and piano. While growing up, I performed for family gatherings, church and community events, and at local establishments. I love to perform in front of others, but admittedly, I don’t know much about the industry. After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was unable to find a job and needed help finding direction for my life. My bishop referred me to Deseret Industries.
At DI I worked as a retail associate and was trained in customer service, merchandising, and cashiering. I also took classes that helped me develop my interpersonal, leadership, and decision making skills. Merchandising and cashiering gave me renewed confidence for speaking with customers and improved my salesmanship skills. My work also taught me the importance of following directions and staying on task.
More important, however, was the support I received from my job coach, my development specialist, my mentor, and the other staff members at DI. While many with whom I have shared my dreams of becoming a performer wrote them off as fantasy, the staff at Deseret Industries supported and encouraged me to take active steps towards goals that would help me learn about the entertainment industry. They also discussed with me the importance of acquiring skills that could provide a living while I wait to break into the entertainment field.
I had completed my training to be certified as an interpreter when I learned that “La Academia,” a Latin version of the popular “American Idol” television show, was having open auditions in Los Angeles. I auditioned as a singer and was selected as one of the performers to go to Mexico City to train and compete in the show’s 10th season. I continued through the competition and made it into the finals, finishing in fifth place. What an honor to have been able to compete and make it so far. I know one reason I did so well is because of the help and encouragement I received from Deseret Industries.
“They also discussed with me the importance of acquiring skills that could provide a living while I wait to break into the entertainment field.”
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