Bouncing Back
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Kylee, nice to meet you. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I was so moved and inspired by other stories that I told myself to just try. Struggle has just been a part of my life ever since I could remember. Growing up with a single mother, I understood this earlier than most, but I still always had what I needed. Recently graduated and living on my own has proved no different. My bills exceed my income, but somehow I manage to pay most of them on time. I'm currently at a job as a hostess which is ok at best. This means money is coming in, but not enough of it. I’ve been applying to various jobs for years and was lucky to be hired on as a face painter, balloon twister, and princess performer, but the jobs are not consistent.
Which brings me back to my to why I need this money.
I have such a passion and drive to become a special effects makeup artist as a long term career goal, and have also started to get more into cosplay (costume play) which highlights and praises various artistic work through pop culture in a professional way. Both of these things are costly as I want to produce the best work I possibly can in both areas to showcase my talent in reagards to special effects makeup and collabrative talents in regards to cosplay. My low income makes it hard to pay bills as is, let along try to find the best way to showcase high quality talent with little to no means. Not to say this can't be done but it has really been a struggle. Yes one could argue that these are "hobbies" and to just go without but becoming a special effects makeup artist has been my dream and remains so to this day. I'm a creative type and understand the meaning of hard work and doing the means to an end thing. I'm doing that now. But in order to continue in that world I need my creative outlet and I need to feel that I am not wasting my precious time on Earth being miserable but getting by some what ok. I’m stubborn and strong willed and don’t normally ask for help, let alone help of this nature. But looking at the reality of my life at the point, I’m ready to let that stubbornness go and ask for assistance.
This money, for me, would be a fresh start and a real sense of financial security that I rarely have. Along with my bills, I provide all my own supplies for the face painting and balloon-twisting job I have with a princess company. Being an aspiring special effects makeup artist, and I supply the materials for that too. Both the face painting and special effects makeup are expensive because they are the top products in the industry to use. It would also be nice to take a master class or something to further my skills in effects makeup and face paint artistry. Bills and supplies aside, I would like the opportunity to see a dentist and try and keep the rest of my health in good condition. It’s embarrassing to admit that I've let years go by since my last my visit, even with the help of obama care having some cushion for some unforseen cost would be a breath of fresh air. But with other matters right in my face to deal with, going to the dentist was not at the top of the list. Lastly, and very importantly, this money would allow me to have a financial safety net. Just for those sudden, “I-didn’t-expect-that-to-happen” moments which everyone is all too familiar with.
All that said, I’m very blessed to have the life I have. I have great friends, a degree under my belt, and a passion for special effects makeup that has kept me driven. I’m very excited to see where it will take me and hope all of you can enjoy the results on the big screen some day. Struggles aside, I shall “keep on keepin’ on” as my late grandmother would tell me. I will march forward with my held high and a smile on my face. So there it is. Put out there into the universe for all to see. I’m so grateful you took the time to read my story. Thank you.
About my Journey
Ever since I was a senior in high school, I wanted to be a special effects makeup artist for film and television. It happened on a whim; no one volunteered to be the head of makeup and hair in my play production class, so I did. Little did I know that that would be the decision that would change my life. I went to community college and took a stage makeup class that only got me more excited for effects makeup. In the midst of taking classes and researching special effects makeup schools, I realized you couldn’t major in special effects makeup. It is seen as a technical trade. I made a difficult decision to major in something close to that, so I could have a degree which would allow me to be eligible for better paying jobs in-between the blockbuster projects I hope to be attached to. During my schooling, I did keep busy working on various USC grad films and learning from talented people. I even designed my senior thesis to be all about special effects makeup because I’m all about spreading awareness. Now, working for the princess company allows me to perform and still be creative with makeup, which I really enjoy. It’s fun to see the kids’ expressions when revealing the face paint design, creating a balloon design, or when I arrive and am the princess they wished to see for their birthday. It’s an unfortunate reality that all these skills require expensive supplies, but that’s the way it is. That said, I’ll never stop pursuing my dream, because it’s my passion and what makes me happy.
Feel free to check out my website too!
www.kyleenorfleet.com
Which brings me back to my to why I need this money.
I have such a passion and drive to become a special effects makeup artist as a long term career goal, and have also started to get more into cosplay (costume play) which highlights and praises various artistic work through pop culture in a professional way. Both of these things are costly as I want to produce the best work I possibly can in both areas to showcase my talent in reagards to special effects makeup and collabrative talents in regards to cosplay. My low income makes it hard to pay bills as is, let along try to find the best way to showcase high quality talent with little to no means. Not to say this can't be done but it has really been a struggle. Yes one could argue that these are "hobbies" and to just go without but becoming a special effects makeup artist has been my dream and remains so to this day. I'm a creative type and understand the meaning of hard work and doing the means to an end thing. I'm doing that now. But in order to continue in that world I need my creative outlet and I need to feel that I am not wasting my precious time on Earth being miserable but getting by some what ok. I’m stubborn and strong willed and don’t normally ask for help, let alone help of this nature. But looking at the reality of my life at the point, I’m ready to let that stubbornness go and ask for assistance.
This money, for me, would be a fresh start and a real sense of financial security that I rarely have. Along with my bills, I provide all my own supplies for the face painting and balloon-twisting job I have with a princess company. Being an aspiring special effects makeup artist, and I supply the materials for that too. Both the face painting and special effects makeup are expensive because they are the top products in the industry to use. It would also be nice to take a master class or something to further my skills in effects makeup and face paint artistry. Bills and supplies aside, I would like the opportunity to see a dentist and try and keep the rest of my health in good condition. It’s embarrassing to admit that I've let years go by since my last my visit, even with the help of obama care having some cushion for some unforseen cost would be a breath of fresh air. But with other matters right in my face to deal with, going to the dentist was not at the top of the list. Lastly, and very importantly, this money would allow me to have a financial safety net. Just for those sudden, “I-didn’t-expect-that-to-happen” moments which everyone is all too familiar with.
All that said, I’m very blessed to have the life I have. I have great friends, a degree under my belt, and a passion for special effects makeup that has kept me driven. I’m very excited to see where it will take me and hope all of you can enjoy the results on the big screen some day. Struggles aside, I shall “keep on keepin’ on” as my late grandmother would tell me. I will march forward with my held high and a smile on my face. So there it is. Put out there into the universe for all to see. I’m so grateful you took the time to read my story. Thank you.
About my Journey
Ever since I was a senior in high school, I wanted to be a special effects makeup artist for film and television. It happened on a whim; no one volunteered to be the head of makeup and hair in my play production class, so I did. Little did I know that that would be the decision that would change my life. I went to community college and took a stage makeup class that only got me more excited for effects makeup. In the midst of taking classes and researching special effects makeup schools, I realized you couldn’t major in special effects makeup. It is seen as a technical trade. I made a difficult decision to major in something close to that, so I could have a degree which would allow me to be eligible for better paying jobs in-between the blockbuster projects I hope to be attached to. During my schooling, I did keep busy working on various USC grad films and learning from talented people. I even designed my senior thesis to be all about special effects makeup because I’m all about spreading awareness. Now, working for the princess company allows me to perform and still be creative with makeup, which I really enjoy. It’s fun to see the kids’ expressions when revealing the face paint design, creating a balloon design, or when I arrive and am the princess they wished to see for their birthday. It’s an unfortunate reality that all these skills require expensive supplies, but that’s the way it is. That said, I’ll never stop pursuing my dream, because it’s my passion and what makes me happy.
Feel free to check out my website too!
www.kyleenorfleet.com
Organizer
Kylee N.
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA