"Nothing worth doing is easy." My highschool teacher, mentor, and dear friend gave me these words of wisdom my senior year, and over the last three years of struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs, I have found them not only to be full of unparalleled truth, but have had them become my mantra- my battle cry, and my source of strength at the end of an impossible day. 

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Hannah Maryjean Hartman, I grew up in Carson City, Nevada and was raised by the most inspirational and perservering woman I have ever known. My mother raised me and my four brothers alone and started a restaurant 15 years ago with absolutely no clue what she was doing. That little dream of hers has now become the heart and soul of our town. Leaving the comfort of that place was the first of many difficult things I would have to do to create a life for myself out of nothing, just like my mother. 

I first moved to Los Angeles with $120 in my bank account, everything I owned packed in my 1994 Subaru, and no idea how I was going to tackle the city. All I knew was that the only thing for me in this world is acting- no plan B, no failsafe. The only option was to not lose sight of what I wanted. It's been a wild few years that have certainly always kept me on my toes.
From unconventional living situations: living on a boat, living above a garage, and sleeping in a closet in Koreatown; 
To grueling work schedules: 6 months of working 7 days a week, 80 hours a week, and now working two jobs;
There have been many times where I just wanted to give up and go home to my family and an easy life where I wasn't terrified and tired all the time. 

But in the midst of the turmoil there are moments of true beauty that seem to crack open my chest and breathe life and hope back into me: the constant love from my family, the support I find in my lifelong friends, and the unending and always surprising kindness of strangers. 

The unsolicited kindess of strangers is perhaps the only thing that has kept me here and able to pursue this career and further my education. I could not write a list of all the people and moments that the universe has gifted me with- always at the time when I'm about to give up. It is because of this that I now turn to you, and ask for a little more help. 

Six months ago I was accepted into the Joanne Baron/DW Brown Studio in Santa Monica, training in their two-year program that teaches the Meisner Technique. The work has been incredibly confronting and absolutely life changing, and I would give anything in the world to finish my two years. I have seen myself and my classmates grow in such extraordinary ways- I can only imagine what the rest of the curiculum will do for me as an actor. 

The studio has been incredibly kind and understanding with my current financial situation- a young woman supporting herself in one of the most expensive cities in the nation and struggling to make ends meet. They have allowed me to make a payment plan and have time and time again made exceptions for my circumstance. However, scrimping by is not a way to live, and due to various circumstances, and despite working two jobs, I can no longer keep up with tuition. I have one and a half more years before my training is complete, and any little bit that you can give would help beyond measure. 

The last three years have strengthened my will and softened my pride, and I can promise that not only will I not give up on this goal, I will not take the easy way. I will do the things that are most difficult and live a life that is worth living. I will achieve this dream so that all of the sacrifice will mean something,  and so that one day, I can pay forward all of the kindnesses that have been given to me so freely and sweetly.  
I want to thank everyone in and out of my life for the things they have done to help me- with or without their knowledge. You all have changed my life.