Help Jerik Master His Craft @ UW

What’s good everyone. My name is Jerik Fernandez and I am an actor, sound designer, and DJ.

I am a first generation Filipino-American which usually entailed getting nagged with encouragement to get into the medical field. But I always knew there was something in me that leaned a little more the opposite way. I started as a bedroom DJ my sophomore year of high school. Through the years I became a member of a mobile DJ crew and DJ’d countless events in the Bay Area. By the time I finished high school, I had DJ’d for over 30 high schools in the Bay Area for proms, homecomings, weddings, etc. My goal was to become a radio DJ.

In community college, I took a voice class to improve my skills on the mic. Fortunately, a teacher saw potential in me as a performer and encouraged me to audition for the school play and eventually a conservatory for acting training. I quickly realized creating theater wasn’t so different from DJing at all. You are given the privilege to take a room on a journey with you. To move others. To allow them to move me. The similarities between DJing and the theater were/are apparent. Storytelling, connection, and a shared human experience.

I am a storyteller. I always have been. The last decade has seen me go through conservatory acting training, a Bachelor in Fine Arts, and acting/sound designing for theaters in California and Seattle.

In a fortuitous turn of events, I've been selected to be a part of the University of Washington's MFA in Acting program. It has been one of my long term dreams to be a part of a top grad school program since I started doing theater.

4 years ago, I was asked why I wanted to get into grad school. I didn’t have an answer I could fully stand behind. Today, I understand that my willingness to exist in the creative spaces that create stories for the masses can help others to have a point of identification. Representation matters. Now more than ever.

An MFA from the University of Washington would ultimately be for my community. The youth in my community. I was lucky enough to find a path that allows me to express myself fully as a career. I don’t want the youth back home to be lucky, I need them to be tended to. Grad school would give me more tools to help me create avenues for that.

If you’re reading this, I’ve probably been lucky enough to be helped by you to get to this point. And I am infinitely grateful. But I’m gonna need your help one more time. Or if I don't know you, you might just want to help a homie out! I appreciate that as well. I know times are tough but if you’ve got any extra change to throw at me, it would help make this transition into grad school a little (A LOT) smoother. Thank you thank you thank you.

***My school schedule will have me in class from 9-5 and rehearsals from 6-10. Unfortunately, I will not be able to have a job during the school year.***

Expenses you’d be helping with: 

-Groceries 

-Bills (wifi, utilities, phone etc) 

-Gas 

-Laundry (no in unit ) 

-School supplies (Books, journals, rehearsal clothes) 

-Personal care (hygienic products, toilet paper, etc)

P.S - Young Hot Thespian is THE Regime. The Takeover Is NOW.

One Love.

-Jerik

Venmo: @jerik-f