From Law to Acting: We Spoke to Students Who Dared to Follow Their Dreams

Changing your pathway is easier than you think.

This post is presented in partnership with NIDA.

It can be tough to decide what you want to do at uni (especially if mum and dad are putting pressure on you to choose a particular course).

So, if you’ve been studying something that simply isn’t right for you, you’re definitely not the only one. However, the thought of drastically swapping uni courses can be pretty daunting.

That’s why we spoke to Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting student Adolphus Waylee, and Diploma of Stage and Screen Performance student Joshua Kempen from NIDA about how they swapped courses to pursue their dreams.

Before following their passions at NIDA, both Adolphus and Joshua took other university pathways. They completed their degrees and started their careers, but they felt like something was missing.

“I wasn’t fulfilled in a way, so I felt that emptiness of not pursuing what I was passionate about,” Adolphus tells Student Edge over the phone.

“I experienced firsthand what it feels like to do something that you know in your heart that you’re not meant to do and it’s definitely a lot worse than having a slightly unstable job,” Joshua says.

Both Joshua and Adolphus knew that they wanted to pursue a career in the arts from a young age but pressure from society, friends and family made it difficult to choose the courses they were passionate about.

“I wanted to be an actor; that was the first thing I wanted to be when I was five or six, but then I did law and after law I actually became a full-time musician,” Joshua says.

“Performing arts since I was a child has always been something that I’ve been passionate about; something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s my go to place where I’m the truest expression of myself,” Adolphus explains

(Image: NIDA)

Despite the pressure from family and friends, both students changed their career pathways and followed their dreams in performance art at NIDA. 

While it was difficult at first, their loved ones came around and are now fully supportive of their ambitions.

“The stability of law was something appealing and I fully understand how that was something that my parents and my family would want for me,” Joshua says.

“It honestly took years for my family to get around the fact that I was going to be an artist going forward. I think I had to convince them as well, show them how committed I was.”

“I was fearful of disappointing my family. I’m a first born and an immigrant, so usually you have that pressure, and I always have it at the back of my mind that I have to set an example for my siblings,” Adolphus highlights.

“It’s just the expectation in my culture and performing arts was just far from the profession I knew my family would find acceptable. My family came around and accepted that and they support me now.”

Not only has following their passions given both Adolphus and Joshua a new career to aspire to, but their classes, teachers and experiences at NIDA make them excited to get up each day and practice their craft.

“I am happy to get to class every day, rehearsals, I’m at school every day, I take care of myself so I’m not ever sick to miss any class because it’s something I really want to do; something I enjoy," Adolphus says.

“I love how much I’m learning. I had pretty high expectations because I’d heard a bit about NIDA but it—almost in the first week—exceeded those expectations,” Joshua points out.

“With just how challenging it was and how much we were learning genuinely every single day, you don’t want to miss a class while you’re here. You just learn a huge amount.”

Following your dreams is often hard, especially if your fam isn’t supportive and the career pathway is highly competitive.

However, if you’re tossing up one or several passions, both Adolphus and Joshua can confirm that it was one of the best decisions they’ve ever made.

“I think the thing that I really needed to know within myself before I switched over was that it’s really never too late to change your life. I think for a long time I thought it was too late and that was kind of a hopeless feeling,” Joshua says.

“The second thing to know is that you really do need to be really very accountable for your life if you hope to succeed in some sort of artistic endeavour.”

“I wish I did it way earlier, I wish I didn’t do my first degree, I wish I went straight into performing arts because no one knows where I could have been,” Adolphus tells us.

“I would say go for it if it’s something you are certain you are passionate about, something you definitely want to do, something you love and you just have a drive for.”

If you’re studying a course that just isn’t your thing anymore, why not check out some of NIDA’s creative and artistic courses and pursue a passion you’ve always dreamt about?

You can also find out more at their Open Day (on campus and online) on Saturday 12 June.

Header Image: Supplied