Today we’d like to introduce you to Chiara Nicole Gero.
Chiara Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Zagreb, Croatia – I moved to the United States when I was 18 years old to start my college career. I knew I wanted to go to America when I was pretty young – my father is American and I was always under the impression that I would be able to thrive more so here than back at home.
I studied sociology and theater, in the beginning because I did not really know what I wanted to do, but then fell into what I love doing right now. I decided to move to Los Angeles when I graduated college. I did not know what I wanted to do, but I did know that I wanted to get away from the East Coast for a while. I moved to LA with no job, no apartment and really no plan, but I wouldn’t change my journey to where I am at right now for the world, for it taught me hard work and perseverance, but most of all belief in myself and hope for the future.
There were so many days and weeks in the first year of my life in Los Angeles where I truly did not know if I was on the right path or if I was strong enough to do what I intended on doing. It took really hard work mentally and emotionally to be able to push myself to continue finding out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be in my life, but that emotional labor really is extremely tiring and difficult, especially for recent graduates who do not have a set out career path right from the start. My anxiety shocked me because I was fortunate enough to not struggle with it in previous years. But what also shocked me was the amount of support I had from the people I love and care about the most, my family, my friends… They helped me understand that it is okay to not know exactly where I am at and where I am going. I am currently working part-time in Los Angeles while I pursue acting, and I finally feel as though I am paving a path that makes sense, which keeps me going and excited for what is to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. I think no road is smooth if it is a road you’re passionate about taking. As I mentioned, I struggled with feeling like I did not have a set out path for myself. I have incredible friends, a group of 5 women, and each one knows exactly what they want to do in life and are passionately pursuing it. Having such an amazing support group has pushed me to work hard, but it has also challenged me to not compare myself to other experiences and other journeys. I would say that has been the biggest struggle since graduating college – understanding that other people’s experiences and success does not equate with the lack of my own success. When you’re in college, you really do think that life after graduation will not be as difficult as it is – and then you’re shocked a bit. If you focus on others, you lose sight of your own journey and your own hard work. I still struggle with that to this day, but I have made an effort to remind myself every day that it is okay to be on the path I am right now!
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I studied acting in college, but I have been singing and dancing since I was three years old. I started music school really young, and I studied dance for about 16 years. I knew I always loved performing, so when I started studying theater in college, it just felt right. I would love to be able to continue to make art and perform and teach through theater and film, but I am also very interested in directing and production. There is something about being in the room where the material we put out in the world is decided that is inviting. Hopefully, my drive and my passion set me apart from others in the business. I have always been a feminist and an equal rights activist, and very outspoken about what I believe in – and I believe that art (film, movies, TV) have the ability to change and shape cultures and public perception. This can be dangerous, but it can also be so monumental. I hope to continue to work in a way which will allow stories and voices that usually might not have a platform to have a voice in this world.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Kindness. I don’t think there is enough of it in this world. When we lead with kindness, there really is no stopping us. The acting industry can be ruthless, but being able to be kind to people and kind to yourself is what I think is important in order to succeed. Even if I do not succeed in what I set out to do in life right now, being kind to myself is knowing that no matter what, I will be okay! Sometimes we push ourselves too far and fail to be proud of the hard work we are currently doing. Also, remember to be kind to anyone and everyone. We are all going through something and you never know just how much you can brighten someone’s day by being open to them!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiaranicolegero/
Image Credit:
Janis Yue
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