Behind the Scenes: How Students Balance School and Acting
It’s Oscar weekend!
The 2013 Oscars begin this Sunday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Actors, actresses, directors, costume designers, and more are up for awards for making films such as Lincoln, Life of Pi, and Les Misérables.
Among the nominees is Quvenzhané Wallis, who played the leading role of Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild. At the age of nine, she has become the youngest actress ever to receive a Best Actress nomination.
Quvenzhané’s situation is certainly extraordinary. Today’s young actors experience the excitement of auditioning, performing, traveling, and building their careers early in life. But their busy lifestyles usually don’t fit the steady routines of going to school.
A great solution to balancing school with a demanding acting career is to attend a virtual school. Because most learning is done on a computer, students in virtual schools can study at home or even away from home. Some of these aspiring Oscar nominees attend Connections Academy. Take a look at our list of students below to find out how they balance school and acting.
Riley Rydin
Riley is a 12-year-old sixth grader at Capistrano Connections Academy (CapoCA). Originally from Oregon, Riley now lives in North Hollywood with his parents and grandparents. He has acted on Disney shows such as Zeke and Luther and even had an appearance on Modern Family. During the week, Riley juggles schoolwork with auditions and spends his free time writing, swimming, and riding his bike.
Katie Burgess
At age 13, Katie is an eighth grader at Oklahoma Connections Academy (OKCA). She has acted since she was seven years old, both onstage and in films. A gifted and talented student, Katie especially likes how virtual school allows her and her family to travel.
Colette Spencer
Like Katie, Collette is also a 13-year-old eighth grade student. She attended Louisiana Connections Academy (LACA) and spends time acting in New Orleans. Collette has worked on two films in the area, and sometimes she does her assignments on the set.
Megan Wright
Megan was an 18-year-old senior at Louisiana Connections Academy. Although she lives with her parents in Mandeville, Louisiana, she also spends time in California pursuing acting. She appeared in the Nickelodeon sitcom How to Rock and has also done some commercials.
Ashley Argota
Ashley is a graduate of Capistrano Connections Academy. Before landing the role of Lulu on Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP, she stared in Bucket & Skinner. Ashley’s first job was a commercial for The Jungle Book 2, followed by roles in Disney’s hit traveling musical The Lion King and TV shows including iCarly.
Do you plan to watch the Oscars on Sunday? Which nominees do you think will win? Share your opinions with us below!
