From Scrubs to the Runway

Nursing to Hollywood

Jessica at her first photo-shoot

By: Allison McDonald

Jessica Heidenreich, a junior at Kent State University is studying to be nurse. Jessica’s mother is a nurse and from a young age this career fascinated her. With a year and a half left of school she is changing directions drastically with her life. She is putting a hold on school and moving across country to Los Angeles, California.

Fork in the Road

Growing up in northern Ohio life looked the same for most girls. “I was always in this mindset where my life was planned; go to college, get a job, work, get married, have kids, etc.,” Jessica said.

She explains what the normal life of a girl from Ohio would look like. Until one day she decided that the life she had planned for herself wasn’t the life she wanted to live. The only word that comes to mind when thinking about this type of life to Jessica is “settling.” At this moment, drowning in chemistry books, she decided it was time to change the direction her life was going. “I knew it would be now or never, I felt that I was at a fork in the road.  I could either let fear take over and finish school and eventually make my way out to California,” she said. “Or, I could take the road untraveled, where I buck up, make the move to LA, work really hard, and do my best to follow my dream.”

The Road Untraveled

Jessica at a cast after party with actress Victoria Justice.

With the ultimate decision behind her Jessica is finishing out this semester of school and planning for the move to Los Angeles. The plan is to pack up and drive across country to LA late May, early June. She will be living with her cousin who already lives there. Once she arrives Jessica plans to find a part time job to support herself, but the majority of her time is dedicated to making her dreams comes true.  “I will have a list of every LA agency ranked in order of my favorite to least favorite, and go on every open call and meet with these agencies, show them my portfolio and what I have to offer, and hopefully nail a contract with one of them,” she said. 

Its Your Life so Own it

Goofing around before a shoot.

In the hopes of being signed to an agency Jessica is determined to do whatever it takes to make her dreams a reality. She is a strong-minded individual but has let others influence her life for too long. It’s time she took matters into her own hands. “I’m relieved that I finally made a decision for me, not based on anyone else’s thoughts, feelings or concerns but my own,” she said.

 It’s not everyday someone comes across a girl like Jessica. Her unmatchable beauty may be daunting to some, but she rivals that by being one of the most down to earth, kind hearted human beings you will ever meet. Her drive and motivation over powers anything that stands in her way. “ This is a very exciting adventure I am about to embark on,” she said. “  It has the potential to make or break me, it has the potential to be magic or misery, but I will try my best and cannot wait for the outcome.”

With a loving, supporting family behind Jessica is ready to take on the world and make a name for herself. “I encourage anyone with a dream to pursue it, because you have one life, it’s yours, so own it.”

Question	Answer
Inspiration:	Hannah Davis, Freja Beha Erichsen, and Alessandra Ambrosio
Aspirations:	Make a decent living while modeling/acting, all while eventually getting my degree.
Free time:	Listening to music, I take lyrics to heart and make the music my own by incorporating it into my life and my situations.
What is it you will miss the most:	My friends and family in Ohio. They have shown me love and support and encouragement since day one.