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From
hospital work to Hollywood, The
Parkers'
Angelle Brooks shares some strategies
for finding and staying on top of your dream job.
Angelle's a True Survivor
by Feona Sharhran Huff
December 2001
The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- When
Angelle Brooks majored in sociology at the University of California-Los
Angeles (UCLA), she had all intentions of becoming a doctor -- that
is, until "organic chemistry kicked my butt," she confesses.
Angelle instead took the public health route, but soon found this
to be unfulfilling. She felt like she was in even more of a dead-end
situation when she later worked at a hospital.
"I didn't have a passion for working there," Angelle
admits. "I wasn't allowed to be creative and inventive in that
setting. It was stifling."
Despite her ups and downs, Angelle is quick to point out that if
it weren't for the experiences she had while in college and a serious
belief in her talent, she'd probably be doomed to a less than satisfying
career.
After dabbling in acting at UCLA and performing in church plays,
Angelle still hadn't thought twice about pursuing it as a career.
She did, however, long for that stage-struck rush of adrenalin and
even found herself going to auditions on her days off. Her hard
work-away-from-work paid off when she landed a role on an episode
of the now defunct Martin.
Hospitals and Hollywood don't always mix, though, as Angelle discovered
when someone informed her boss of her moonlighting job. She was
given an ultimatum to give up acting or find a new job. That was
the push she needed.
"There was no way I was going to give up acting," says
Angelle. "So [my boss] fired me on the spot. I had never been
happy to be fired before. I took a step out on faith and with money
I had saved, I entered an acting class. When the money ran out,
I got a job as a hotel operator."
Angelle also worked as a waitress to cover her class expenses.
"It was tough," she admits. "I'm not cut out to be
a waitress. It was embarrassing when people came in and recognized
me from acting. It was very humbling."
Eventually, Angelle started receiving bigger and better roles,
one of which was a recurring stint on the sitcom Malcolm and
Eddie, which starred Malcolm Jamal Warner and comedian Eddie
Griffith. She also landed a full-time role on the CBS soap opera
The Young & The Restless.
Then, Angelle experienced a 13-month dry spell of no work. "I
dropped out of acting class to save money and was living off of
residual checks and unemployment. I kept telling myself 'something's
gotta' pop.'" And it did. Angelle landed two simultaneous roles
on The Parkers and V.I.P.
If there was a course in Motivation 101, Angelle would definitely
earn an A!
"College teaches you how to discipline yourself; how to set
aside fun to get the job done," says Angelle. "You learn
how to work hard to reach a goal and how to deal with different
people -- people who have power.
"I'm so glad that I finished [college]. Even though I'm not
a doctor, the other stuff I learned is invaluable."
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