Career Roadmap
Christopher Abram's work combines: Acting & Theatre, Entrepreneurship, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Aliso Niguel High School
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science and Government, General
University of California-Irvine
Bachelor's Degree
Near and Middle Eastern Studies
University of California-Irvine
Bachelor's Degree
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
University of California-Irvine
Graduate Degree
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
New York Film Academy
Certification
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Actors:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
In 2003, the U.S. was starting to ramp up military action in Iraq, and I decided to enlist.
2.
I was only a junior in high school, so I had to graduate and turn 18 before I could actually serve.
3.
Two weeks after graduating from high school, I started boot camp.
4.
I served in the Marine Corps Active Reserve while I was simultaneously taking college classes.
5.
I went into active duty in 2006 and was deployed to Somalia.
6.
When I came home, I went back to school at the University of California, Irvine.
7.
After graduating from UCI, I didn't really have anything lined up in terms of jobs or grad school.
8.
I took that opportunity to dive right into the world of acting, which has always been my passion.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You? A Marine? An actor? You're crazy.
How I responded:
I often felt like I had to stifle my artistic side in front of my family and peers. In the military, there was a certain persona you were expected to embody, so I always chose not to bring up my interest in the arts. Part of that stemmed from the fact that my parents had trouble accepting my passions: they didn't think I could be a Marine, and they thought I was flat-out crazy to pursue acting. I think my military service made me incredibly resilient, so that "noise" doesn't affect me as much.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I'm the son of first-generation Egyptian and Greek immigrants. My parents brought us up believing the only things that mattered were church, school, and finding a good career, so it was hard for them to accept that I chose to pursue my interests.