Welcome to the Creative College Journey podcast, the place to help raise awareness on the many pathways to a creative life and education and how college might be a part of it, because it's not where you go to school, but how you go to school that counts. Hosted by professional, creative, and college expert Scott Barnhart, who is chatting with a variety of guests who have some amazing lived experiences from different universities, majors and creative industry interests. And we hope by hearing their stories, it might help give you some inspiration to find your own creative college journey.

I am thrilled to welcome and have a conversation with my next guest today, the incomparable Ms. Bella Arnold. I've known Bella as a former student of mine from the Orange County School of the Arts Musical Theater Conservatory when I joined as the director of the program her junior year. And as I told her when I asked her to be a guest on the show, her journey through a higher education has been one that has delighted and inspired me to know, and especially knowing how it all started and the mindset where she was and where she is now. Bella Arnold is a journalist who is currently earning her master's degree at uc, Berkeley's graduate School of Journalism. Currently, she is a data reporter for the California Reporting Project at the Investigative Reporting Program where she investigates police use of force and misconduct in California. Absolutely Bella. Absolutely. Previously, she earned her BA from Cal State University Long Beach, where she was editor-in-chief of Dig Mag, an insider's guide to Long Beach for the Cal State Long Beach community. And I'm plugging this. Bella did not write this, but she is also a wickedly talented musical theater performer and vocalist, and she has one of my favorite vocal performances I've ever directed her rendition of. So what happens now in Avita was Joni Mitchell, stylistic perfection. She's shaking her head right now away. Like what's Stop it. Bella loves writing stories about books and people experiencing joy and in her free time, Bella likes to read like literally she's the most voracious reader I think I know. And she watches Romcoms and Pines for the 22 West Freeway. Welcome to the Creative College Journey, Bella Arnold

stop. That was so nice.

We gotta start right? We gotta start right.

I'm so

Bella, I am, I just want to start off with like, getting a little quick update. Um, where are you at right now? How are you doing? Like literally how are you right now? And maybe a little insight of how you currently identify as a creative and how maybe that relates to your life at Berkeley

Yeah. Well, I mean, like you mentioned, I am at Berkeley right now. I'm in my first year of a two year master's program in journalism. Recently I come from a magazine world, but I've been doing a lot of investigative work, like you mentioned in a California reporting project, which is like crazy. Like I kind of applied for the bit cuz I was like, oh, I don't know anything about investigative re like I've, I know how to, you know, do public records requests and absolutely love it. So weird that I do, but I love it. Which is like not a very creative process. Um, but it's like very. rigid in the sense that like, you're literally looking at data and also like we're reading police reports and stuff, like it's not fun work to do, but it's important work to do. And I, I don't know, I really fell in love with it, which is weird cuz like I am a literary beat reporter and culture reporter, so I, I don't know how we got here, but I, I guess it's not like the most creative thing, but it's a very like, invigorating thing. So yeah, that's kind of what I'm doing mostly in addition to my studies.

That's, incredible. I like, and I feel like there's always creativity in any form of research cuz you're, you're searching for the answer or you're like, I would presume like reading between the lines and trying to find out like what the story is. I, I just, I love that that's where you're at right now. In Berkeley? No.

I did too. It was like so random, but I had like, I just applied and I was like, I'm not gonna get it. And then I did, you know, thank God. And then it's been like super cool. My boss, my bosses are amazing. It's a team of women. Love that. Um, so

amazing. All right, so let's, let's get into it. This is all about college applications, how people got to where they are. So I, like I said, I worked with you back in the day working on some of your college applications and you did a really interesting thing cuz right down the middle of your list you applied to half really competitive BFA musical theater programs, mostly out of state. And then the other half really competitive academic pre-law programs, all instate in California. So can you give us a little insight of like that decision process and maybe what brought you to Cal State Long Beach?

Yeah. I don't know. I think like growing up, I don't know if this is still a thing, but like we did the star testing and the benchmark testing growing up and I always scored really high on those. So like, being academic, like became a personality trait cuz like I was, you know, I liked reading, always growing up and then I was like, good at those things. And you know, I've always liked academia and like academics, but, um, I kind of never like really had like one passion. Like I grew up doing ballet, I liked it. I wasn't great at it. I knew I wasn't gonna pursue that in the musical theater. I like really. Enjoyed the satisfaction that, like, I knew I was pretty good at it, so I was like, oh yeah, I could see that being something I want to do. But it was never, like, I never was fully in it cuz I was like, the thought of having to like go on auditions all the time and like not have job security was like, gave me like stress pimples. But um, yeah, so I kind of, my mom's an immigrant and I always wanted to find a way to like give back to the community that like raised me quite literally. So I was like, okay, I I can see myself being an immigration attorney. again, not that I like really had a passion for it, but I was like, I'll make a lot of money And also like, I, I think that there is value in that, obviously, especially the justice system is what it is. Um, and then the other half I was like, well I could do the musical theater thing. And I think that there was a lot of emphasis at OCSA from admin to. Go to college for the things that you were studying at OCSA. So I was just like, I don't know that I wanna put all my eggs in either basket. So I was like, I'll just, you know, apply to like, the best of the best programs. Like, I applied for Michigan, Carnegie, um, other places. UCLA was like the big one I wanted to go to. I think Elon and Emerson, I think that was it. And it was five and it was like five of the most competitive one. But I don't know, I kind of was just like trying to be pragmatic about it, but I was very like emotionally detached from it, which I think was like the root of, you know, where my issue started. That I was like, I'm okay at musical theater and I'm okay in the academic sense and like, I'm sure I'll find my way. in one of these things and like, I'll let the decisions decide for me. Um, and kind of was very like, clinical in my approach to that and thought that that would just like, shake out the way I wanted it to and it didn't. Spoiler alert, Um, but yeah, I don't know. I never really, I know a lot of people had like the big urge to like get away and like be on their own, but like I never really had that. I lived at home for most of my college career. I'm very close with my family and like, I love California. I'm big SoCal girl. Being in Berkeley is like too far for me. but yeah, so I never like for the schools where I was like being more pragmatic, I was like, I wanna be in California. And then Cal State Long Beach was like super random. I was like, my dad went there, other family members went there. Long Beach is cool. Like it was like a very common thing for people who lived, like where we lived to go to Cal State Long Beach and it was like a great school, but I was just kind of like, and it was like a throwaway application and there was no essay. So, Yeah, that was kind of my like, thought process for the college journey. And then, you know, we'll get into how it ended up, but

I mean maybe let's, let's, let's dig into it cuz I am, I am curious like, you know, I brought you here specifically because you had such an interesting response in that spring. I remember your response in the spring and there was a lot of really heightened emotions in and around, the decision making and where you were gonna go and who had said yes and who had said no. So like, take us back to 17 year old Bella you had done all the applications and the letters started coming back, what was going through your mind and what sort of, made you make decisions that you made?

I mean, I was devastated when things started coming back. Like, I tasted blood for like three months. It was, it was, it was not a good time for 17 year old Bella. And I think, like part of what was so devastating to me is that it was like, well, you know, for context, I didn't get into any of the musical theater schools I applied to. I applied to those five. And like, I knew it was like, you know, a fat chance, I guess just like in terms of statistics. But I was like, you know, I went to OCSA, like I prepped a lot for this. I did the bootcamp. I like spent a lot of time on my pre-screens. I passed all my pre-screens. So that was like, you know, not for lack of effort. But I was expecting to get like, at least wait listed into one school. And I didn't, I just got like straight up, rejected from all five. And I kind of like, like I said, I took a really clinical approach to like, making my decisions. I started making spreadsheets my freshman year, and I like started going to the counselor, um, like I don't remember who my counselor was, but like to talk about college freshman year. I was 14 years old and I was like, seven, three years I'm gonna have a big decision to make. You know, all of this like, it was like hours of effort that I had put into like being like, oh, well this is like a reach school, but like, is it really a reach school? Cuz I was, you know, conceited. And, I didn't get into any of them and like, the one that stung the most was UCLA because people were willing to kill at those auditions. People were willing to like do what it took to get into those schools. I never had that, like, not even an ounce of it. Like I was like, I prepped for this a lot. I put in the work, but I don't like care about this. Which I think was, you know, a big issue. But, I don't know. I think like when it started coming back I was like, oh my God, I did not think I would be emotional over this. But I think part of it was because I didn't think it would turn out the way that it did. I thought I was gonna get into ucla. I thought I was gonna live with my besties. We were gonna dorm together and then like get an apartment. I was gonna come home on the weekends and have lunch with my brothers. And that didn't happen. It was like a complete loss for me. And I, I had never told you this, but we had a vita rehearsal the day after the UCLA auditions or decisions came out. And I like told Kira to tell you that I had like a stomach ache or something and I skipped rehearsal cuz I was like so emotionally devastated. I was like, I cannot do this right now. And I got acrylics that day. That was like my fix for the first time. They're so ugly.

That was the treat. That was the was

Yeah, Yeah. I was like, maybe that'll help. And I'm like, it sure didn't because it was like a complete loss of who I was. I was like, oh my God, I don't know what to do now. Um, and I didn't get into a lot of the, um, law programs I applied to either because I didn't really like look into those programs. I was like, these schools are good, they're close. I'm sure the law program's gonna be fine too. Um, and at the end I got into Cal State Long Beach for pre-law. I think Whittier College, I think I was also pre-law there. University of San Francisco also pre-law. And I got a pretty big scholarship from them. But it's San Francisco and it's a private school, so it was like bonkers expensive. Um, and then I got wait listed Loyola Marymount also pre-law. And I was like, I don't wanna go to any of these schools. I'm not excited about any of these programs. Like, everybody's getting into these like, amazing schools. Everybody's getting into like Ivy Leagues and like ucs. And like, I felt so bad that like my best prospect was a Cal State and I was like, oh my God, my life is over this 4.0 GPA for what? Um, yeah. So it was not a good time for me and I kind of just like made the decision because I was like, I really can't afford University of San Francisco. And like, even if I take loans, like I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna have to, like, I, you know, I'm very proud I graduated without any loans from Cal State

Did you hear that folks? Folks did. Did we hear that she graduated from undergrad without any debt or loans

I had a little money left over, which was like, you know, kind of

Oh, that's a win. I mean, in, in these fields in journalism and creative arts and acting, whatever, like to be in the black is to have flexibility, to have power, to have, freedom. Really. Oh, that's huge. Bella.

yeah. So I was like, at the time I was like, journalism was not anywhere on my radar. Like, not even a little bit. And I, I liked reading growing up. I really liked writing growing up too, but that was always something where I was like, I can't see myself like pursuing that. I like, it's fun. So why would that be something that I do as a career? Yeah, no. So I had no reason to believe I would be even a little bit good at journalism, but I just decided to go to Long Beach cuz it was like the pragmatic decision. I was like, you know, as much as I like was kind of mourning it when I made that decision, which is like so privileged and bra to say looking back. But I really was, I was like, I do not wanna go to this school. Like my dad went here, like everybody goes here. There's gonna be people from middle school that I went to middle school with who are also going here. Like that sucks. Which again, it's a fantastic school. It's like one of the best Cal States and like the Cal State system is like one of the best public systems in the

and and it's that, it's like it's an incredible institution that has so much going for it that has, so, and then you add the price point to all that it has going forward. It, it's like wild. But I just, I I love going back cuz you're actually the example, and I, I hate to bring you on to be the example of like, you had the worst case scenario.

I did. It was like a nightmare.

you know, and I talk a lot with clients of like, okay, if your worst case scenario is you get zero acceptances from your musical theater programs, or what a insert creative major here, what do you do? And again, you bring up that topic and for a lot of 16, 17, 18 year olds, it's like literally the earth, you know, separates and a hold like takes you down into the center of the earth. It's really, it feels really hot to, um, to students, but if they can wrap their mind around that, their worst case scenario actually isn't bad. In fact, in many ways it's pretty amazing. They can get a little bit of that context moving into. Decision making. You know, usually there can be a little less torment, but it's hard to, it's hard when you're going through it in real time and you were going through it in real fricking

yeah, it was, yeah, it definitely, like I look back and I'm like, I don't know, I think I need to like give myself low grace cuz I'm like, that was so bratty to be upset about getting into Cal State Long Beach and like committing to Cal State Long Beach. Especially when it ended up being this like, wonderful thing. Um, like it's a predominantly Latino school, you know? That was huge for me. I don't, I don't think I had gone to a school with like, really other marginalized people, period, since elementary school. Like, I went to a predominantly white, um, middle school in Huntington Beach. So imagine that. Um, and then, you know, OCSA, I, I, I don't know if OCSA is predominantly white, but it felt very predominantly

I mean, for, for mid Orange County, it is certainly one of the more diverse schools because it brings in so many people into, but I, I, I, I don't think it's a, it's a stretch to say it's predominantly white.

Yeah. It was all my friends were white. I like, I, there was like, I think maybe like a handful of Latinos in my year, cuz when we did our capstone like projects the somebody had in the Heights and we all got tapped to do it. I was like, I have, I have no connection to this. Like, I don't care if we're in the height, I, it's like a good show, but I was like, I'm not gonna do this well, but you know, what are the options? Um, and yeah, so that was kind of like a thing that I wasn't foreseeing being important to me, but I think like as I go into journalism and just get older and like, you know, the world we're living in it like was really important that I went to that school, I think. And like that I was surrounded by other Latinos. There was a lot of non-traditional students. A lot of. You know, undocumented students. I think it was just like important to be in a space that was, very different from the places I wanted to go, to be frank. Like it was, I think some of the smartest people and some of the most hardworking people I met during my three years of constant long beach, like have changed the way that I look at journalism. Changed the way I look at the world, like, made me a lot more grateful, made me a lot more cognizant of the privilege I have. And it's just like, I think that was very important. But at the time I was just like, you know, it's a school that everybody from my middle school is going to go to and that sucks. And it's not a musical, theater school and like they have programs that I could have done theater if I wanted to, but I was like, it's not for me, it's not enough, uh, like prestige to warrant me doing that, you know? And I think that That's also not maybe a good mindset to have. But I was like, that's where I'm at and it sucks. And I was very upset about it for a

That's so interesting that ultimately, it wasn't even necessarily exactly about the art form, but about the prestige connected to the art form or prestige connected to an institution and. And it's like, I so empathize with you, Bella, cuz that's literally, you know, in many ways sort of what I experienced. I applied to five schools and I did not get into my top two I didn't get into NYU or Carnegie Mellon, and I was crestfallen, did a whole dramatic interpretive dance in my acting class about it. Like, Yeah.

got

Uh, if only, if only I, I had gotten acrylics, maybe that would've helped. But I I, I will say I went to the, you know, I went to my safety school, quote unquote. I went to Wagner and, and I wasted the better part of a year in sort of the harrumph I, this isn't NYU cut to, you know, when I really looked back at my life in that moment, my family and I could not have afforded nyu. Wagner had offered me this giant scholarship that made it totally affordable for us. I performed so much at Wagner, I still got to make that transition to New York. Like there were so many reasons why Wagner was the far more optimum space for me, but it took a solid year before I could really understand that. And to me, I always go like, man, what a waste. Like I wish I could have let go of some of that ego and just gone to school and enjoyed it. And you know, we get there, we get there when we get there. And it sounds like you did as well, but I, I so empathize with that, that mindset piece of the 17, 18 year old who's like, I know what I want, but there's so much more that's out there for you that could also work for you.

No. Yeah, I think like how much like mental real estate I like that had over me of being like, oh, if I don't get into one of these, like, you know, top schools, if I'm not able to like post my little, like, oh look where I'm committed post. And like have people be like, oh my God, wow, then my life is over. But like, I don't know, I'm like infinitely more impressed with the choices that I made not going to like, cuz I could have gone to University of San Francisco and that has a certain amount of like, whatever attached to it, but I couldn't afford that. And I like, did I want to do that? Did I wanna be in like, you know, X amount of miles away from my family for like a program I had. Not cared about, even like a little bit. And everybody was always like, oh, you'll grow where you're planted. They said that the entire time in that like fall when we were plant. No, and you did. And I, every time I remember, I would tell people, I'm like, if they say it one more time, like I'm burning something down. This is crazy. Like I will only grow if I'm at U C L A if I'm at Carnegie Mellon, but like, it really is true. Which is so annoying. But like I, I, you know, I try to live in the, like everything happens for a reason mindset because I do think that like, it obviously led to good things, but even like, I don't know, I just think that it's important for there to even be, not have that like disaster mindset of like, oh, going to a Cal State or going to community college or not going to college is the worst thing that can happen cuz like, truly it's not, it's so unserious making that choice, um, to not go to like an Ivy League. And I just think that that's not like dialogue

Uh, this is why we are having this dialogue right now for that exact reason, is that there's so many options, going direct to industry, getting a job, especially for this upcoming generation who had this real shift in their lives with the two years of the pandemic. You know, there's something to be said of taking a gap year and getting a job, like, and just building out those social skills truly for, for no other reason. Building out the adulting skills before going to college or not going to college. Like that time of like just working and earning an income and finding your way through could be super valuable for the right student. And again, it's going back to like, well, what do you need as a student? Not what's impressive. When were you pulled by journalism and how quickly did you figure out, like, did you have to change majors? Did you have to like officially do anything in that regard? Like how, what, what happened for you getting into journalism?

So, you know, like I said, I decided to go to Long Beach that whole summer. I was like mad, um, that I was doing that. But we had to do a, um, like registra, I think they called it Soar, I wanna say, which was spooky cuz there was like an OCSA thing called Sore. So I was like, oh my God. But we had to do it over the summer and it was like basically a day to like get to know the campus, like meet some other freshmen and then you would pick your classes and that was like really the chunk of the day. And um, at the beginning of the day they're like, you're the major you got in with is on your paper, but if you wanna change it, like you need to let somebody know. And I like, you know, me, I am so type A like it. There is no world in which I just make these rash decisions without having like four to six weeks to plan for it. But I was like, they handed me like my list of classes for pre-law. I was like, oh my god, this sounds horrible. Cuz I think specifically like long Beach's program is. Geared towards criminal law and I was like, I definitely don't wanna do that. but cuz I wanted, you know, immigration was more what I was focused on. And I. Like, I'm gonna change my major. Like, I don't want this, the people around me. Like, I just, it wasn't the vibe that I felt like I needed. So I like went up to the orientation leader. I was like, I'm gonna change my major. And they're like, to what? And I was like, so that is unclear at this moment and I just need you to like, you know, walk me to somewhere where I need, where I can change it. And they're like, okay, like, that's fine. You don't need to know your major, but you need to know like which college you're gonna be in. And I was like, okay, like liberal arts seems like you know where I should live. Um, and then they were like, okay. And I knew I had to take a psychology class just because of the like, um, requirements for like graduation. So I was like, I'll just be psychology. Like for now, again, had no interest. Like I took psychology class. It was great. I had no interest in it and I knew that that's not what I was going to, I was not existing in a world in which I was gonna be like a therapist or something. So I like changed my major and then I was like, okay, I'm psychology right now. It was like July at this point I'll give myself until like September 1st to like pick the major I'm gonna graduate with. And I literally like printed out the list of majors for the College of Liberal Arts and I started like hacking through it and I was like, okay, English, I know I wanna do it as a minor, but that's not really something I wanna major in. Just cuz the classes didn't really speak to me. Like, it was just like a lot of like literary like analysis classes where I was like, I wanna write stuff. And then I hacked through it all and I was like, journalism communications was, was what I was left with. And I was like, communications is good cuz like it's broad. I can like still figure it out while I'm like doing classes and not just like wasting my time and money. And then I was like, but journalism, like, like I said, I had no reason to believe that I would be even a little bit good at it. I had never interviewed anybody. I had never like written a story. I had never, like, I did not know what the inverted pyramid was. There was nothing I knew, but I was like, it kind of sounds interesting and like a lot of it was that had beef with the way that journalism was being done at that point. And like, I still do, you know, I talk about it a lot in my classes and people are like, oh, always like, you should not say that. And like, I don't care. I think that there's a lot of. Mishandling of the way we cover marginalized communities in the sense that like the, the only time that you see stories about marginalized people is when they're in harm or doing harm. And I think that that perpetuates a lot of, issues systemically that we see. And I was like, I think that, you know, the root of the problem is just like the way that we've been trained to like talk about marginalized people, but also like there's not people from these communities doing this reporting. And I was like, okay, so I can do that because I understand what it's like coming from an immigrant household. And also I'm a white passing Latino. If anybody is like, needs to assert their privilege in this situation, like I need to do it because like for some people it could be like for death for them to do these types of stories where like for me it's, I don't suffer from the same, biases that are rooted in every system. Um, so I was like, I'll do it. Like I'll take the intro class. I think like our. Section or like department was journalism and public relations. And I actually think first I committed to public relations cuz it was like all the same classes except for like a few your senior year. And I was like, I can switch if like I, you know, I can do PR if I don't like journalism cuz it's pretty close to communications. And I took the intro journalism class and I was so bad. Every story that came back was like horrible. Like I was so embarrassed, but I really liked it. It was like the first time that I was like really, really bad at something. But I wasn't like discouraged by that. I was like, but I really like the process of editing. It made sense to me the way that we, like we wrote in the inverted pyramid, like leads made it sense to me. And this was spring 2020. So like I, when I started taking my journalism classes, like halfway through was when the pandemic started. So I think that that really. also informs like my trajectory cuz I had so much time to do literally nothing. And I was like, I can take time to get better at this cause like I like it so I'm gonna, you know, sit down with this story that is horrible for like six hours and like figure out what I can do to make it better. And I would like send it back to my professor and be like, Hey, you do not need to like change my grade, but like I want feedback on this. If you can tell me if I'm at least getting better a little bit. And I did. I got like a lot better. And like our training was mostly in news, which is not where I live typically, but I was like, I know how to do this and like I understand what I like and what I don't like and that kind of just sparked the journey within journalism that I went on. But it was like truly so random but would not have happened had I not gone to Cal State Long Beach. Cuz a lot of schools don't have journalism programs, like they have newspapers, but you're usually like in English or communications or like political science.

you're actually studying the craft of journalism, you're,

oh

describing the creative process. So like, the only way. To actually get better in any creative act is by doing and being okay, being bad at it You have to be okay. Having a really awful first pass. Really, maybe really awful. Like 30 passes. It might take 30 passes before you even get anything legible or readable. But that is the process is like rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat, keep going. Um, so it's really interesting, like this idea that you almost like fell into this medium and what sparked you is you're willing to like, be bad at it and get better at it.

I tell the first grade I got back was like a C and I was like, my life is over. That's, it was like, which is not even bad. CS get degrees. Come on. Like, but I was so embarrassed. It was like a, we were like rewrite. It was, you know, it was Trump era. So we were like rewriting a lead, which is like the opening graph of a story for, you know, for

Thank you. Thank you.

Um, we were rewriting it. It was so bad. Like, I, I looked at it recently cuz I was just like curious. I was like, that is actually so embarrassing. But it was like, okay, I didn't, I wasn't born not like knowing how to write a lead. I wasn't born with these skills, but it was fun. So I was like, you know what, I'll rewrite it seven times if that's what it takes. And then that'll

And you're so smart. You're so intelligent, you're so, you're, you are. I mean, like, there's no denying that part. But actually it's not about intelligence, it's about perseverance. It absolutely is. About are you willing to take the licks and still keep doing the process? So, Ooh, this is exciting. I wanna follow up on, I have one more question about sort of this time. Because, it was really interesting, especially during the pandemic. You were still like stoking creative fires both in theater and in writing. And can you sort of talk to us about, why you were sort of developing plays, you were doing like play readings and a lot of Zoom podcasts and things like that. Like in the midst of being super busy at school, why were you spending extra time meeting up with people and reading plays and correct me if I'm wrong, you were facilitating, a lot of these sort of zoom readings of both your plays and your peers plays. Like, tell me a little bit about what was bringing you back into sort of like that theater world,

I mean, I kind of think that I never like really left it like the last show that I performed in, and I think that'll be the last show I ever perform in, to be honest. I just, I think for my mental health and everybody's always like, oh, you can do community theater. I'm good. Like I, I support those who wanna dabble. That will not be me. Uh, at least not in this way, but I, the last show I did was newsies and it was like the summer before I started college. But then we had to take like an arts class, the first semester or some people took it at other points. But I took it my first semester and it was a theater class and it was so funny cuz I had just watched Gilmore Girls and my professor was Liz from Gilmore Girls. Shout out Kathleen, she is the kindest person ever. But I was like, geeking. I was like, oh my God, I just finished the show like a week ago and now Liz is teaching me side. No, um, but it was like, it was like an acting one-on-one class. Like I don't think we really ever did anything except kind of like explored that like creative space and I, it was like more about like problem solving creatively than anything. Cause that's always what those classes are. Cuz there was like engineers that were in that class. Like it was not a class for performers. It was like simply just to like stretch that muscle, which I think is great. I think everybody needs to do that. But I don't know. I was taking that class and I had like heard about rumblings of like, they had a Cal State Long Beach has a thing called Theater Threshold. Um, but they did student produced work and I was like, oh, we did drama comp in, high school with Ryan Miller. And our show was like, you know, very well received. And we kind of had a, kind of, had all made an agreement that if we wanted to like do these shows like at our separate colleges or whatever in the future, like that was fine. Like we were all, like, we all put in some work to it. Like, put your name to it. That is fine. which, you know, legally is that sound? Probably not, but I was like, let me pitch the show to them and if they like it, they like it. If they don't, they don't. And then the show got accepted to do in the spring semester and I was directing it as well, um, which was crazy. Especially during that time. Our only show that we did was the day that campus shut down, so it was like March 13th, 2020 was the one show that we had. So it was like that timing was also really crazy and I was taking an advanced playwriting class that I like weaseled my way into in the spring semester as well. And I wrote something about not getting into college. I, cuz I was still like angsty about it. And it was like called, we were get to inform you. It never saw the light of day beyond like a few podcast readings that we did. Um, but I, that was like, our project for the semester was to write a full play. And I really liked it. I had only done playwriting in Drama Cop before, but I was like, I really enjoy writing, like doing creative writing. That was my minor as well. So I was like, I can see myself doing playwriting. I just like, I have not done it enough to where I feel confident about it. And then when everything went online, and it was like very pandemic, like it was like March to like May, 2020. We were all kind of just like looking for ways to like have social outlets but then I think I had something I wanted to read and it was something original for like a class assignment. And then other people were like, oh, I have this thing. I also would want to be read. But that kind of wasn't like the venue for that group was doing already published works. So then I was like, okay, we can start a group that is like for non-published works. I started a Facebook group. I do not use Facebook anymore, but at this point I was like, I'll start a Facebook group. Whoever wants to join, like we'll create a day to do it. And we picked Thursdays at seven 30. We're still going semitron. Um, and yeah, we just kind of like, it was a very random group that got together. Which I kind of feel like was better cuz I was like, I really like, you know, I don't know you enough to where your opinion is gonna like wreck me if it's not great. And it was crazy at first cause everybody had so much to read. Like we would have to make like agendas. And that's kind of where I stepped in. I was like the facilitator. I was like, okay, everybody needs to like send me your scripts if you want something, ride bye this time or you will not get to read it this week. And it was crazy. We would be on these calls for like five hours. and it was like we were all so like thirsty to like be social and like be able to like do these things we were working on at a time when like we did not know when that was going to happen again. And it was really great. Like we did some. Like Zoom performances. We did like a lot of workshops of things. And it was just like really cool to see how creative these people were in a way that like I hadn't known them to be cuz we were all, or most of us were like musical theater majors. So I was like, I know you can act, but like I did not know you could write like this. Yeah, it kind of like, even as classes started going back in person, like we still had meetings. I wrote another play that was also done at Cal State Long Beach my last semester. Um, so like a year ago. And that was something I completely hopped with that group from start to finish. Like I had like an idea for, I really like Baja Blasts and I was like, I wanna write a scene that like somehow works that in. And it was also based on a story I had written for Dig Magazine, which w where I was the editor and it was about like people getting married for fafsa, which is a real thing cuz you can only. Be independent for FAFSA if you're married. And I was like, I feel like it's a good romcom idea. So then I wrote like a scene and then everybody's like, oh, like this is great, like you should write it. And then I did, and then it got performed, which was cool. I did not direct it this time, which I quite enjoyed Like I just got to sit back and watch it happen.

I was gonna say, that's the sweet spot for the playwright. When you just get to like write it, it comes outta your brain, throw it on the page and then here you go.

I showed to rehearsal like four times. I was like, it sounds great guys, but I like, I don't know what to say. Good job, And it was great. It was like so nice to be able to do that. and I still to this day, I'm not like going to be a playwright, you know? I love journalism. I want a staff writer job. But like, it was cool to be able to do these things where I'm like, I do like doing creative writing. Like that's what my minor was in. And I just like writing plays. I like reading plays, like I'm. Do them. Yeah. Um, but yeah, it was just kinda like, I think all of us were like so hungry for some way to be creative and it was like such a desperate time. So it was a very rag tech group that came together, but it was really great and I'm like, to this day I think that that is so cool.

I just, I loved it for so many reasons. Like a, the fact that just because you had gone into journalism and communications and creative writing minor, that. Especially at a school like Cal State Long Beach, there's access to student clubs or there's access to other majors or other communities. I think we, we think of colleges within a large university as being siloed, but it doesn't actually have to be the case. You might have to weasel your way into a class or two, but it's not impossible.

send the emails. I've gotten into so many classes by just being like, can I be in this class? And they're like, I guess. And then I show up and it's great.

professor, what I, all I ever wanted was students who wanted to be in the class, right? Like the idea of having students who want to be in class, oh my God, it makes everything so much easier, better, more joyous for everyone. But I also just love that you guys, you guys had the moxie to, to do it yourselves. Like you weren't waiting for an opportunity to come your way. You made an opportunity. In the midst of a really dark time and a really heavy time, and I, I remember, you know, the handfuls of times I came into either one of poo's readings or one of your readings. Like, I just, I loved it. I was so impressed and inspired by, watching the youngins, you know, really take the reins and make something for themselves for no other reason than for the enjoyment of being creative together. It was really cool.

Yeah. And I think like from that group, like four or five shows have like actually been performed places, which is like pretty cool cuz we were kind of just doing it to like workshop things, but like ideas were birthed there and then brought into like real places where I don't, I think people have gotten paid for it too. Like I feel like people have gotten fellowships from things we've shopped with. Just like super cool. Yeah, I'm like, do it. I don't know. It was fun and it was also like very, I think needed at that time. So it's cool to see what it's like turned into. We're kind of all busy now, but yeah, it was like a very nice thing to have.

So I, I really want to talk finance in this podcast. I really want to like, lay out the realities of what it costs to go to certain four year universities. What, what that looks like. So I'm asking everyone, essentially, now that you're on the other side of, undergrad, do you feel like you overspent underspent, or did you get it just right? And I think you have a unique point of view because you actually finished Cal State Long Beach in three years rather than four. So tell me like where, where do you fall?

I think I will say this is the one thing I will always pat myself on the back for. I slay that. I think that like it was not something I planned on at the time. I was like going Cal State, long Beach was like the most affordable option, but there was like a lot of other reasons I went at the end of the day. But I think like once I got there, there was a lot of talk about finances, which I think was amazing. Like there was a lot of counselors, professors, admin people that were very candid about like what it costs to go there, which I think is important, especially at a school like Cal State Long Beach, where it's a lot of non-traditional students, a lot of students from low income backgrounds. And like I knew what it cost to go there every semester and I knew, you know, I'm not gonna like be like I did it all on my own. I had parental help, which was like, I'm very lucky and privileged to have that. And I knew like what money I had to spend and I knew how long it would take me to graduate. And I was like, I feel like we can get it down. And just, there was no, like, there's like a recommendation that you do 15 units per semester and that gets you to graduate in four years, but the max you can do per semester is 18 and you can do winter and summer classes. And I was like, okay, so I really just have to make up 30 units in, you know, whatever semester. is in like little spots. Yeah, so I always did. Um, I did a full, uh, unit load every semester, which was 18 units, which honestly coming from own show was not bad. I was bored my first semester cuz I only did 16 units. I was like, I need something else. Like I can't only be doing this. Um, and I did winter and summer classes, I think every winter and summer that I had. And I did those at community colleges, which was big because that is like a great money saver as well. Where it was like, I think I had to do one class winter at Cal State Long Beach, which was like a thousand dollars, which is crazy. Um, for like a six week class, but then at Golden West College where I did most of my classes, it was like$300 for an entire class, which was like amazing. Um, and there were classes where I was like, I don't need to do this at Cal State Long Beach, cuz it's like my math requirement or like my science requirement. Like this is not, this is something that is, you know, I need to graduate, but it's not something that I feel like is make or break where I take it. Um, and there's also great education at these community colleges.

Ding, ding. Especially in California, in this region, the community college network is outrageous. And even for creative arts, there are some incredible professors teaching theater at community college and you have access to performances that you maybe wouldn't have at other university. Like there's so much to be said that is amazing. Both from price point and access and opportunity at the community college level. Continue. Sorry, I'm

Yeah. No, I agree. Like even at the Cal State level, like a lot of my professors in journalism were also teaching at U S C, so I was like, I am getting my degree for significantly less money, like maybe a 10th of it. And I'm having the same education and like, I just, I don't think that that can be overstated enough. So like, I would say like my big. You know, wisdom for people looking at colleges. Like, look at your professors, look at your classes. Don't look at the school. It does not matter. See what qualifications your professors have and what you're gonna get out of it. Don't look at like where you're gonna go. I digress. but yeah, I kind of like was able to, I talked a lot with my counselors again, I was in there my first semester. I was like, I wanna graduate in not four years. Like, how can I do that? And they were like, well, you're gonna have to like, you know, load pretty heavy each semester. I was like, girl, I went to osha, don't worry about me. and I did and I took like. I wanna s I think I did like 20 units outside of Cal State Long Beach. I also had my AP units, which was very helpful. And I was able to kind of like, not cheat the system, but you have your, like major requirements and your minor requirements and you also have your university requirements. And I was able to double count a lot of them. And I really did not have ever come into a point where I was like, I don't know if I'm gonna make it. I don't know if I'm gonna graduate in three years. Cuz I took control of it from the beginning. I know what I need to do and if I'm running into any issues, like I won't because I had a spreadsheet from day one. Like Google Sheets got me my degree and that's all I can say on the matter. But I also applied for a lot of scholarships and there's a lot of like, affinity groups have scholarships too, which I think is like important for people to look into. I applied to like Latino scholarships. The most scholarship I got was from internally from the school, but it was just like a lot of picking into different pots that I knew had resources because there is so much money available that people just don't go into because they're like, oh, I don't know if I'm gonna qualify for that. Like, try it. But like, I think that there's just like so much resource available and like it kind of does suck that you do have to really like put in a lot of work to get these things. But I mean, would you rather like put in a lot of time and, you know, not have debt or like not put in the effort and have like

Yeah, that's what I always say. Like if there's a, you know, a thousand dollars scholarship and that is not to be like, oh, well that's chmp change. Like, no, it's not. It's a thousand dollars

A thousand dollars.

hour, if

That's Rent

hour to do an application for a thousand dollars scholarship and you got it, I don't know anyone who's working at Starbucks making a thousand dollars an hour. To me, again, if you just look at the sheer numbers, you're like, this is a worthwhile use of your time and it's valuing your time in such a way that really, cuz I know there's the burnout of applications, there's a burnout, especially in the spring of senior year. People are just like, I already did the application, don't make me do the scholarship stuff. But it's just keeping in mind that sort of free money that found money can really make such a difference at the end of your college time because you, you, you just want to get as much of it paid for as possible.

even if it's a month of a loan payment, you don't have to pay take that month I just cannot like overstate the importance of these things cuz it's like, I don't know. It's awkward to talk about money, especially like with your parents. It's awkward sometimes, but like, you have to do it because it's gonna hurt everybody at the end of the day if you don't take agency over your finances like that. And like I worked throughout, I always had like at least one job throughout college, which, you know, I think it was good for me to have that, just to like learn the value of this is how much I work to get this amount of money. Am I gonna blow that on like one dinner? No, let me like, you know, cook my own food. And like, one of the more important parts of college is like, not even the classes that you're taking, it's like the life experience you have to walk away with. So I, a big reason I decided to go to grad school was because I didn't have debt. Like, I think had I even walked away with like a thousand dollars of debt, I probably wouldn't have gone to grad school. Cuz I'm like, I'm not gonna add on to that. And you know, like put myself in a worse

I love it. And because again, it goes back to like having, being in the black financially and understanding your finances, you then get to make decisions to benefit you and your life accordingly. And the fact that one year after most of your peers are graduating from undergrad, potentially with thousands, maybe tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of debt, you will walk away with, I'm presuming a relatively small amount of debt. And your masters,

Yeah, hopefully small, but also like for grad school, that was another thing that I was like, I'm not gonna go if I'm not getting like at least half of my tuition covered. You know, to be candid, like I applied for grad school, I applied to Northwestern and Berkeley, that's it. Um, and I got into both, which was cool. I had never experienced a 100% success rate college applications. And I got the same amount of scholarship from both. I got$40,000 from both. But I'm an in-state resident for Berkeley and it's just like significantly less expensive. It is still very expensive cuz the ucs are crazy expensive, in comparison to the Cal States, but, you know, like even one year at Northwestern was like$90,000 and like 40,000 was not gonna cover it. So I was like, I can't go there. That's fine. You know, I liked the Berkeley program more for me, at that point, so I was like, you know

It's a win. It's, it's a, it's a total win. And the idea that you can then make, and for me, undergrad really is for exploration, for adulting, for getting your feet under you, getting your sea legs for what your life as an adult could be, and grad school is a place to really double down on a focus. And I'm not surprised that when in your really broad search from undergrad that there wasn't as much return on investment as a really narrow. Sharp shooting kind of approach for grad school. You knew exactly what you were looking for, you knew why you were the candidate for it, and boom, you found placement into, you know, really impressive. And I'll put the impressive in quotes, but two really impressive schools. And you knew why you were going there, why you wanted to apply. And you can really start to see where that kind of focus, that mindset makes such a difference.

night and day like I think I, when you, like, were talking about just like this whole thing, I was thinking back on like, it is crazy that I got into both of the schools for grad school, but it really was just that difference of like, I was so focused on journalism in undergrad and I was like, my clips were good. I had spent a lot of time, I had good editor positions, like I had the experience and like I wanted to do it like in my applications. Like I'm sure it came through that like I wanted to go to grad school and I wanted to be a journalist where, like in musical theater, I know that did not come through because that's not what I wanted. Like I did not want. To be a performer and that's fine. That was like not my path. I think like, you know, I am so happy to see people still performing, Alyssa, laying on Broadway, and that's so like, cool that people were able to take that path. That was not my path. That was not what I should have taken. That is not like in any way what was right for me

and that's where often those rejections, they're rarely about your talent. They're rarely about your even potential. It, it often, you know, outside of like the, the numbers, cuz again, especially in musical theater, those numbers are Harvard level. Like they're, they're crazy.

Oh my god. Carnegie is probably harder to get it. Like, cuz that's like how many spots and like how many people are apply and how many people are amazing that

I mean, that's sort of what it is in what is arguably or not arguably is in fact a subjective art form. Right? What is good? A musical theater is an entirely subjective, what is a good audition is entirely subjective. I do think what you're saying about your statement of purpose, your personal statements, It really comes through. You can see on the other side of the table if you're like here for it, if you're hungry for it, and if you're not, it's, it's usually an easy way to get a a no. And it's not because you're untalented, it's because the, the drive's not there, or the reason why you should be in that kind of really narrow specified program maybe just isn't a match. And sometimes the, the world admissions, the universe, whatever call, whatever you want to call it, it really does nudge you in in the directions you need to go.

Oh for sure. Yeah. And I think like, I don't know, even like as an editor, like I hired people and I always looked for not even the people that had like the best experience. I was like, if you're writing a recovery letter that like this is the type of magazine you wanna write for, this is the type of experience you want. I don't really care like what your experience is. I think in nine times out of 10 in these like creative fields, people are looking for the want to do better, more than somebody who's like so affected by, you know, and burnt out. But they're like really good, you know? And I was, I was not horrible. Like I wasn't going in there bombing these auditions, but like, I just did not care. Like I was so not into it and I so didn't want it in the same way that the people who, you know, ultimately got into these programs that I really wanted to get into, I put quotes around, got into, and it was like, you know, they were willing to kill in a way that I just was not, and that's fine. But that was just like, I think hard for me to like wrap my head around at the time, which is why I was very nightmarish in those few months.

you found your way, you found your way. Bella Arnold, you found your way.

yeah. Eventually. Yeah.

I'm sort of curious now, you come from such unique experiences. You're the daughter of an immigrant, you have experience in musical theater, your time at Cal State Long Beach, your time in journalism, being an editor, being a researcher. What do you sort of imagine your unique industry pathways are in front of you? What, what do you think's going to come down the pike?

I think that there is, another thing I really like about journalism is it is so broad and like at Berkeley we have different tracks that we take and it's not, it's not like a hard and fast thing. People dip into other things, but like for our thesis projects, we have to pick a track and I'm narrative writing, but like within that there's so much like, even though I'm like, I know I wanna be a writer, it's crazy how many different paths you could take. I think for me, like I really am enjoying doing this investigative work, but I don't know that that's necessarily like where I wanna live. Cuz it's a lot emotionally, mentally, there's a lot of, you're seeing people on their worst days, you're seeing people die. And I think it's important to do the work so that going forward there's less of that happening. But I, like I said, I really just enjoy writing stories about marginalized people having joy. Which I think like, seems so simple and like people write it off as silly. People are like, oh, magazine stuff is like not as serious. It's like the fluff work, which like, you know, a lot of times it is fluff like a service story about like where to get your nails done in New York, that's fluff and that's fine, but it helps people. Journalism is all about disseminating information for the people who do not have that information. So if like me disseminating where the best nail salon is, is going to help somebody who does not know where the best nail salon is. That's journalism baby. Sorry. Um, is a Pulitzer winning, maybe

Why

on the way you write it. Who knows? Yeah.

Choose joy.

I just, I don't know. And I think that that's so, like, there's such a, um, there's like a lot of old school journalism. I consider myself part of new school journalism, which is, you know, a heavily controversial thing. But there is so much like emphasis on like if it bleeds, it leads, like we're telling stories about like things happening. And I just think that that is so upsetting to hear and it's like I still hear people who are like my age who are saying that. And I think that that's such like an, a dated approach. And that is the reason people don't trust us amongst other things is because like the people who like we're ousting people who are like only reading stories about. people who look like them dying and people who look like them killing, which is not, you know, even a shred of what these communities have. And I don't know, I think that, like I, I'm in a race and journalism class right now and we like read this thing that was, somebody was saying, if you're a Latino and you're covered by a journalist, you're an immigrant. And I think that that's just like the perfect way to encapsulate the way that marginalized people are covered in journalism. I just want to be able to provide things about people who are, you know, doing great things. Like there's a lot of great small businesses even that you could do a profile on. Like, it's these small things that like just make. A world of difference. And yeah, I also like covering books cuz like obviously I'm like really into reading and I think the literary industry is fascinating, but I think that even kind of goes hand in hand. There's not a lot of representation in the publishing space and to like see that that's like starting to change a little bit is like very affirming. So yeah, I see myself in like a staff writer position at a magazine in the feature section. But I also really like editing. I really enjoyed being an editor and like hopefully in the future I'll get back to that. But you know, I will take whatever job I am. I also need a

I, I I hear that and I understand that, but Bella, that was like the most beautiful mission statement I've heard in a minute. The, the idea that you are so clear about how you want to use your voice, your power, your privilege, and with such clarity and such a sense of why, why it's going to affect people, how it's gonna benefit, marginalized communities and the communities at large, right? Like that, that trickles down to everyone. I, I don't know many people your age who have that, uh, clarity. Truly, truly, it's exciting. okay, so I really think it's important to like go back and sort of imagine that 17 year old Bella knowing where you are now. Like, what's that one thing you wish you had understood about the college application process before you started, and what advice would you give to that 16, 17, 18 year old Bella now? Like what would current Bella give that younger Bella in terms of advice?

I feel like, you know, I think that so much of my story was dependent on the bad thing that happened, but I also think that like, there was so much strife that I went through that was like so unnecessary. And I think that just like, you know, it's, it's never that serious, I think is like the moral of the story that like, at the end of the day, It's gonna be okay. Like take a deep breath and I don't know, I think just to like understand that there's like value in the schools that are not like as celebrated specifically in OCSA. There was so much emphasis and every year we had to do these like workshops about like, here's what classes you need to take to get into like U C L A and like the ucs and like I ended up at a uc, which was like, you know, cool. But I think that there was like so much emphasis on these like, you know, prestigious programs like the Ivy Leagues, the Ivy adjacent and like literally that doesn't matter. I graduated with a bachelor's degree, it does not matter from where I'm, uh, good at my job. That's cool. you know, employers seem to like that. Um, and also just like, I think looking at like what your life experience is gonna be and not just like what the programs are, because like I said, like I think I'm infinitely happier. At a place like Cal State Long Beach, being around people who have similar backgrounds than I that I do, um, or who don't have similar backgrounds than me, that are gonna like you. But I think like my life experience was like so much better having gone to Cal State Long Beach or somewhere like Cal State Long Beach. And I think that that's really important. Also be empowered to like, ask questions in these interviews, to like ask like, what is a college experience going to be like for somebody like me who comes from this background, who looks like this, who dah, dah, dah, dah, like, You're auditioning to schools as much as they're auditioning you at the end of the day, they want your money when you get into these schools. So make sure it's going somewhere and make sure you're opening your purse for the right people. Like do not feel bullied into like being like, oh, please let me in. Like I love this school. Everything about it is great because you know what? It probably isn't, every institution has issues, but you need to like figure out which issues are gonna be the ones that are the most detriment to your quality of life

Everyone's got baggage. Every institution's got baggage. You gotta find the ones that match

much.

Ugh. I mean, it's literally what I'm trying to preach is this idea of like, it's actually not that deep. even if your worst case scenario happens, you have so many options. There are so many options, and when you have that abundant mindset and you can see multiple paths in front of you if you can just calm and actually look what's in front of you, you'll make such wiser decisions.

Beyond that, beyond those four years, you're gonna spend maybe more, maybe less. It's not gonna matter because at the end of the day, like, and like even you don't need a degree, but if you are gonna get a degree, you're getting a degree regardless. It doesn't matter if it's like an 88% acceptance rate or an 8% acceptance rate, like you are getting a degree in something and that has value. And even if you're not, you're working somewhere. And that has value. Like there is value in quite literally everything cuz everything is an ecosystem and everything needs to exist for the other thing to exist, so.

And it's your job as that young creative, as that young academic, as that, you know, young writer. To take on whatever's in front of you and, and get the most out of it. And so you're not sitting in a community college classroom, arms folded, going like, well, this isn't blank institution. Because at the end of the day, seizing the opportunities that you do have in front of you and just milking them for all their worth. And I see so many students who are really passive in that, um, part of the process. Unlike, I mean, I, that's Bella Arnold's superpower. Like you were not passive in your education. Um, you're really passionate about your education and it, and it shows. I really do think

Mm-hmm. Thank you.

Bella Arnold, I am so grateful to know you. Truly. I am. I'm so proud of you. I'm so excited for this new path for you. I can't wait to see what you do and what you write. If people want to get ahold of you or read your writing and see what you are up to, how might they reach?

I have a website that I do not update as much as I should, but that's where I post all my work. Like once it's gone out, I, it's bella arnold.com I'm also trying to use Twitter more cuz that's like journalist, like Super Bowl is posting on Twitter. Um, and it's Bella a Wrights is my Twitter.

Awesome. I'll make sure those links are, are in the podcast episode. Bella, thank you for coming and spending this time with me today. This was a delight and that was the end of our first interview episode of the Creative College Journey Podcast. We hope this episode with Bella Arnold was beneficial to you. And Thank you, the listener, for taking time out of your busy day to listen if you are in need of some encouragement, guidance, and inspiration for your. And would like to work with me, Scott, don't hesitate to reach out to our website, www.creativecollegejourney.com, to schedule a free, no obligation, legitimately no obligation. One hour consultation to find out the many ways that my company can help you on your path. And you can also find me, Scott Barnhardt at Instagram, at Scott Barnhardt, making really silly reels every now and then. if you enjoyed our show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcast. It helps others find us. And be sure to come back in the coming weeks for more discussions about creative college admissions, lowering the temperature on the process and the many industry pathways and transferable skills that a creative education in life can offer. Don't forget, it's not where you go to school, but how you go to school. That counts. Thank you,

Say it again. Yeah.

Thank you, Bella.