Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Vainio. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chelsea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
After graduating college, I had the honor to apply myself for an in teaching experience developing a theatre program. I had begun working towards my teaching credential at a Detention Center in New England 21’; and currently I am in the process of obtaining my CA credential through residency program and will be going for my Masters starting the fall 24’!
Coming forth with the college experience that I had along with my foster youth background my creative endeavors were to be put to use. I designed my classroom having set deign background I was able to be I full control of everything from measurements to the type of lighting.
I developed a whole curriculum for kids of the state ages 11 to 18 and it is still in use to this day!
It’s an important aspect to know the times that I had received a salary position. There were still moments where I didn’t necessarily feel fulfilled, and I had to look at myself deeper and sort out what I wanted to bring to the table for these children and not wait for anything to come to me.
Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that having a salary or making X amounts of money will bring happiness and the biggest lesson within all of that is within this prompt. It is only when you are doing your creative work that fills your void while filling others .. that is true pay off!
This was a huge eye-opening moment for myself as an artist, as somebody who went to college for TV and film acting I came to terms with my purpose in this world, and understood that it was much more than being somebody else’s character, and it was harboring and channeling all the new possibilities to share with the future youth and to make way for everything that is to follow in this industry. Always go forward as a life learner leading with integrity..
Chelsea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
From a very young age, I knew I had interest in the entertainment industry from moviemaking to marketing! At the age of 11, I began taking acting workshops and industry courses. Being a child actor wasn’t something that my parents supported, but they allowed me to have all the tools in my belt so when I was an adult, I could make that choice for myself.
Throughout my schooling, I continued my love for the arts, directing and writing, immersing myself wherever I could that involved the arts!
That being said, it was unexpected, but it was all in good timing that I found myself in this position in New England. With my bachelor of fine arts, I put myself ahead of the curve being able to receive a salary, along with the commitment of obtaining my credential in New England From there I developed a theater program specifically working with boys ages 11 to 18 that dealt with behavioral health and conduct issues .
I myself having experience being in the foster system from the age of 5 to 11 has allowed me to connect with my students and understand where they may be coming from.
To set my students up for success, there was constant incentives as well as reflection within the classroom.
Each of my students had their own Individualized Education Plan and this was set accordingly to the needs that they would be expected to meet assn as a staff to productively support them.
When developing this theater program there were major successes with each student working on their own creative material.
Each student had the opportunity to utilize an exercise monologues of their choice, followed by collaborative sessions. It was important that I set each of my students up for success and individual exploration , met with guidelines and limitations within the classroom. Each student still had a chance and choice to make at their own discretion. The importance of utilizing the arts as an outlet, especially for children who are constantly regulating their emotions is vile to our future youth!
Many children today are influenced and guided by outside sources that allow them to solely rely on others for their own thought process.
Each student who harbors the strength of setting their limits high, with the ability to adjust, adapt, and reflect within the stage are their own artists. The lesson and payoff is they too can use this in the outside world.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I was 23 years old now, almost 26 I had been in an unhealthy engagement, and it was something that I didn’t want to admit to myself. That being said, I was returning to my own suffering, it resulted in a falling out with my parents and immediate family. I had to make the choice to leave a salary position for my own mental health. I could not be leading a classroom full of children, who had been through the system themselves lying and enabling that, and for the fact that I had lost my parents support I had to turn to Myself. At the same time I was trying to safely get out of this dynamic, so moving from New England coming back to California. I soon obtained a new salary job position and had planned to start my own life. Whom I was with had different plans, and after the final physical tack that I had dealt with from them, they called dispatch, and I had to go into jail. That being said, the chief of police was contacted by his officers because they didn’t want to professionally and personally jeopardize anything for me, but under California law “” thanks to OJ. As I was told, I had to go into jail and that immediately resulted in a pending case that then soon conflicted with my new salary position.
Having a meeting with my HR team, they supported me and advised me to get proper paperwork so once this was dismissed, I could move forward and apply myself for the position that I had already received. For that time being it had meant I had no job.
After waiting three months for this to be dismissed, I was in a place mentally where I could not be in that city any longer and so I took it upon myself to leave northern Ca.
Thankfully I had tax refund money, and from there I was able to leave to a woman’s shelter in LA and figure out how to support myself from there. I secured a roommate and room several months in advanced, and while I had to wait , I was moving from Airbnb to Airbnb.
I went ahead and stayed with some blood family in Central California for a month to save means in that process I was jumped resulting in a black eye and broken ankle.
I then stayed with another cousin, who was in a good place, and I really started to build even more resilience. I was able to heal and set myself up for what was next, having time for church, home cooked meals, family time, and rest.
Thankfully, while my ankle was broken, I didn’t need a cast and I was healing every day and soon came back to LA on crutches! I didn’t know what was to come, but I was ready for change and challenge!
My apartment was secured ,though I still hadn’t had a job so the next four weeks my plan was to secure that.
Following that I secured an interview with Warner brothers, making coffee, having coffee is something I have many years of experience with, and it would be in a place of the arts. I started with my boot on and couldn’t be happier!
Throughout all these trials and tribulations, I have had moments within myself where I felt I have taken the steps back, but in reality I have set myself up to be able to adapt in any environment and get back up on my feet. I am now in the process of a teacher residency program, where I will go back to obtain my masters and regain a salary position! I know I’m in a place as a single woman where I hold much resilience and will continue to be an example for anybody out there! You are in control and you can do anything that you want but it first comes to putting yourself first and loving yourself fully!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In my perspective, I believe to thrive exponentially in any creative ecosystem, society is able to take a step back and look at each other with more compassion. Everybody in this world we all go through things and struggles can be really hard, it is important to understand that this life isn’t a tally contest.
It is a place where we are able to come together sharing our joys, hardships, and trials to then create the best form of arts we can! Let there not be judgment, and only let there be inclusivity.
Image Credits
self timer on digital camera