Yara Shahidi

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think it's why alignment has been the word of the hour. Because even how we selected my team. So when me... And mommy and my prior manager walked in to take all of the big meetings with, you have WME, UTA, CAA, other talent agencies. I was 16 and I already knew I wanted to go to school. I'd been talking about it forever, but I knew I wanted to go to college.

I think it's why alignment has been the word of the hour. Because even how we selected my team. So when me... And mommy and my prior manager walked in to take all of the big meetings with, you have WME, UTA, CAA, other talent agencies. I was 16 and I already knew I wanted to go to school. I'd been talking about it forever, but I knew I wanted to go to college.

Yeah, I knew I wanted to go to college because even my high school career, we chose a program that wasn't even meant for actors so that I could maintain my full AP schedule, even though I was distance learning. And so when we took those meetings, I was very clear about, hey, I plan on going to school in the next year, year and a half.

Yeah, I knew I wanted to go to college because even my high school career, we chose a program that wasn't even meant for actors so that I could maintain my full AP schedule, even though I was distance learning. And so when we took those meetings, I was very clear about, hey, I plan on going to school in the next year, year and a half.

It was so telling. It was so telling because many people had the general reaction of like, oh, yeah, we had an actor trying to go to school and I sent him all the scripts that he was missing out on and he dropped out in the semester. And for me, CAA and particularly the team that I have, they were the first ones in the room immediately to be excited about it. To really want that for me.

It was so telling. It was so telling because many people had the general reaction of like, oh, yeah, we had an actor trying to go to school and I sent him all the scripts that he was missing out on and he dropped out in the semester. And for me, CAA and particularly the team that I have, they were the first ones in the room immediately to be excited about it. To really want that for me.

And it's even funny to be out of school now and to think about certain team members who I love that waited patiently, as I said, no to pretty much everything. Because I was like, I'm going to complete my obligation and my commitment to seeing through Grown-ish as an actor and as a producer. But other than that, I wasn't taking on anything new.

And it's even funny to be out of school now and to think about certain team members who I love that waited patiently, as I said, no to pretty much everything. Because I was like, I'm going to complete my obligation and my commitment to seeing through Grown-ish as an actor and as a producer. But other than that, I wasn't taking on anything new.

And so that was made possible because I think by the time it was released, time to go to school and make that decision, I was surrounded by people that understood and surrounded by people that were excited. But I think it did take a lot of weeding out early on of, yeah, those conversations of people that are like, yeah, why school? I mean, having

And so that was made possible because I think by the time it was released, time to go to school and make that decision, I was surrounded by people that understood and surrounded by people that were excited. But I think it did take a lot of weeding out early on of, yeah, those conversations of people that are like, yeah, why school? I mean, having

a career, honestly, was the most kind of privileged way to get into college because I was able to think about where my curiosities were.

a career, honestly, was the most kind of privileged way to get into college because I was able to think about where my curiosities were.

And I had so many friends because, like you're saying, because of the expense of it, because so many times, especially as like black and brown students, you're dealing with the reality like this may not even translate to a job offer, this Ivy League degree of mine. And so many friends have to prioritize what makes the best job offer, what makes the best resume.

And I had so many friends because, like you're saying, because of the expense of it, because so many times, especially as like black and brown students, you're dealing with the reality like this may not even translate to a job offer, this Ivy League degree of mine. And so many friends have to prioritize what makes the best job offer, what makes the best resume.

Whereas coming from a place where I was like, I have my career, I was able to take, oh, I'm taking a hip hop class. I'm taking a healthcare and morality class. I'm taking this random theory class. And ultimately all of it contributed to my own growth in ways I wouldn't even be able to name when I was choosing the classes.

Whereas coming from a place where I was like, I have my career, I was able to take, oh, I'm taking a hip hop class. I'm taking a healthcare and morality class. I'm taking this random theory class. And ultimately all of it contributed to my own growth in ways I wouldn't even be able to name when I was choosing the classes.

But I think those classes wouldn't have even been on my radar if I went in the traditional sense and said, all right, I got to make something of myself using this degree. Interesting. It gave me another level of freedom. And being like, what? What am I interested in?

But I think those classes wouldn't have even been on my radar if I went in the traditional sense and said, all right, I got to make something of myself using this degree. Interesting. It gave me another level of freedom. And being like, what? What am I interested in?