Choosing to study the arts can be a leap of faith, even for the multitalented Rine Nguyen, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts.
“I was really unsure if it was going to be a good idea, but at the end of the day I just realized I care too much about my happiness to force myself into a career path I don’t want,” she said.
A Fredericksburg native, Nguyen always knew she belonged on the stage. But growing up, she felt as though art programs were underappreciated. That led her to prioritize applying to a school that valued the arts—VCU.
“I really felt like this school championed the arts and celebrated the meaning of it,” she said. “And that’s pivotal for an artist who wants to develop. Like a plant needing sunlight.”
In 2022, she enrolled in VCU’s musical theatre program.
“I think I knew I wanted to pursue acting as a career when I realized being on stage was the only thing I could picture myself doing forever, without ever getting sick of it,” Nguyen said.
During her time at VCU, she’s starred in a host of productions on stage, including her favorite, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, where she played both Bart Simpson and Quincy, a businesswoman character in the show.
She also brought a beloved event back to life, the Theatre Ball—a prom for VCUarts students.
“It’s such a great community-building event, and theatre people are always showing out with their outfits, too,” she said. “It’s tons of fun. I couldn’t do it without my committee, which comprises a bunch of other students who are willing to help bring it to life. They’re awesome, and I’d probably cry without them. It’s a lot of work, but it always pays off.”
Besides her appearances at VCU, Nguyen also performs on stages across the country as an independent singer-songwriter. Between music and acting, she’s found two true passions in her life.
Immediately after graduation, she hopes to take those passions to a larger audience.
“I want to pursue acting and music professionally,” she said. “I’m going to work really hard to audition as much as I can.”
Nguyen realizes that auditions matter the most when it comes to landing a gig, but she sees her degree as a sign of commitment and hard work, which can go a long way.
“There was a time when I felt like choosing a creative path was the wrong choice,” she said. “But I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish as an Asian American woman in performing arts! I feel like I’ve been able to be the representation I always wanted to see in this field.”
This story was originally published by VCU News.
