Francesca Harper woke up at six in the morning, went to the gym, then headed back to her house to prepare for an audition that she had at FOX studios at 2 p.m. After her audition was over, Harper headed to walk her dogs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Once she was done it was then time to meet up with her acting partner to practice before heading to acting class at 6 p.m.. With the class ending at 11 p.m. many would think her day would be over but she still had to make one last stop at Kinkos to print more scripts for the following day.
This is an average day in the life of 21-year-old Francesca Harper, a former Howard University student who decided to take a year off from school and pursue her dreams of modeling and acting in Los Angeles. While many of her former college classmates are cramming for finals and getting ready to graduate, Harper is also cramming, but to learn lines for her many auditions while also honing her craft and running her own small business.
Although Harper misses Howard and her family in Virginia, she does not regret leaving.
“I feel as though life is all about timing and you’re in certain places in your life for a reason. Howard equipped me with so many tools that no other institution could’ve equipped me with, and those are some of the tools I use daily here in Hollywood,” she said.
While at Howard, Harper tried to pursue her dreams through the form of competing in pageants like the Miss Virginia Teen USA and Miss District of Columbia University. Although she did not win either title, after going after the crown more than once, this didn’t deter her from reaching for her dreams.
Her best friend of eleven years, Taliah Graves, has stood by her through all of the ups and downs the pageants have caused Harper; she as well as many of Harper’s friends call her Candy due to her sweet nature. Graves understands more than anyone why Harper decided to leave school for California.
“It’s a hard decision for anyone and I don’t think school is for everyone. Candy did what she had to do by attending college, yet she suffered because she knew that the only place she really wanted to be was in California working to make her dreams come true.”
Graves also believes that Harper will do well in California because of her pure drive and love of acting and performing.
“Since I’ve known her, she’s been an extremely determined person. When it came to modeling and pageants and when it came to networking. “Her mom, who is like my second mommy, has always made sure she worked hard, even had her working her own vending machine business and she always pushed her.”
“I can honestly say that I have never seen her fail in my eyes and her positive energy is what gives her the confidence and drive that is needed to succeed in a tough industry that turns away and discourages hopefuls every day.”
In order to pursue her dreams, Harper has used her “hustle” skills that she learned at Howard to not only find a place to stay, but earn money with her crazy and hectic schedule, all the while being taken on by an agency.
“Right now I live with my grandma’s friend from college in Inglewood. I decided to start a dog walking business. In addition to that, one of the dog owners is a lawyer, so I help with paperwork at her law firm for side money as well. The other dog owner is a casting director, and she has helped me get some jobs as an extra in movies, which isn’t great side money. Although I don’t have as much money as I want, walking dogs provides me with money, the chance to walk on the beach every day, and I’ve met some valuable connections through walking them.”
While there have been success stories of students that left school to follow their dreams like Diddy and Brandon Hines; Harper does plan to finish her degree.
“I really want to finish my degree, it’s so important to me. My mom always instilled in me that you can lose your beauty, lose opportunities, and lose a job, but your education is something that no one can ever take away from you. I am not sure though if that will be at Howard or another school.”
While many if not all Harpers friends support her decision to try things out in L.A., some students don’t believe that dropping your education to pursue something so shaky as an acting career. One person that shares these views is Kendra Desrosiers.
“I think you can’t go wrong with an education. If you happen to be offered a big part while in school, cool. But until then no gallivanting to L.A. or N.Y. Few want to be a waitress/actress by choice, a degree is a better placeholder.”
No matter what someone wants to do with their lives, weather its acting, singing or being a politician, Harper wants everyone to know that the best thing they can do with their dreams is to never let them go and work hard for them every day.
“Never give up. Never lose faith and never ever compromise yourself to accomplish your dreams. Always put out your best work because you never know who is watching. Always treat everyone with respect because you never know who that person may be in the years to come, could be a potential employer.”
And one last thing that she would like her Howard family to know is:
“Take advantage of the opportunities at Howard. No matter how talented you are the person who works the hardest will always succeed.”
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