I’ve tried everything else so I do understand this is a ridiculous plan.

Its so ridiculous its kinda funny.

Normal. I hear this word too often. The context is always negative and it usually comes with a side order of free advice that I definitely did not ask for. I feel normal is a dirty word and upon hearing I am expected to be ashamed for not being normal. What is normal anyway? Would the same person who took the time to point out that I am not normal take the time to tell me if I had something gross stuck in my teeth? It really seems to bother people when you don’t fit neatly into a category. It’s viewed as a shortcoming. Refusing to make changes to fit in will have a negative effect on your career. This has opened up the opportunity to fail miserably in a vast array of job fields.

A traumatic childhood forced me to leave home at a very young age I didn’t have the opportunity to go to college I did what I had to do to survive. Over the past few years I have gone from having an amazing job, tons of “friends”, beautiful apartment, 401K, brand new luxury car and even a savings account to being unemployed living in a motel that my friend is paying for (you know who you are, THANK YOU), no money, no car, no boyfriend, no family to turn to for help and very few friends. Translation I am on the road to loserville or stuck on the highway to hell.

I never felt comfortable in my life. It seemed there was always something or someone pulling me in a different direction. It wasn’t until I lost everything I had worked so very hard for that I was able to use that time to figure out what part of my life was making me uncomfortable. I was working so hard to obtain stuff, a house in the suburbs, a fancy corporate title? Why? Because it isn’t my dream.

I’ve been knocking on doors in corporate america looking for a job for over a year. Apparently, the feeling is mutual they are not impressed by my credentials because the only people calling my phone are those automated bill collectors with the creepy computer voice. I was knocking on the wrong doors.

I realized that since I left NYC I stopped doing comedy which is something I had been doing whenever I had the opportunity. I love preforming. I left NYC because I was scared. I’m not scared anymore. I just need some direction. My plan to raise the money to bring comedy back into my life at The American Comedy Institute isn’t “normal”. Its the only way I can get back to NYC to devote myself one-hundred percent to following my dream of becoming a stand-up comedian.

I have officially been accepted to the school I applied to and this September (09) I am due to start a One-Year Professional Comedy Program at the American Comedy Institute.

“They” say there is a light at the end of the tunnel if this is true and there is a light at the end of the tunnel I think the light must have burned out and I intend to get that light back on. This is the part where I ask for your help.

Overall, for one academic year, my expenses are estimated to be around $16,000 (around half of which is tuition fees; the rest is the suggested amount for accommodation and general living costs). I turn 35 this September and this would be the most amazing birthday gift. I know that times are tight for everyone so anything you can donate to help me follow my dreams would be gratefully appreciated!

I want to thank each and every person who even took the time to read this. For more information about me or to watch some of my performances on youtube, please visit my website:

http://www.myspace.com/carlamilo

http://corporateamericaruinedfashion.com/