For Justin DeCarolis, filmmaking isn’t just a hobby — it’s a calling. A junior at VLACS and the first-ever junior recipient of the McGarr Real World Learning Award who is enrolled in experiential learning, Justin is using his passion and the flexibility of virtual learning to pursue a dream he’s had since he was a kid with a phone camera and an idea.
“I can’t think of a specific time,” Justin says, reflecting on when his passion for film started. “I’ve just always been doing funny video stuff and little projects, and then more recently I’ve been making more highly edited videos, trying to do more professional stuff.”
That growing passion has now turned into something more concrete, thanks to the award that helps VLACS students take their learning into the real world. The McGarr Real World Learning Award is available to full-time VLACS juniors and seniors enrolled in a VLACS experiential-learning project. With funding up to $500, students can pursue activities or projects related to their project, aligning with the goals of their future plans.
Justin is using his award to purchase a new camera and filmmaking equipment — tools that will help him scale up his content and build a portfolio for the future.
“I was immediately excited,” he says. “Because I can’t just go out and buy a camera or other equipment. I would have to work for a long time to afford that. So when I heard that there was an award that gives out funds for that, I was super excited for this chance to actually get more professional equipment and make my stuff look that much better.”
His upcoming micro-internship is already shaping up to be a meaningful experience. He’ll be working alongside a media professional he knows through his church, helping to cover an upcoming event. “I’ll be working with them at the conference, helping with taking pictures, videos — hopefully making a recap video or something,” he says with enthusiasm.
Justin is a full-time VLACS student, and he says that it has made all the difference for him. “Honestly, I love it,” he says about his VLACS experience. “It’s a lot easier to do school online. We’re a little back-and-forth sometimes, moving-wise, so it’s definitely more flexible. But there’s also a lot more that VLACS offers. It’s given me more opportunities for actual video production courses and other courses that I probably wouldn’t have gotten in person.”
Looking ahead, Justin is excited about where his new gear — and new experiences — will take him. He is already exploring college film programs and considering how to turn his passion into a profession.
Achieve Your Dreams With VLACS Equal Opportunity Fund Programs
“The Real World Learning Award is just another one of the amazing things we do at VLACS, and I am so lucky to get to interview all of these students as part of their application process,” said Julie Reece, VLACS Director of Teaching and Learning.
“I love meeting with the students to hear their stories and learn about their dreams. Our funding these projects gives students the opportunity to put those passions into practice and test them out in the "real" world. I think this has an impact on helping students to not only gain incredible hands-on experience, but also to fine-tune their plans beyond high school.”
Justin is also eager to encourage others to pursue their own dreams through opportunities like the McGarr Real World Learning Award:
“I just want to encourage other people to apply to the award,” he says. “It’s not hard to apply, as long as you just believe that you can get the award. If you can think about where you want to be in the future and you can portray that in your interview, then you don’t have to worry. It’s not a scary thing — it’s an award. They want to give it to people!”
The Real World Learning Award is just one of the funding programs available to VLACS students — there is also a technology assistance fund, a post-graduate award, and two adult education assistance options. If you are interested in learning more about how VLACS can support your dreams, visit our Equal Opportunity Fund Programs page to learn more and apply today.
Interested in helping students fulfill their potential? You can donate to the Equal Opportunity Fund.
