“What has this journey brought you? Is this what you’ve expected it to be?” A reporter asks curiously. When those words left their mouth and hit my ear, a flash flood of memories came rushing through my brain from when I was in Kenya to Mexico to my audition for my first movie. That question lingered in my mind for the rest of the nominee’s luncheon. After I left, I decided to start planning my outfit for the Oscars.
Today is the day I go to my first Academy awards for the Oscars for the first time in my life. Before I leave I decide to call my mom, I pick up the phone and answer with a “Hello, I hear my mom's soft tone holler “Hey girly, how’s the states or how they say ‘America' ” she questions with joy. “Well I'm going to the Oscars today, and when I win you're gonna see your daughter in headlights!”.“ Really well I'll be watching,” she chuckles. I ended the call finally ready to go with a cheerful smile as I left my house. As I head to the car, paparazzi surround us but I finally make it to the red carpet and there I see flashing lights everywhere. It blinks faster than the speed of sound piercing my eyes as I proceed to make my way to the Dolby theatre entrance. The doors slam wide open and I'm then welcomed by the greeters at the door. We walk to take our seats by the stage as me, the cast, and the director sit down, The award ceremony starts.
Applause, laughter, and speeches halfway through the ceremony dim throughout the audience. Finally bringing up the category of “Best Supporting Actress” for the 2014 Academy awards. At that moment, the day of the nominee’s luncheon, the questions I was asked brought back that same set of memories, the nervousness and pounding in my chest I felt when I heard I was a nominee all returned, and was brought back when they finally revealed the winner. “ and the Oscar for best supporting actress goes to...Lupita Nyong’o for her film 12 years a slave.” moments before revealing the winner my heart was going at an exhilarating rate to then stop for a second to hear my name “Lupita Nyong’o!”, I could swear my soul left my body, but instead I jumped to my feet, hugging everyone and anyone around me with my tears of joy falling like raindrops in the sky. I make my way up to the stage, holding up my dress with a bold, but proud smile on my overwhelmed expression. When finally receiving the award, I grasped the frosty, gleaming surface that shined so bright the sun couldn’t compete. I walked up to the microphone astonished with gratitude, thanking my inspiration, innovation, director Steve Mcqueen, and my character from the movie “Patsey”.
I looked in the crowd for the last words of my speech and saw my director nod giving me reassurance of accepting the award with an open mind and heart to continue my acting journey that I have ahead.
The next day I went to an interview with Ellen DeGeneres talking about my oscar, how I felt, and how I developed my speech. We talked about my upcoming movies and auditions to then end my time there.
Every day after the Oscars, luncheon, and the interviews that same question came back and finally, I was able to answer it. “What has this journey brought you? Is this what you’ve expected it to be?” Well is this journey of mine is definitely what I’ve expected it to be, of course not, there have been many surprises, moments of doubt, and confidence. However I do plan on continuing my journey to the fullest and if that means winning awards, starring in movies, and attending interviews for my journey to be successful then that’s what I'll do and nobody will tell me I can't.