Raymond Boland

I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I had a stable family life with a loving mother and father. The only thing different or unique about me is that I grew up with epilepsy. It was a rare type of epilepsy in which the brain wouldn't "catch" certain neuron pulses while I was asleep. The seizure, when it occurred, put me into a comatose like state. While in this state, I would also vomit, which was obviously dangerous in a non-responsive condition. Because of the potentially fatal result of this type of epilepsy, I was prescribed an extremely potent anti-seizure medication designed to slow and control brain function. Although effective at controlling seizures, it also made it difficult for me to maintain a clear thought process. I became incredibly distracted and very slow mentally. However, by fifth grade, my neurologist began to wean me off the medication, hoping that my brain had developed enough to correct the problem with the neuro-transmitters. That year was magical, to say the least. It was like waking up from a dream. I was able to think clearly. Moreover, it was at that time that I discovered that something I had hated so much because of how inept it made me feel, was now something that I actually enjoyed doing. Writing was no longer a chore, but some thing that became one of my enjoyable aspects of my life. As I grew older, my love for writing morphed itself into a love for telling stories. Over time, I found myself wanting to share my creative ideas and stories in more real and vivid detail, to physically show people what I had created in my mind, exactly as I saw it. My answer was film.

I'm a strong believer in doing what you do in life because you love it, not because of the money. As I entered college, I believed that making movies would never be anything more than a hobby for me. I considered being a movie director, but it simply seemed like an unrealistic goal. Not until very recently have I decided not to just give up on this dream in order to pursue the safer, more conventional route. The world might need another corporate suit, but it doesn’t have to be me. The world definitely needs another storyteller. If I make it, I make it. If I don't, then at least I tried; at least I experienced it. Sometimes life isn’t all about the achievements. Sometimes the experiences are more than enough to make you happy.