When Patrick Blanton ’16 began his college search last year, he knew the financial burden would fall squarely on his shoulders.
It was a burden he was prepared to take on after being accepted into New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts – one of the top theatre schools in the country. Blanton planned on making a tough decision: take a gap year to make some money or commit to loans that would take years to pay off.
Fortunately, he never had to make the call.
Last month, the Saint Patrick graduate found out he would be receiving a full-ride to NYU, giving him the opportunity to pursue his passion without taking on crippling loans.
Blanton will never forget the emotional moment when he found out he would be receiving the financial assistance, which he will forever be grateful for receiving.
“It feels like all my work since freshmen year, when I committed myself to acting, has paid off,” he said. “It felt so good for me because when I was applying to colleges I knew that I was going to be the only person to support myself in college. I knew that there would be no money at home for me if I decided to go to college.”
Blanton was part of a handful of school plays early on during his time at Saint Patrick, with roles in shows such as “The Tragedy of Lucifer,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Oliver” and “Dracula.”
While still attending St. Pat’s. Blanton went on to work at Chicago’s Free Street Theater and Goodman Theatre before landing a starring role in the American Theater Company’s production of “Kill Floor,” which really put him on the map.
Blanton credits his early education at St. Pat’s, both on and off the stage, for allowing him to land those professional roles at a young age.
“I’m forever grateful for the theatre department. It’s kept me at school and it’s been there for me during some tough times,” he said. “Taking theatre classes early on contributed to what I’ve become today. I think it’s because of my diverse education, inside and outside of St. Pat’s, that I’ve been able to express myself in a way that people want to see me do more.”
Now, Blanton will head to a prestigious educational institution with a list of impressive alumni that includes the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Alec Baldwin and Billy Crystal, to name a few. The list can be somewhat daunting, but as Blanton pursues his degree in Experimental Theater, he doesn’t plan on being anyone but himself.
“When I go to that school, I know what I’m there for. I’m not trying to emulate anyone,” he said. “I think it’s my heart and my passion that has allowed me to be put in such a school, so I want to remember that.”
