Everyone has a dream and potential to reach it, but sometimes there is an obstacle in the way. Whether it is money, time or the people around you, there always seems to be something blocking you from the ultimate goal. That is where the show MADE comes in. MTV is going to try and help one student overcome these hindrances and reach their dream.

I signed up to be MADE because chances like this don’t come around very often. I can barely imagine what it would be like to be MADE into a news anchor, a lifelong wish of mine. Calling it ‘monumental’ does not even come close to describing amazing it would be.

MTV is traveling around campuses looking for a student to become the next person on their show MADE, a show that helps a person with self-improvement. Coaches are assigned to the featured person to help them reach goals such as becoming a skateboarder, a ladies man or even lose some weight. Whatever your dream is, MADE can help you reach it.

I signed up immediately hoping that I would be the one to be chosen and my dreams would be fulfilled. There was a questionnaire that every contestant had to fill out before going to casting calls. The questions ranged from ‘How long have you had this dream?’ to ‘Whom do you live with?’. I found it difficult to express how passionate I was about reaching my goal in between the spaces provided between each question. I do not even know if it is possible to put into words the drive people have for reaching their dreams.

MTV contacted the Illini Union Board about having casting calls at the University. Sign-ups for auditions were held on March 1 and 2 at the Illini Union Courtyard Café. MTV representatives were on campus yesterday and are again today for the actual casting calls.

I went to the Levis Faculty Center, where the auditions were being held yesterday. As I sat outside the room waiting to be called to go in, I was overcome with nerves. I am not one to get nervous very often so the clammy hands and churning stomach was quite a new experience. When my name was called, I awkwardly fumbled with the questionnaire and walked into a large room that had a small card table in the middle with two chairs. The MTV representative shook my hand and gave me a toothy grin as I sat down. He recorded me as he asked me questions about school and where I am from. The conversation came with ease as he made me feel comfortable with his nods and his interest in my answers. The casting call was like talking to a friend.

It is not guaranteed that a student from this campus will be chosen because students who try out have lots of competition. The MTV representatives are traveling around many campuses looking for a student that has enough passion to put in all the hard work and go the distance. According to Tolu Taiwo, junior in Media, Illini Media employee and president of the Illini Union Board, it would reflect positively on our University if a student from our campus were to be selected.

“Picking someone from our University would A. make us proud of them and might increase school pride if it is our student that gets taped,” Taiwo said. “B. It also shows we are a diverse group of students who do have interests in people.”

Whatever your dream is, MADE is a great opportunity to go out and get it. MADE has the time and the coaches to help you reach whatever it is you wish to become.

I felt a sense of pride as I left the casting call knowing that I had already attempted to put my dreams into motion. If I do get picked to be MADE, I will only be one step closer to the ultimate goal.

“You are always scared that you are going to fail or don’t know how you are going to reach your goal,” Taiwo said. “This is a good push for having people to come and be MADE and have their dreams come true.”

_Haley is a freshman in Media._