Jen Lilley Says This Conversation ‘Changed My Entire Life’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Great American Family actress Jen Lilley is thanking her college professor for helping her overcome her anxiety and propelling her toward her career as a successful actress.
“It’s time for another round of random facts about me with a random photo,” she said on Instagram Friday. “This one’s a bit longer so I had to screen cap my facts (swipe to see them). Posting because I truly hope it inspires & encourages you.”
Lilley told her followers how her professor at James Madison University changed her life. She shared photos of her recent email to him and a letter that he sent to another university on her behalf.
She said:
1)I used to have such bad test anxiety that I would almost pass out. Way back when I took the SATs & the top score was still 1600, I would always get over 1500 on my practice test, which were simply old SATs that one would use to prepare. However, when I would get to test day, I would almost pass out because I wanted to go to the University of Virginia since I was about three years old, and I knew that you had to get a minimum of 1400 in order to get into the school. So I would shake so hard my pencil would fall to the ground and then once I picked up my pencil, I would shake so hard my paper would fall to the ground and I would just lose very valuable time.
I have no idea if they still time those tests but they were timed when I took them. I think the best I ever got was 1310. (I had to take it multiple times due to overwhelming anxiety). It wasn’t until my first year of College when I attended James Madison University, that a professor of geography pulled me out of class one day and said I don’t understand how you’re not getting a perfect score on every test. You know every single answer in class to the point that I don’t call on you because we need to give somebody else a chance. But when you get to the test, it’s like you think I’m tricking you and you miss answers that I know you answered correctly during lecture.
Anyway, long story short, he talk to me about my fear and asked me why I put so much pressure on myself, and I told him it was because UVA said if I got perfect grades, they would let me in as a transfer student. I did end up transferring to the University of Virginia, and I suppose that was fate because I never would have found acting if I hadn’t gone on to UVA, but I will never forget that professor because he changed my entire life.
In her email to the professor, she thanked him and said, “You taught me basically everything I ever needed to know in life in one simple conversation.”
Many of her followers thanked Lilley for sharing her story, and some told similar stories about test anxiety or how teachers helped change their lives for the better.
Lilley previously told Showbiz Cheat Sheet about her anxiety as a soap opera actress and foster parent.
“You are so replaceable on a soap opera that it is so stressful,” she said. “The only time I’ve been that stressed out in life was when I was facing my son’s custody battle with his adoption. Because I knew he was going to die if he went back to his birth father.”
“And then we adopted him, thank God. But he fully would be dead. Those were the only times I’ve been so stressed out,” she said. “GENERAL HOSPITAL and Kayden’s adoption.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Kayden’s adoption story:
“Our son Kayden’s case was really scary,” she said. “Both of our boys share the same birth mom, who I love so deeply. But part of her bad choices, unfortunately, were that she was in a lot of domestic violence situations. For Kayden’s particular case, it was so dangerous I have no doubt in my mind that he would not have survived to his third birthday had he not been adopted by us. So his case was very stressful and very dangerous and very high stakes.
“His case was just so severe, we were just praying that we could adopt him because the idea of him going back meant imminent death,” she added. “And that’s what scary about foster care: At the end of the day, even if everyone advocates for [the child’s] adoption, you don’t know how the judge is going to rule.”
Lilley recently performed in GAF’s A PARIS CHRISTMAS WALTZ, which was nominated for a Movieguide® Epiphany Prize®.
Lilley posted on her Instagram story about the annual Movieguide® awards broadcast, which will air on March 7 at 8 p.m. ET on GAF.
“Eek!! Tune in to see if #AParisChristmasWaltz wins 😍 😍 😍,” she excitedly shared with a clip of the awards show on her Instagram story.
Will you watch Jen Lilley in the Movieguide Awards on March 7?
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
