Rubén Carbajal, far left, performs in Hamilton.
RUBÉN J. CARBAJAL
Cal State Fullerton, ’15, Principal Actor—First U.S. National Tour of Hamilton
How did your time at CSUF prepare you for your career?
Once I was in the ‘real world’ and post-grad, I had very few moments of ‘learning the hard way.’ College was the hard way. Being Mexican American and Spanish-speaking and having zero professional connections in my field, the odds were stacked against me from day one. I knew that if I wanted to succeed in the real world, college was the first step. During my first two years, I put my head down, worked hard and did my best to retain information that seemed like it was coming from a million different places. I read scripts, listened to cast recordings and would even rehearse ballet, tap and jazz in our dormitory’s community laundry room. I watched as my classmates and peers were cast in productions as underclassmen, but instead of complaining or giving up, I took it as a sign that I needed to work harder. That is what has helped me the most: acknowledging my skills and weaknesses, and my ability to take rejection.
Which skills that you learned at CSUF do you still utilize every day?
I’d never taken a formal dance class in my life, so I am grateful that I was forced to take ballet, tap, jazz and dance for musical theater. While I still don’t consider myself a dancer by any means, I’m able to at least look like I don’t have two left feet when I am asked to dance at an audition. That, as well as basic music theory, has really helped when I start a new show or need to learn callback material quickly. I also learned how to balance and manage my time wisely because the workload was incredibly tough. Learning how to balance classes, work, shows, rehearsals and relationships with friends and family was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
Did you receive assistance that helped get you ready for the workforce?
I was a resident advisor (RA) sophomore year, which is widely accepted as the most difficult year curriculum/workload-wise for musical theater students. I received great mentorship during my time as an RA from my supervisor, and although my schedule was busy, my supervisor was very understanding and encouraging that I could balance everything.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about attending a CSU?
CSUs are often underappreciated and overlooked. I thought I had to go to a UC or a private university to succeed in my field. That thought process could not have been further from the truth. I was provided with all the tools necessary for me to succeed, all the while knowing my education was affordable. Like anything in life, you get what you put into the experience. I firmly believe there's something for everyone at a CSU.