Chicago native Brent Thomas Whiteside describes himself as a “multihyphenate.” After a decade of working as a writer and producer for television and digital media, he has come to Brooklyn College to enhance his storytelling skills by pursuing a B.F.A. degree in creative writing. Here he talks about his career in media, his first love (the theater), and his plan to become a playwright. In the end he has some solid advice for his fellow students.

Tell us about your background.

I was born and raised in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. My family owns and operates a church on the South Side of the city (my grandfather is the bishop, my mother the pastor). I flew the nest, dropped out of school, and moved to New York when I was 19 years old. Now I find myself here at Brooklyn College, finishing the degree I started over 10 years ago at Illinois State University. I initially moved to the city to pursue acting and theater, but other avenues opened up to me. I found myself working as a storyteller and producer, and I’ve been blessed to work across the industry, telling stories in multiple mediums—from short and longform videos on the internet at places like VICE and BuzzFeed to documentaries for companies like HBO and Hulu. But I’m eager to get back to my first love: theater.

Why did you choose Brooklyn College?

Honestly, proximity was my initial attraction. I live in Bedstuy, and it’s nothing for me to just hop on the B44 and jet to campus. The more I spoke to people about the school—everyone raved about its English Department, primarily creative writing. That paired with what I’ve come to learn about the Theater Department, made the choice a practical one.

Why did you choose the creative writing program and what do you like most about it?

Before anything, I am a writer, a poet. Words and the bending of language are things I’ve been doing before I even knew what I was doing. The core of everything I love and everything I’m good at lives on the foundation of my curiosity about words, language, and text. This was my entry point into theater. It’s what made it possible for me to explore documentaries and filmmaking. The key to conveying anything is the ability to tell a story, to harness language to do your will. All those years ago, during my first attempt to obtain a degree, I majored in theater—acting. This time around, it made more sense to pursue creative writing (playwriting), with a minor in acting.

Have you completed any internships, or received any grants, stipends, or scholarships from Brooklyn College?

Most recently, I was selected for the Mellon Undergraduate Transfer Student Research Program, where I am developing a project on the intersections of performance, memoir, and poetry under the mentorship of Professor Rosamond S. King. The English Department awarded me the Louis Goodman Creative Writing Scholarship [overseen by the Brooklyn College Foundation] for an outstanding creative writing submission. I was a CUNY Cultural Corps fellow in a paid program that places CUNY in arts and cultural institutions in New York City. Through that program I was paired with the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. I was a Public Theater Brooklyn College resident, serving as a dramaturg for the Public Playwrights residency. I was a Magner Career Center stipend winner; this funded a documentary project and work with an emerging New York City production company. I was chosen by Playwrights Horizons to be a student ambassador connecting CUNY students with accessible, affordable theater experiences.

How do you envision your first year after graduating?

I would love to be workshopping and developing new works in and around the city, maybe even getting out of New York City, squatting elsewhere, and writing a play. I’m open.

If you had to convince another student like you to go to college here, what would you say?

The world runs on the backs of public school students. New York City shines because of public school students. It can pay to go to a public school. I would encourage anyone looking to further their education to look at what is available to them in their immediate communities and backyards. Enrichment is so accessible; all you have to do is reach for it.

Do you have any advice for your fellow students?

Two things. Take full advantage of the resources and facilities around you. Access such as this exists in very few places outside of academia or in our city. While they are available to you, not only use them, but maximize your use of them so that what you do or where you go next, you’re fully prepared because of the work you’ve already done and the connections you made.

And two: There’s sooo much “free” money on this campus—from fellowships, stipends, endowments, etc. Deadlines are scary, but get on them. The only shots you miss are the ones you don’t take. If you don’t get it the first time, apply again, and again, and again. Someone is reading those applications; they are seeing your name. Some things may not come around immediately, maybe not even the third time, but you’d be shocked to learn that in many cases what you do now is setting you up for the sixth thing, the seventh. Get yourself out there.