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Sharing My Story By Brieanne Jansen

"Dare to Dream- Dream Big because dreams really do come true".

I would like to share with you a little about my life so far. I hope you find what I have to say encouraging. Sometimes life can be difficult, but I am here to tell you "Never Give Up". Dig deep when things get tough and always dare to dream – dream big because dreams really do come true.

In August of 2001, my family moved from North Bay, Ontario, Canada to Sunnyvale, Calif. My Dad had been here two years before us in order to secure a work visa that would allow the whole family to be together. Our reunion with my Dad was an extremely joyful occasion.

Nineteen days after we moved, we were held hostage. A man running from the police entered our home and held us against our will. My Dad was at work, so it was just my Mom, my brother (Shawn – aged 3) and I (age 4) in the apartment when the hostage taking occurred. For everyone in my family, this was the roughest time of our life.

In the weeks following the ordeal, I started to get really bad headaches. There were days when my headaches were so bad that I could not see, I could not talk and I was unable to put words together to make a sentence. I would have to be in a room with no light and no noise - sometimes it took 5 days for the pain to ease up. My parents took me to the doctor who ordered an MRI. We learned that I was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – caused by the hostage taking. At this point in my life I was afraid of just about everything and everyone! I did not like going out into public and when I did I spent my time hiding behind my Mom’s leg. When I was down and afraid, I used food for comfort and as a result I gained a good deal of weight. Today I am proud to say that I have changed that aspect of my life and shed 33 pounds, with only 8 left until I hit my target!

It took 5 long years before the man was sentenced for his crime. During those years I just tried to hold on to the hopes that one day my family would get justice for what we went through. The day that we went to court for the sentencing hearing – June 28, 2006, was the last day that I had a migraine. Once the court case was over, I felt relieved and safe. Now I was going to try to live like a "normal" 10 year old.

In May last year I asked my parents if we could travel to L.A. so that I could audition for a movie called Kit Kittredge: An American Girl. At first everyone in my family was in total shock because I had never done anything like this before. I think I caught them by surprise! My parents talked it over and decided that allowing me to audition would be a good experience for me. They cautioned me about not getting my heart set on being chosen for the movie – the odds were certainly not in my favor. I just wanted to go and do my best – I just wanted to be "me"

When we arrived at American Girl place in L.A. the audition line was the longest line I had ever seen in my life! We waited for hours on the sidewalk for my chance to audition. It was the longest wait of my life but I had a good time meeting girls from all over the country. At about 4:30 I had the opportunity to audition. I returned to the hotel at about 5:30 and just a few minutes after that I received a call back. I went back the next day and auditioned yet again. The producers of the movie told us we would get a call by May 17^th if we were chosen. May 17^th came and went and I did not receive a call. At that point I did not believe there was any hope of being chosen. However, on May 21st, I received a phone call from Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas who said that I had been one of four girls chosen for a role in the movie. (More than 2,400 girls auditioned.) My life was beginning to change – my secret dream of acting in a movie was about to come true.

I have learned a good deal in the last few years:

1. When you are good at something – be proud of yourself but do not brag!

2. Remember to compliment others success.

3. Treat other people the way you want to be treated.

Ultimately, life is about giving – not getting! I hope to touch one life during my lifetime.

The movie was filmed last summer in Toronto, Canada and is due to hit theaters July 2, 2008

My premier party will be held at Second Harvest Food Bank on Sunday July 13, 2008

Hope to see you there.

Blessings,

Brieanne Jansen