Danniel Ureña

As a first-generation college student, Danniel is extremely proud of his parents who made sacrifices for him and his sisters when they came to the United States from Mexico.  Danniel, a Thurgood Marshall Theatre major states that being admitted to the First Generation Student Success Coaching Program helped him gain the confidence to face his fear and audition and be selected for Muir Musical’s production of Songs for a New World. “During COVID, I was sent home and used the time to take vocal lessons and applied to be a peer coach so that I can now give back to other first-generation students who may have similar backgrounds as mine while still growing in my own personal path.”

Danniel discovered his true passions when he got to college. Since his career is in the arts, a lot of people assume his interests and talents only lie within the arts, but he believes his authentic source of happiness already comes innately inside of him: his identity. When he entered UC San Diego, Danniel vowed to reconnect with his Latino roots, language, and culture. He has written a one-act play about the struggles of families in America that was produced on campus.

Danniel’s ultimate career goal is to keep performing, either singing, acting, or dancing, and continuing to do things he loves. “There are endless amounts of rejection and competition for the same role, which can be overwhelmingly discouraging,” but he perceives it as motivation to work harder to reach his goals. Being in quarantine taught Danniel a lot; that despite all the odds and challenges as a Mexican gay male in the entertainment industry, he believes he has what it takes. “I believe I can make it to Broadway or Hollywood, but that won’t make me fulfilled; being on stage will.”