James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Ethan Hunt are some of my favorite on-screen undercover agents. They make saving the world look easy! They are always undetectable and unnoticeable. But I take notice! Watching them break necks, decipher codes, perform incredible stunts, and outrun constant peril makes me think that I have what it takes to do what they do so well. I would love to become a real life CIA or FBI agent. I know how to be secret while observing and collecting information, all the while remaining undetectable. Pulling these two careers together would be fantastic. I could be an ACTING SPY!

WORKING AS AN ACTOR:

The men listed above make acting look easy. In reality, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. To become a successful actor, you must have talent and the ability to portray many different character roles. Having a background that includes an abundance of varied things, such as I do, is also essential. This will help lead to your range of acting and allow you to bring true emotion to each role you perform. It is important to be flexible, and you have to be comfortable taking direction from other people.

In my 13 years of life, my background has consisted of extensive traveling, experiencing unique cultures, meeting all kinds of interesting people, and trying to learn something from everywhere I go. This experience, combined with my knowledge of international travel, would definitely come in handy if I could land a role in a foreign location. I wouldn’t be scared of staying in different places and I would most likely pick up the language of that region pretty quickly. I would be at ease working with the local crew members and it would be great to have them assist me with the hustle and bustle of the crowds, fan clubs, and paparazzi.   I am also good with directions and after a few days I can usually find my way around pretty easily. I would have no problem knowing how much or little to pack, and am certain that I could deal with any problem that arose.

While traveling, I have gotten the chance to see a few foreign location shoots. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, I literally bumped into Ashley Judd, who was filming an ABC series called Missing. In Vienna, Austria, I walked across a bridge and explored the rooftop of a building that was used by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. I also saw some of the filming locations for GI Joe, as well as the Avengers. It was really cool to see all of these different sets and it inspired me to want to become an actor that works on location.

Obviously, one of the huge bonuses of this type of job is the money. I certainly wouldn’t mind making a few million bucks!.

WORKING AS A SPY:

As much as being an actor appeals to me, I can honestly say that being a real life undercover agent, like for the CIA or FBI, would be amazing! Ever since I got my first pair of night vision goggles, I was set on being a spy. Over the years, I have had so much fun playing with all kinds of cool gadgets, like invisible ink, handcuffs, laser triggered alarms, watches you can talk into, walkie talkies, trick ropes, containers with hidden compartments, and so much more. My favorite gadget is a pair of glasses that enables me to see behind myself without moving. My mom always tries to borrow them, but why? Don’t all moms have eyes on the back of their heads?

Recently, I visited the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. I learned about planning, secret identities, proper passports, weapons, secret gadgetry, and different types of currency. They gave us a mission and it was up to us to follow the clues to crack the case. This was one of the best museums I have ever visited! While there, I found out that in order to become a spy, you need to go through extensive training. You must have the ability to blend in with a crowd, adjust to the settings of the location, and navigate your way around. These are important qualities for a spy. It’s not all about breaking into a bad guy’s hideout or achieving world dominance.

Having international experience would really help in any job, but I think it is imperative to be well traveled for these career choices. Intrigue, mystery, foreign languages – yup, I’ve got what it takes! I’m going to be an acting spy!

Dylan DeMichiel is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program

All photos courtesy and copyright Dylan DeMichiel