Meet Eugena Gardner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eugena Gardner.

Hi Eugena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I go by the name of Gina. Where do I begin? Hmm… maybe the beginning, right? I was born here in Georgia. However, at the age of four, I moved to California for my mother’s job. We were originally only supposed to be there for thirteen weeks. Little did I know those thirteen weeks would turn into fifteen years of my life. Though I was born in Georgia, I like to say I am from California. There, I molded into the woman I am today.

As a child, I always knew I wanted to be an actress. At a young age, I fell in love with singing, acting, and dancing. I knew with all my being that one day I wanted to be on TV. I would not stop until I made my dreams come true. My work ethic is unmatched and my determination has helped me through some of my darkest days. Today, I am proud to say by the grace of God, my dreams are becoming my reality. However, this reality came with trials, challenges, and a lot of pain. Let’s just say 2021 was a year of tenacity, courage, grief, and suffering. In the past year, I have had two code strokes, twenty plus seizures, and more than twenty anaphylactic episodes. I wish I could make this up, but who would I be without pressing through those challenges? Recently, I wrote, directed, starred, and produced my own film. I am excited to see where the film goes. However, what most people do not know is the road it took to get here. I am no stranger to pain. In fact, we became the best of friends for some time. In the process of filming I suffered my second traumatic brain injury resulting in being airlifted to the intensive care unit. I thought this would be the one to take me home. I could not gain control of my body. After waking up in the hospital, I could not feel the right side of my body. The on-call neurologist said that I was suffering from partial paralysis. It was unknown if I’d ever walk, write, or regain mobility on the right side of my body.

During this time, I was still a full-time college student, actress, tutor, trainer, chef, trainee, and above all else a human being. This was a very arduous time in my life. I remember one of my professors said he’d give me an incomplete for the semester due to illness-causing me to fall behind. This would set me behind to graduate. I wept and prayed to God to make a way. How could one class stop me from crossing the stage? I was able to do my work during my lengthy recovery. I could not write properly nor would my hands stop shaking, but God made a way. I was able to maintain over a 90% in all my courses. Through God’s grace, I graduated in the top 2% of my university, the top of my law program with a 108%, and a 4.0 GPA. The list of accolades continues. I received the presidential award from my university- meaning I became a part of the Presidents list as a result of obtaining a 4.0GPA. I developed fluency in Spanish. I graduated at the top of my Spanish program which led to receiving the scholarship for the entire program. For the scholarship, I was up against students from my University, students abroad, and students in other Spanish-speaking countries. I became an Ingram Scholar. I was also voted “Most Ambitious” and “Spirit of the Tutoring Center.” I received numerous academic scholarships and academic excellence awards. I was on the Dean’s list from my freshman to senior year. I am an honorary graduate. I’ve had the opportunity to host an awards ceremony.

Today, I am committed to my dream. I have worked extremely hard to get here. I want others to know that it is not a linear road. I think my story surprises many because I do not look like all I have been through. This has been none of me and all of God. I have felt more pain than some will in their entire lives but it will not stop me from living mine. I am currently finding joy in the journey. The quote: “You asked for my hustle, I gave you my heart” by the legend, Kobe Bryant, has carried me very far. I live in the truth of my motto “I can’t quit. I have an Oscar to win. I am going to do THAT DAMN thang.”During these gut-wrenching times, I found myself. I found the beautiful, kind, compassionate, tenacious, resilient, and loving soul who lives in me. I found Gina. I learned the power of stillness, self-love, and perseverance. I learned what strength really meant. I never had a clear definition of strength. I thought it was just someone who walked around with a straight face. However, I learned that my strength comes from being able to go through everything and still illuminate a room with my luminous smile and contagious energy. But hey, you know what they say: “The test is in the testimony.”

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Aside from all the physical obstacles in which I have already detailed. I learned how to prioritize my mental health. For so long, I neglected my emotional health to focus on healing my physical body. However, my healing journey truly took place when I allowed myself to feel. In March of 2020, I received a callback from a Netflix show. I was set to be the lead in a new series. I was so excited! I truly felt this would be my role. I auditioned in front of the producers, directors, and writers prior to the callback. This would be my final audition. However, the pandemic hit right before the date of the callback. I thought this was the one but God had another plan. Devastation set in as well as thoughts centering grief. How do you grieve the loss of something that is not gone? I allowed myself to look at it as an opportunity for growth. I allowed myself to be still and continue to work on my craft. Rejection is one of the stinging pains that comes with life. However, you can control how much of that pain you will let sting. The various perspectives I gained centering rejection allowed me to thrive and grow. I have dealt with rejection more times than I could even count. After being rejected, thoughts of not being good enough began to spiral in my mind. After all, I saw everyone else advancing. I just wanted to be where I envisioned. Comparison is the thief of joy. This microwave generation demands quick results. However, “if it comes easy it won’t last long, if it lasts long it won’t come easy.” I used to get so caught up in the heartache of not booking the role. One day, my acting coach Dwayne Boyd said, “It is okay if you do not book the role, book the room.” From that day forward, I looked at my acting career with a new set of lenses. I am no longer burdened by the stings of rejection. Instead, I am filled with the motivation to get my big “Yes.” On the days when I am not motivated, I rely on my faith and self-discipline. It only takes one yes. I am not a quitter, in fact the complete opposite.

However, working in an industry as competitive as acting, the thought has crossed my mind more than a few times. I remember one day I had another talk with my coach, where I was ready to throw in the towel. I was simply done. I did not want to do this anymore. I felt like all the strenuous work and struggles were for nothing. We spoke for a while and he told me, “You cannot quit until you hear 300 no’s.” From that day, I have continued to preserve and chase my dreams. It is strenuous and takes someone of great strength and determination to pick themselves back up after repeatedly getting knocked down. With my amazing support system, parents, and God, I have continued to pick myself up. In this life, it is not about what happens to you. It is about what you will do about it. I choose to fight, persevere, and keep going. Without the help, support, and sacrifice of my family, especially my parents, I would not be the woman I am today. My dad instilled determination, perseverance, and work ethic in me at a very young age. My mom taught me the essence of truly being a good person with a great heart. She is absolutely incredible and a dream come true to have her as my mother. Together they have shown me what the power of prayer can do. They have believed in me since day one. I could not thank them enough.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an actress, singer, and dancer. I specialize in acting and singing. I am known for my bubbly, vibrant, and radiant personality. My energy truly speaks before I do. I have done commercials from goPuff to commercials at my University. I’ve worked on sets of many films and short films. I’ve had the honor to host an awards ceremony for my University as well. Recently, I wrote, produced, starred, and directed my own film. The film won for “Most Ambitious.” I could not be more proud. I work very hard and to see it rewarded is just an amazing feeling. I have big plans for the future of my film. I also have a YouTube channel that I absolutely love. I think there are a few things that set me apart from others. To start, my energy, as I have stated previously, is truly unmatched. I can walk into a room and before I say a word, my presence is felt. I have a mentality that I will not be outworked. I will give it all I have. When I am working towards something, I am extremely focused and not easily sidetracked. My ambition has carried me to places I never knew I could go. I am fearlessly authentic. The Gina you see is the Gina you get. I pride myself on authenticity and being genuine. Naturally, I am very funny and love to bring laughter and joy to others. Lastly, my heart is probably too big to fit inside of my body. I often heal people that I never hurt. I absolutely love people and being a light in their lives. Even if my story touches one person, I can peacefully sleep at night knowing one more person in this world does not feel alone. I am most proud of my ability to continue to be myself wholeheartedly. I am proud of the tenacity that lies within as well as the fierce, integrous, bold, and confident woman I am blossoming into.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was never people’s first choice. I felt constantly overlooked. However, I knew I was the best choice. I did not learn until I was older that God did not set me aside, he set me apart. Our brains remember traumas that affected our childhood. Childhood plays such an important role in our adult lives. I remember as early as the third grade feeling unseen. It was my favorite time of school, recess. The kids were picking members for their kickball team. Now, this was my game so excitement filled my body. A profound fear settled after not hearing my name for a few rounds of picks. Then, my darkest fear crept in. I was the only kid left on the wall. Everyone else had already been chosen. I was not chosen, it was more of I was the only one left. That was one of my first experiences of heartbreak. I never felt more unseen. I could never truly understand the stinging, burning, and gut-wrenching pain this caused. Growing up, I was often bullied because of my personality. I wish words could encompass all the things that make up my personality. My personality is vivacious, quirky, energetic yet calming at the same time. In sum, my personality is unique and different. I stood in my uniqueness and individuality. Originality and being different was not something that was celebrated. During my time in elementary, middle, and high school, conforming was the only shield against bullying. I refused to conform. The decision to stand in my uniqueness caused a lot of painful bullying. I lost a lot of “friends” and gained some battle wounds. These battle wounds have helped me maintain my individuality. The emotional scars remind of a time where I refused to conform. I find comfort in standing tall in who I am now. A lot of people loved me but I also learned that some people will not like you because of the way others love you. Those were lessons I learned as I got older.

However, as a child those words shattered the little girl who lived in me. The little girl in me wept for many days. I could not understand why this would happen to me? What did I do wrong? I can say with confidence that I was not a mean kid. In fact, I think at times I may have been too nice. As I got older, I began to step into my power. I began to walk in Gina. Gina is loving, caring, quirky, organized, kind, compassionate, genuine, loyal, and comedic. Looking back, I would not change a thing about my childhood. My childhood shaped me into the woman I am today. I learned the power of resilience. I remember kids would tell me that I would never be anything. Look at me now, I am living my dreams and in my truth. I have accepted all there is to Gina. I cannot wait to see what more I learn about the beautiful soul I am blossoming into. Now, along the way I did meet some amazing people who changed my life. They saw me, loved me, and supported me. I am still friends with a few of them today. In fact, one of my friendships just reached seventeen years! Lastly, my parents sacrificed a lot for my family and I to have the upbringing that we did. I attended the top elementary, middle, and high school in the nation for academics at the time. This was all due to their sacrifices and strong belief in myself.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginanaa_/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/Euuugeeena