JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The "Better Make Room" and "Reach Higher" campaigns celebrated students taking the next step after high school to further their education with National College Signing Day on Tuesday.
"Better Make Room" was started by first lady Michelle Obama, and more than 500 schools nationwide participated in signing day.
College-bound seniors at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts also celebrated being one step closer to their dreams.
Julian Robertson, a talented senior at Douglas Anderson, has a dream of opening his own theater company.
“It seemed to be a lot of fun and you can kind of do things on stage that you wouldn't be able to do in normal day-to-day life. And you get to have fun telling stories and playing games and really get the opportunity to change point of views,” Robertson said.
And now he's one step closer after receiving a full-ride scholarship to the Julliard School in New York.
"I did not know what to think because the audition process is very long and rigorous and you keep going back from call-backs,” Robertson said. "I freaked out when I heard the voicemail.”
He'll be majoring in theater and he said his mom couldn't be more proud.
"Yes, she is (proud). I think she's still crying,” Robertson said with a laugh.
He said Julliard was his No. 1 choice, but he wasn't always confident he'd get in.
"I think the biggest thing that held me back was fear. When you have dreams that are bigger than you're used, to it's hard to hold on to them,” Robertson said.
Another talented Douglas Anderson student will be heading north.
Ana-Sofia Pozo will continue to play her violin at Boston University on full-ride scholarship.
“I was definitely surprised a little, but also very happy. My parents were crying,” Pozo said.
The music program at Boston University is very competitive and Pozo said out of thousands, only 50 seniors were accepted into the School of Music.
“It's always been a part of my life. It's been my passion. So I couldn't imagine doing anything but music,” Pozo said.
Both Pozo and Robertson will embark on a new adventure but they leave some wisdom -- encouraging others to follow their dreams.
"It's very important that if you want to do something, if you have a dream that you go for it, that you don't allow things to hold you back,” Robertson said.