Culture | April 23rd, 2025

From Pre-Med to Main Character: Elijah Stokes Balances Biology and Big Screen Dreams

By: Jaylin Alleyne

When Elijah Stokes arrived on campus as a freshman, his sights were set on becoming a doctor. A Biology Pre-Med major, Elijah was driven by personal experience, specifically a football injury that inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. But less than a year into his college journey, an unexpected encounter opened the door to a whole new world: acting.

“I was just walking on campus one day, and walked up to the director,” Elijah recalls. “I never expected that conversation to lead to me becoming one of the main characters in a whole movie.”

That chance encounter led to Elijah being cast in a major student film project while still navigating his first year of college. Though he hadn’t acted in years, Elijah wasn’t completely new to the craft.

“I did a lot of plays back in elementary and middle school,” he says. “I’ve always been into the arts—music, painting, even starting a clothing brand at one point. So stepping into this felt like getting back in touch with a part of myself.”

The film Director Dacari Taylor recalls the first time they met. “He just walked up and sparked conversation with me, and mind you, this was his first semester on campus. So when it came to considerations of the role, it was a no-brainer.” Said Taylor

Now a sophomore, Elijah has become a standout not only in the classroom but also on screen. Juggling pre-med coursework with film shoots hasn’t been easy, but he describes the experience as “chill” and creatively fulfilling.

His counterpart, Nevaeh Palmer a recent graduate of Florida A&M reflects on her experience on working with him. “Elijah is super laid back and confident in himself. He is extremely talented and super fun to be around. His comfort allows the set to run smoothly. I think he has a great shot of doing something in entertainment, even though his major is the complete opposite.”

Portraying a complex lead role came with its challenges. While he relates to his character’s laid-back nature and emotional maturity, Elijah admits that some scenes pushed him out of his comfort zone. “Anger was actually easy for me to tap into. But emotions like sadness and love? Those are harder because you have to really feel them. That’s the part that makes acting so real.”

Despite stepping into the spotlight early in his college career, Elijah remains grounded. He hasn’t mapped out a long-term future in acting just yet. Right now, his focus is still on school and his clothing brand, but if the right opportunity comes his way, he is open to seeing the future.

Whether it’s a lab coat or a lead role, Elijah Stokes is proving he can do it all, making waves on campus and reminding everyone that sometimes, the best roles find you when you least expect them.