Hey all! I’m a sophomore in college and I’ve wanted to act since I was a child but my mother never let me but now that I’m older and able to support myself a little more I’m looking into the process of having acting as a profession. I want to finish my undergraduate and get a degree but I also want to do acting on the side. I’m currently enrolled into an acting class in NYC and It’s for eight weeks, three hours a week. I live in jersey but I’ll be able to commute to continue classes. What is the process of being an actor? I know we need agents or something but I’m unclear about it

Could someone please explain

Also I was told that I’m not supposed to pay an agent to represent me is that true? I never heard of that before