"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Our truth is nearly always based around our own fleshly desires, that are typically only temporarily fulfilling. We seek something to fill the emptiness we feel inside, replacing the Lord with our activities, our friends, and our technology, when we could be seeking something everlasting. Humans are naturally drawn to sinful nature, which in turn, fosters a misguided and flawed perspective of the world. Our truth is ever-changing, often influenced by circumstance or cultural norms. Outside factors impact our decision making, from the environment you surround yourself in or the relationships you invest in, those factors make you more susceptible to stray away from the path of righteousness. This makes our truth less reliable and more unaccountable. Our truth, in a way, is how we perceive the world as simply humans, not followers of Christ. The situation with God's truth is much different. In Isaiah, it provides us an example of how His truth outlasts anything the world can offer, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever" (Isaiah 40:8). God's truth is unwavering and grounded in his goodness and mercy for his children. On the other hand, he never said living by his truth was going to be simple; even stating, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). With so many distractions, such as the corrupt desires of the flesh, it is easy to get drawn deeper into what the deceptive world has to offer when on the road to righteousness. Despite such hardship, the reward is plentiful and eternal. Salvation is what we earn through following God's truth. For a place in the kingdom is what we are promised through all struggle and trudge. The Bible serves as a perfect representation of God's truth and his eternal and unchanging character. The Bible offers us instructions on how we, as humans, can follow him and live in his truth. Even against all odds, through our sin and mistakes, the Bible encourages us that, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Following our truth can be the easier way out of many situations, but in God's truth, he has so much kindness and mercy for us. The Bible teaches us God's truth is forgiving, honest, and trustworthy. In conclusion, our truth provides more of an emphasis on individual experience, and from a biblical standpoint, is flawed and sinful. God's truth is grounded in his eternal, unchanging nature, and this is revealed to us through the words of the Bible. The Bible provides us with more than just examples of God's character, but also serves as a manual for us to follow in his truth and as a conduit to share the love and mercy of God's truth with others. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is the truth" (John 14:6).

After months of dedication, memorization, and vocal instruction, we all stood downstage center, hand in hand as we took our bows. All of us exhausted from the four weeks of shows under our belts. Sweat on our costumes, voices fatigued, yet with smiles on our faces and pride in our hearts. Warm embraces and the comforting sounds of laughter blended with the roaring audience following our bows. This was the ending which, of course, was always somewhat melancholic, yet I'm grateful I had an experience that made saying goodbye so hard. This was one of my most memorable experiences that strengthened my desire to pursue a career in performing arts. This moment was from Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, in which I got the generous opportunity to play Percy Jackson at the Hillsboro Artists Regional Theatre. I loved the intimacy of the theatre, as well as the intimacy between my castmates and I. The sense of community theatre had given me was strong, almost addicting, and always had me coming back for more. Everyone had something to offer to each production, no matter the role. It felt empowered to be surrounded by individuals who appreciated the craft as much as I enjoyed performing it. I've come to learn that theatre fosters inclusivity and acceptance. Every theatre I have visited, the community has been kind and inviting. I love that there's always space in the family for a new performer and chances for them to develop alongside us. The togetherness and comradery of a cast and crew creates a new kind of love for a family you never expected to become a part of and grow with. In my role as Thomas from the production SPIDER, an original playwright, at Oregon Children's Theatre, I navigated tremendously heavy content. As an actor, I was able to embody the character in a way that was authentic, but as a person I wasn't able to distinguish myself from the character. After multiple rehearsals, I gained the tools and skillset to healthily and confidently execute the emotions properly. In my experience from participating at multiple theatres, I gained confidence through working under differing styles of direction. In multiple circumstances, under a more freeform style of direction, I had to learn how to develop my characters on my own. On the flip side, I've worked under directors that have wanted to participate more closely in the development process. It was this work as an actor that I enjoyed the most and through these experiences I have been able to grow in my confidence in the craft which, in turn, has fueled my passion for pursuing theatre further. One of the biggest things that sparked such a passion for the fine arts was when I noticed that there's something special about having the capability of sharing a whole new experience to an audience. The ability to offer a new perspective, not only to the audience, but a new perspective as a person embodying the character they see. The mix of set, lighting, costumes, actors creates an inspiring and environment that offers an escape from reality, yet still maintaining a level of relatability for both parties. I love the work that the team puts into each production, and I cherish each show and individual I've worked with dearly. I only have my community to thank for introducing me to a beautiful craft and mentoring me through my deep passion for the arts. Currently, I look forward to applying my craft to helping artists bring their creations and visions to life. I want to be a part of projects that will challenge me as an actor and provide me with opportunities to gain new skill sets. Being a part of an original playwright truly made an impact on not only its audience, but myself as an actor. I would love to continue to help independent artists and creators, as well as work for larger companies in the theatre and film industries. One way I add some creativity to my projects is I place a part of myself in each character I embody. I always want to create a bridge between the audience and the storytelling, something they can grab ahold of that's relatable, no matter the character or production. This way the actors can invite the audience into the story, making memories through the text, leaving the audience with questions regarding their role in the production, and allowing them to experience the journey along with the actors. Theatrical narrative poses a unique quality that can captivate audiences. The power of a well-told story is in its ability to resonate with the audience long after the curtains fall. This is the experience I want to provide by pursuing my BFA in acting, and leave a long lasting impression on not only the viewers, but finding that resonance and impression in myself as I continue forward.