Disney has been with me my whole life. I was born in 1984, so I grew up with the Disney Renaissance, then the birth of Pixar, and the 3D animation boom. I was lucky enough to go to Disneyland in California and Disney World in Orlando multiple times with my family, we had our favorite rides, snacks, and a host of funny memories from our times there. And now I'm a mum, I can share my love of Disney movies, toys, and parks with my children. After watching Disney+ all through the pandemic with my babies, taking our first trip to Walt Disney World during the holidays a few months ago was a magical experience beyond imagination. For me, Disney is all about creating connections- connections between the fantasy worlds on screen and the physical world through rides and toys. This in turn creates connections between families who share these experiences with each other. I have even managed to convert my wife into a Disney adult, even though she didn't share the same level of obsession as me as a child. One of the greatest joys as a parent is watching your children discover the world; get excited at something you share with them, and then go on to discover something new for themselves. Walt Disney famously said 'Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.' Disney as a company blends the perfect mix of respect for tradition with innovation, coming up with new stories and ways of storytelling that are always exciting. Through the parks and movies, people can connect all over the world. Appreciation for a particular movie or ride provides common ground all over the world. I don't know of a single person that doesn't have a favorite Disney movie or character. Having a shared language of love for these characters and stories breaks down barriers everywhere and leads to fun conversations you never knew you could have! As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I also have to appreciate the connection Disney has created and maintained with people from minority groups. The Pride parade in Walt Disney World, amid the political unrest and attacks on the fundamental rights of Floridas Queer citizens, was a beacon of hope for not only those in Florida and the US but all over the world. And for those of us not able to travel there to join in, being able to share it through social media, the new Pride show on Disney+, or a pin badge from the website, lets us know that we are connected. Disney was a staple of my childhood, and now I get to share that love with my children, and then tell my friends and family all about it. Even though I have been a fan for more than 30 years, I still feel that same sense of excitement at the prospect of a new film, when I step into the parks for the first time, or when I put on a new t-shirt or piece of jewelry. And I will continue to share that excitement with my friends and family for many years to come.

My favorite song from the 1989 album has to be 'Welcome to New York.' Something about the pulsing beat, synth melodies, and optimism in the vocals just feels like New York. I've been to New York about half a dozen times in my life, and every time it has been a fantastic experience; from traveling with my best friend to work at Camp America, to sightseeing with the love of my life, to winning a scholarship along with my friends to perform our show at an Off-Broadway Theatre, every time I have been to New York has been an adventure. I could (and have) walk up and down the streets for hours, and never run out of things to discover. One of my dreams is to spend a few months there working with one of my favorite theatre groups, and spending my free time exploring, writing, and visiting every museum, cafe, and bookshop in the city. I also love that the song could be about any new life adventure. I have taken leaps and started many new chapters in my life. I have moved away from my hometown for university, across the country for love, then to the other side of the world for graduate school, and every time there is this dizzying sense of excitement and anticipation, which this song perfectly captures. 1989 came out just as I was applying to graduate school, and we managed to catch the 1989 tour when it came through London and it was amazing. This song spoke to me as full of possibilities, that maybe it was time to embark on the next big adventure. Whenever I am feeling nervous about a new place or project, I put on this song. As it says in the lyrics 'I could dance to this beat forevermore,' and I really could. Nearly ten years later, and four thousand miles away, now married with 2 babies, just hearing the first beats and synth chord opening is enough to lift my spirits and get me hyped up for the day. I graduate (hopefully) this time next year, and I will be leaving the town I have called home for the last seven years to find a job somewhere else. Who knows, maybe it will be back to New York for another chapter in my love story with NYC. But where ever we end up going, we all know what will be playing on the stereo as we go.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You never know what will happen, so having money in lots of different places minimizes risk and maximizes the potential for more profit. I have a pension, property, stocks and a traditional savings account. They have varying level of return, and some allow for quicker access than others in an emergency. Each account may not look like they have much in, but taken all together they add up to a substantial sum. And over time am hoping they will collectively yield enough make myself and my family comfortable. When it comes to finances, having fingers in its of different pies, and being patient in considering certain things as long term investments is a key to a happier financial future.

Since leaving high school, I have moved a significant distance three times. Each time, the move has been further away- to the other side of the city, to the other side of the country and to the other side of the world. One thing that has helped me in each of these moves are my friendships. By nature I’m kind of shy, I was describe myself as an extroverted introvert; in the right circumstances I am crazy and outgoing and enthusiastic, but it takes me a long time to warm up, and I need some serious alone time afterwards. As a result, I have few friends, but those friends I do have are friends for life. I still regularly chat with people I met when I was five years old. Having that connection, and people I have a long history with helps to ground me in what ever scary changes are happening in my life, whether it’s to share new developments or seek comfort in reminiscing about old times. But in all my moves I have made some amazing friends; people I feel an instant connection with that become people I go to in a crisis. While I write this, facing another set of huge life altering changes, I am messaging a friend who assures me he will be round at the weekend to drink beer and process. So to me, friendship means a connection that lasts despite time and distance. That we can pick up a conversation right where it left off, and seek comfort in each others company from thousands of miles away. That no matter what happens, they will always have my back, and my heart, and I can call on them any time. And they know, without asking, I would do the same for them.

I am a Ph.D. student and mother of twin toddlers. I don't have a lot of time to work, and every spare moment I have to use efficiently. It can get frustrating when I know I have a deadline to meet, or preparation to do for a meeting, and the things I need to do just keep mounting up, not letting me have a minute to myself to get the work done. I also get frustrated with myself, thinking I'm not doing enough, or what I am doing is garbage. But then I talk to my friends, or my partner, or my major professor, and they assure me that I am doing an amazing job, making good progress, and doing what needs to be done. I watch my children, who are only 2 years old, trying to work out puzzles and play with toys or trying to open snacks. Yes, I could quite easily jump in and do it for them; it would be quicker and easier. But they need to struggle with it by themselves because that's how they will learn. I have to remind myself that I need to have the same level of patience with my own work. In my own head, it may seem frustrating, but those around me see the progress, that I am trying hard and succeeding. I have done some amazing things in five years, under some really challenging circumstances, and sometimes I need to remind myself that I am in the home stretch, and all the things I have learned over those years is being put to good use and I will achieve what inset out to do.

Being a Ph.D. student, and mother of two-year-old twins, the opportunities for self-care can be few and far between. So any opportunity I can take just a few minutes to reset mean everything. The main way I unwind is by walking. Even before the twins were born, popping in my headphones and going for a walk through the woods near my apartment does wonders to improve my mood, as well as my health. And now I have the babies, I just throw them in the stroller and take them along with me. A few horror podcasts, or the latest Stephen King audiobook, and all is right with the world. And if the walk ends up somewhere nice like a cafe, then all the better! My other ways to unwind involved stitching and baking. Working on something that you can see the results, and share them with other people, does wonders for my sense of well-being. Too often the hard things like parenting or studying don't yield immediate results, and you can feel like you're slogging up an enormous hill that has no summit. working on something small but finite for a few minutes a day gives me a sense of achievement. Having said that, a scholarship like this would give me the opportunity to hire a babysitter and take myself off for a couple of hours and attend to my much-neglected hair and nails, then to my favorite cafe by myself, with enough for a good book, a coffee, and a pastry. Then I can return to my toddlers a very happy Mama indeed.

In my dream life, I wake up in my house, old but impeccably renovated, in the historic district of a large college town, probably in New England. I would drop my kids off at the fancy, but fun, prep school that they love, and head to my job as a fully tenured professor of theatre at a prestigious university. There I would teach classes on queer theatre, English indie theatre, theatre appreciation, and Shakespeare, while also directing one of the season's shows and advising a student theatre group. At weekends I would take my kids to museums and out for ice cream, walking through downtown and making up stories as we go. Once a month I would 'play hooky', sleep in, eat pastries then head into town to get a massage, get my hair done, then pick up my kids from school and take them to have tea and cakes and buy books from our favorite book shop, before having a meal out and a movie night. During the holidays we would take road trips around the country, seeing all the sights of the USA, then spend summers in the UK visiting family and all the favorite spots from my childhood. Then at Christmas, we would have everyone round to share a hugely decadent meal, tell stores and reflect on what a great year we all had, and how lucky we were to have everything we ever wanted.

Financial freedom to me means not having to check my bank account and credit cards twice before buying groceries. It means not having to choose between making a car payment or a rent payment. It means being able to take a last-minute road trip with my family and having an adventure with my kids. It means being able to put a little away for their future. It means having a house big enough for the four of us, having a proper office so I can work from home comfortably, being able to send my kids to daycare so they can socialize with other children after a year and a half indoors. Right now I am in the final stretch of my Ph.D. After studying for 5 years, completing my MFA, and now all the initial requirements for my degree, I am on the verge of starting my research and writing my dissertation. Unfortunately with completing my first two years, I have also completed my assistantship, meaning I am without the financial safety net of my school fees being paid and a stipend. So I am looking for part-time work that pays enough to cover childcare, fees, and rent, but leaves me with enough time to study. But in order to get the time to do job searches and study, I need to pay for childcare. It's a Catch-22. Above all financial freedom means time; time to study, time to relax, time to spend with family. I am so close to achieving my higher education, which would mean the security of an academic job in the subject that I love. With two more years of hard work, and I should achieve that. I have already come so far and done so much, it feels within my grasp. But I know without extra financial support, it's going to be a very tough two years. If I had financial freedom, I wouldn't need to worry about where food is coming from, or are my children getting enough attention, or whether I would be able to do any work this week. I would be able to travel to do research and attend conferences, all of which would make me a more desirable candidate, which would mean applying to better universities, ensuring a better job, and the comfortable life I want to give my family. I am so close to achieving my dream, a little extra help is all I need.

I think the biggest problem facing the world right now is supporting each other. So many lines are drawn in the sand between groups of people; religion, sexual identity, politics, gender, even location are all reasons people give to not help each other. There is a hangover from the 'me first' mantras of the 1980s which harmed not only the economy but the global mindset. We have seen in recent years how a community coming together to help each other benefits all involved. Especially when we recognize and appreciate the diversity in that community. The myth of 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, rather than inspiring, is harmful. Everyone needs help, whether you start with an advantage in life, or come by some outstanding mentors and support along the way, and we need to acknowledge that. The entirely self-made billionaire is a myth and not something we should aspire to. We should aspire to build a legacy that supports families and those who helped us along the way. There are examples of CEOs taking enormous pay cuts to make sure the people they employ have a decent living wage, healthcare, childcare, a pension, without working themselves to the bone doing so. Maybe I sound like a 'work-shy Millenial' but I have always stood by the maxim 'don't work so hard making a living, that you forget to make a life.' And for that we need to help each other, we need to extend the hand of friendship. If we can each give a little bit more, our community, our country, and eventually our world will benefit a whole lot.

I took my babies into school to see everyone! Well, they're hardly babies anymore, as they are now 2 and a half years old and able to ride the bus like 'big boys'. But having spent a year and a half indoors, no one in my department had seen them since their first birthday and everyone was surprised and overjoyed to see them. They especially loved seeing Miss Dina, our Student Support and Outreach Coordinator, and playing with all the toys on her desk.

I believe that recognizing students' different skills is the key to improving education. Over the past few years, as I work towards my degree, I have been a TA for at least five different classes. Although these all took place within one department, the subjects themselves were wide-ranging in their topics. One thing which impressed me was the myriad ways of assessing student progress. The most effective classes tested students in a number of different ways- quizzes, short papers, long papers, creative projects, and class presentations. One class, which was largely paper-based, allowed the students to choose whether they wanted to do 3 short, 2 medium, or 1 long paper, with feedback along the way for plans and drafts. By giving the students control in their own destiny, so to speak, they were more engaged and did better in the class. Very few students are going to ace every form of assessment. Some do very good work in a carefully thought out and planned paper, but freeze up when they encounter a timed quiz. Some excel at in-class presentations, others cannot even begin to think about standing up and presenting to the class without feeling nauseous. Giving students a range of ways to be examined fosters confidence in their abilities. You tanked this quiz? No worries- you have 7 other opportunities to bring that grade back up. A lot of professors also implement a mulligan policy- the low grade of one minor project or quiz will be removed, so it doesn't bring down your grade. Knowing you have multiple ways of being assessed, each playing to a different skill, reduces the dropout rate of students, and allows them to feel that no matter how much they are struggling, there will be an opportunity to show your skills and knowledge, and it keeps them moving forward. Announcing 'this is worth 50% of your grade' is a sure-fire way of making half of your students scurrying for the door. Giving them the opportunity to shine in different ways and showcase their different skills almost guarantees you will be known as one of the 'cool' professors, and people will always come back to your classroom, and leave enriched by your teaching.

One thing that gives me hope for the future is past experience, and looking back at how far I have already come. It can be hard some days to have hope. When you have kids acting up, you've neglected your work, school fees suddenly posted higher than you were expecting, worrying if you will be able to make rent, it can seem like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But then I am reminded about where I am now. I have faced financial challenges before, and we got through them. I may be swamped with work, but look at the work I am doing; I am pursuing my dream of studying for my Ph.D. A few years ago I was stuck in a job that was going nowhere, and now I am in the final stretch of a very advanced degree. My kids, little scoundrels though they may be at times, are turning into little people with wonderful personalities. From being entirely helpless infants they can now be trusted to walk to the bus stop with me, sit on the bus, and go downtown for a treat. When they were waking every three hours and crying for no reason, it felt like we would get to this point. I recently started job searching again, panicking after having been employed at the university for five years, panicking further still that I was unqualified to do anything. But as I added the projects I'd worked on, the classes I had TA'd for, the independent shows I had produced, I realized just how much I had done in such a short time. Sometimes hope for the future seems out of the question because change takes time. Almost never is there some huge event that swoops in and fixes all your problems. But if you just take it one step at a time, just do one thing that moves you closer to where you need to be, suddenly you can look back and see how much progress you have made towards your goal. I have hope for the future because I can see how progress can be made over a number of years. And if we each put one small bit of good out into the world, we can get to a place where that good adds up to something great.

Generosity to me is selflessness, giving time and attention to someone when there is no outward benefit to yourself. Since moving to the US, I have repeatedly benefitted from others' generosity. Within weeks of starting at the grad school, I had an invitation to Thanksgiving, that most sacred of family holidays. I was invited to get my nails done with people I barely knew, I was offered countless lifts when people heard I didn't have a car. When people learned I was pregnant, and 4 thousand miles away from friends and family, my favorite professor got together with the other grad students to throw me a baby shower. I have always struggled to ask for help, and my professors have gone out of their way to check up on me and offer me assistance and feedback on work, even when it wasn't for their class. I had a conversation with someone in my cohort about this very topic. As I imagine happens in other departments and other universities, there was a lot of grumbling, especially among the younger undergrads, that the department didn't care or support its students. This has patently not been the case. on discussing our latest writings projects, where the professor had gone above and beyond to give us feedback not only for this paper but also where it might fit in our academic career, we both said to each other 'they genuinely care!' So generosity for me is that- showing that you genuinely care, and dedicating time and effort to helping someone when you don't get a lot out of it. Except for my eternal gratitude and lots of baked goods.

A technology I have become aware of recently, and am excited about the potential of, is virtual replacement perimeter technology. It's a technology that is currently being used on football (soccer) pitches to tailor the touchline ads around the stadium to different countries and markets. The 4 foot high ads, which used to be static posters, have gradually been replaced by more and more sophisticated LED panels, and now adaptive technology plays a part. What you would see as a member of the crowd in the stadium is different from what you would see watching from home, and different again depending on what channel you watched from. My field of study is the use of multimedia technology in live performance, from theatre experiences to interactive art installations, and the possibilities this kind of technology affords could open up some interesting artistic questions. Imagine the performance of a work that discusses politics (1984, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, any of Shakespeare's Histories or Roman Plays), where different sections of the audience see different propaganda posters behind the characters depending on where in the house they are sitting. Or being able to change the environment a character is acting in, so each audience member has their own unique experience. Live performance has always embraced new technologies, and from the very beginning of moving pictures, directors have tried to think of new and interesting ways to incorporate recorded or live streamed material into performance to enhance it. From the work of Erwin Piscator to Gertie the dinosaur, right up to the work of 1927 and Cirque du Soleil, using projected media has always been used to add fantasy and impossible elements to live performance. Incorporating emerging technologies into live performance is something that really excites me, especially the use of projection mapping with interactive elements. This sounds like the next level for me and I would love to get my hands on that equipment to see what we could come up with for our next performance.

The story of how I came to be studying in America seemed to take forever and happened in a flash all at the same time. After years of working at a job that I was only half invested in (if that), I decided to take the plunge and apply to study for a Ph.D. (a dream of mine ever since I graduated with my BA). At first, I kept it a secret, I only applied to one school, and when failure came I wasn't surprised. The dream of studying in America, which I had had since I was 18, seemed like it would remain just a dream. The next year, I applied to a few schools and even got on a waitlist for one. When you apply to anything (a job, school) you always wonder at the back of your mind 'am I good enough?'. The letter saying I was on the waitlist was the push I needed. The next year, I pulled out all the stops; I got help from my MA professor, applied to half a dozen schools, developed my website, volunteered at a theatre, everything I could think of to give me the edge. One Saturday morning, very early, I got up for work, as usual, to find an email in my inbox. I have been accepted at UGA. I couldn't quite believe it, I thought it might be spam. I tried to tell my partner, but they were half asleep. for days I didn't believe it was really happening. then paperwork and forms and contact from the immigration team started coming through, and suddenly it was a reality. For the next four months, everything kicked into hyperdrive; we got married, went to visa interviews, packed up everything we owned, booked flights, then had a huge garden party at my parent's house just ten days before we flew. it wasn't until that point, standing in my parent's garden, surrounded by people I had known my entire life, that it dawned on me what was happening. Then we were on a flight, off to start a new life, diving into uncertainty. We left behind everything that was familiar, all of our support network and security, for an adventure and the chance at a new life. We have made some amazing friends and had some crazy adventures, including the birth of our twins. There have been some dark times along the way, and at times we have asked 'is all of this worth it?'. But even on our darkest days, when money is a struggle, there's too much work and not enough time, through sickness and hardship, we think back to the life we had in England, how it was getting us nowhere and we think how lucky we are to be here. I still have at least 2 years left, arguably the hardest 2 years as I am now starting my Ph.D. dissertation, but with this final push, we know that a better life waits for us on the other side. This scholarship would mean just a little more support, maybe a few more books, a short research trip, even a month of daycare, in the marathon that is my goal of achieving my Ph.D. We've come so far already, but in this home stretch we need all the help we can get, no matter how large or small. We just know it will be worth it to achieve the life we've always dreamed of.

Done is better than perfect. We all strive to do the best we can on the projects that matter. But sometimes we can get caught up in the minutiae that doesn't matter in the long run. Whether it's a class project, or a work project, or even something you are doing for a friend, evidence of progress, no matter how rubbish you make think it is, shows that you are actively thinking about and working on the project. People appreciate the effort you put in almost as much as the results. I have seen countless professors grit thier teeth when a student says 'well, i started it, but it was awful so I erased it and started again'. Showing the work you put into something, and the reasons why you thought it was going in the wrong direction, can be just as useful as showing something that is poloshed and perfect. You never know, an outside eye might see the spark of something great in amoungst the parts you were unhappy with. And if you need an extension, showing that you've at least made a start will be more of a convincing argument. Nobody expexts a perfect product on the first try. There will always be revisions, adaptations, erasures and redos. But evidence of forward motion and development is better than just a big void where work should be. So, do the thing, do a bit more, ask for help, do more again. In the long run, having something to hand in that shows willing and effort is better than having nothing because you got in your own head about it.

My favorite book is Horns by Joe Hill. It tells the story of Ig Perrish, who wakes up on the anniversary of his girlfriend's death to find he has grown horns, and everyone wants to tell him their deepest darkest secrets. As the book unfolds, we find out the history of Ig and Merrin, his brother Terry and his best friend Lee and what really happened to Merrin on the night she was raped and murdered. It's a twisted morality tale and a modern fantasy in the best tradition of Stephen King (Hill is King's son, after all). It shows real depth and understanding of religious beliefs and iconography, without preaching in either direction and is wonderfully visceral without being indulgently gory. It explores themes of good and evil, with every character lying somewhere on a spectrum, and ultimately the lesson is we are good or evil not by nature, but by our actions. Despite knowing the outcome, this book has me coming back time and again. The characters are fascinating, the language engaging, and the imagery described in detail that cannot help but draw you in. This book also holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the books I bonded over with my best friend. We had met the previous spring, worked together in a show over the summer, and as we were heading into fall we were inspired to do a book exchange at Halloween (All Hallows Read). While wondering if this would even work, if we would even like the same things, he asked 'Have you read Horns by Joe Hill?' and the rest was history. Horror, fantasy, morality, and cherry bombs, this book has it all.

My field of study is media in live performance, which I have been working on for 5 years now, as an MFA student and now as a Ph.D. student. With my long experience in the department, I am often asked to lead the media team for performance projects, working closely with the director to bring a visual style that works with their artistic vision. I had the privilege to be asked to work on a brand new piece of theatre, written by the students themselves with the help of a grad student writer and the director herself. This project was called 'Breathe' and it explored the impact of covid-19 and the protests following the murder of George Floyd on the undergraduate students at UGA. It also explored the history of race relations in Athens, from the building of the university, to the displacement of people of color around the town, to the admittance of Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes and the recent discovery of bodies under Baldwin Hall. As a media team, we were responsible for capturing and editing footage of the performers and processing their monologues which they performed on a green screen. My main responsibility was then to create visuals to accompany the performances, which both illustrated the message of each performance, without detracting from the performance itself. this can be difficult, as you need to work closely with the actors and director so you don't impose your own ideas about their message. it also required research into our own university archives to find materials relating to our school's history, and make suggestions to our director for their use. As I mentioned, we were also responsible for capturing the performances, at a time when covid-19 was still a great threat, and most operations on campus were shut down. this involved putting protocols in place and engineering an environment that made the actors feel comfortable to work in, so they could produce their best performance. To me, art is an important way for people to process trauma, investigate shared history and give voice to those with important stories to tell. Telling the story of Athens and the university and their relationship to race was very important in the wake of George Floyd's murder and the events at Baldwin Hall to our department, our director, and our students. I feel honored that I was asked to lend my skills to facilitate the telling of those stories in a way that allowed them to be shared with other people in the school, and the world beyond in the form of internet streaming. It is the responsibility of us all to lend our support to others in order to allow their voices to be heard, both the voices of the past and the present.

We landed in the US in July of 2016, after a Brexit vote outcome that everyone was convinced 'wouldn't happen. As we settled into the semester, the presidential election was all people were talking about, and I started to hear the same 'it'll never happen, it's too crazy' arguments from those around me. Feeling that I didn't really have a say as a newly landed immigrant, I kept quiet, but I couldn't help but feel the deja vu of our last months in the UK. Then, of course, the election was decided and the world seemed to get just that bit crazier. As a non-resident student, life is a very careful balancing act of money, paperwork, maintaining an academic standing, taxes, and other things my fellow graduate students didn't have to contend with. And as the years wore on, some of those processes just got harder. Government shutdowns, ever-changing tax reforms, and immigration policies made maintaining our status and work authorization ever more precarious. We seemed to experience, bizarrely, both ends of the xenophobia scale. One morning, while taking an Uber to work, my spouse was dumped by the side of the road being told 'you're over here taking our jobs'. Just a few months later, it was assumed that they sympathized with the problem of too many immigrants because 'your country has too many Muslims as well, doesn't it?'. When reminded that we were immigrants as well, we were assured that we were 'the right kind of immigrants'. I think by that they meant white and middle class. Then, of course, came the pandemic. Already separated from our families by thousands of miles, our one or two visits a year were completely out of the question. And now we had two babies to take care of, who would celebrate their first birthday, second Christmas, and second birthday without their family around them. It could have been a very disappointing experience, after saving and applying for years to get into a graduate program over here. But there is a reason we have stuck around for more than five years, continuing onto a Ph.D. after completing an MFA. The love we have experienced from the people we have met here has been overwhelming. Within a few weeks of arriving, we were invited to Thanksgiving dinner by a family who has all but adopted us and has shared Thanksgiving with them ever since. Even during the pandemic, they delivered a care package of turkey and pie to our doorstep. My favourite professor, who I have been a TA for multiple times, took it upon herself to organise a baby shower when we were expecting our twins at her own apartment, and regularly takes us out for lunch, even in semesters when I don't work for her. I have made friends who have taken us through the highs and the lows of living and studying here, who will certainly be friends for life. We've taken shows to New York, written together, laughed and drank together, cried together. These people are now part of my new family, and I will take their love with me where ever we move to in the country next. And I believe we will stay in the country. I can already see things changing, allowing immigrants easier ways of being able to stay and work. When it appeared the previous government didn't want to have anything to do with us, it was the people of America who welcomed us with open arms and helped us weather the storm. And now the will of the people is being reflected in the administration, my family and I will be pleased to call this my home for a good many years to come.

My name is Anna and I am studying Performance Studies at UGA. I am originally from the UK and came to the US in 2016 to do an MFA in Dramatic Media, looking at the use of digital and recorded media in live performance. I was fortunate to be asked to stay on and complete a Ph.D. in the same subject. My area of study includes the work of practitioners like The Wooster Group, Robert Lepage, and the 1927 Theatre company. I also experiment with 2D and 3D animation. For my MFA thesis, I used the Unity game engine to design a live experience that saw motion-capture avatars partnered with live performances exploring scenes from Shakespeare and Moliere. I have always been passionate about theatre, and after a ten-year career with Apple as a software trainer, I gained an understanding of how technology can enhance the creation and enjoyment of the arts. Since I started working on live performance and media, there have been strides in digital technology that we could never have dreamed of. Work that would have needed huge amounts of filming equipment and days of careful editing can now be done in the palm of your hand. After a year of no live events, how computers and the internet can aid in making and sharing art is now more than ever at the front of people's minds. As we slowly open back up and embrace a new normal in the way we share our creations, understanding that the relationship between live and recorded media is been more important. During the lockdown, I was fortunate enough to work on a brand new piece of theatre, called 'Breathe', devised by undergraduate and graduate students, which explored the effects of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd on our school and our community. As media director, I was tasked with taking material that was intended for a theatre performance and creating something that kept the spirit of theatre but elevating it through the inclusion of graphics and editing. It was an entirely new way of working for our whole team, which was both exciting and challenging. Nearly a year later, it is still held as a landmark performance for our department, providing our students with a voice through which to work through this difficult time and creating work they could be proud of. Understanding how we can transform and enhance performance through the use of technology will only increase in importance going forward. My studies, and the work I hope to produce, will embrace these new technologies and transformations in art. Theatre has always been used to reflect on the human condition, and incorporating our relationship with media will be very important in furthering the field of performance studies. More than ever we need ways to express ourselves through art, and it is my goal to make the technology we can use to create and share art more accessible to everyone, so we can all have the opportunity to create art and share our experiences with the world.

My name is Anna and I am studying Performance Studies at UGA. I am originally from the UK and came to the US in 2016 to do an MFA in Dramatic Media, looking at the use of digital and recorded media in live performance. I was fortunate to be asked to stay on and complete a Ph.D. in the same subject. My area of study includes the work of practitioners like The Wooster Group, Robert Lepage, and the 1927 Theatre company. I also experiment with 2D and 3D animation. For my MFA thesis, I used the Unity game engine to design a live experience that saw motion-capture avatars partnered with live performances exploring scenes from Shakespeare and Moliere. I have always been passionate about theatre, and after a ten-year career with Apple as a software trainer, I gained an understanding of how technology can enhance the creation and enjoyment of the arts. Since I started working on live performance and media, there have been strides in digital technology that we could never have dreamed of. Work that would have needed huge amounts of filming equipment and days of careful editing can now be done in the palm of your hand. After a year of no live events, how computers and the internet can aid in making and sharing art is now more than ever at the front of people's minds. As we slowly open back up and embrace a new normal in the way we share our creations, understanding that the relationship between live and recorded media is been more important. During the lockdown, I was fortunate enough to work on a brand new piece of theatre, devised by undergraduate and graduate students, which explored the effects of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd on our school and our community. As media director, I was tasked with taking material that was intended for a theatre performance and creating something that kept the spirit of theatre but elevating it through the inclusion of graphics and editing. It was an entirely new way of working for our whole team, which was both exciting and challenging. Nearly a year later, it is still held as a landmark performance for our department, providing our students with a voice through which to work through this difficult time and creating work they could be proud of. Understanding how we can transform and enhance performance through the use of technology will only increase in importance going forward. My studies, and the work I hope to produce, will embrace these new technologies and transformations in art. Theatre has always been used to reflect on the human condition, and incorporating our relationship with media will be very important in furthering the field of performance studies. More than ever we need ways to express ourselves through art, and it is my goal to make the technology we can use to create and share art more accessible to everyone, so we can all have the opportunity to create art and share our experiences with the world.

I can appreciate that every facet of the human experience, from sexuality, to gender, to culture exists on a spectrum; nothing is binary and people contain all shades of the rainbow. I contain multitudes, and that should be celebrated.

I have always been passionate about theatre, and after a ten-year career with Apple as a software trainer, I gained an understanding of how technology can enhance the creation and enjoyment of the arts. After a year of no live events, how computers and the internet can aid in making and sharing art is even more at the front of people's minds. As we slowly open back up and embrace a new normal in the way we share our creations, understanding that the relationship between live and recorded media is been more important. During the lockdown, I was fortunate enough to work on a brand new piece of theatre, devised by undergraduate and graduate students, which explored the effects of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd on our school community. As media director, I was tasked with taking material that was intended for a theatre performance and creating something that kept the spirit of theatre but elevating it through the inclusion of graphics and editing. Nearly a year later, it is still held as a landmark performance for our department. It was an extremely challenging performance to create, even stressful at times, but an incredible learning experience and a very important piece of work for everyone involved, as well as our department and community.

When your bestie asks you if you found today's assignment hard, just as the professor walks in.

My name is Anna and I am studying Performance Studies at UGA. I am originally from the UK and came to the US in 2016 to do an MFA in Dramatic Media, looking at the use of media in live performance. I was fortunate to be asked to stay on and complete a Ph.D. in the same subject. I have always been passionate about theatre, and after a ten-year career with Apple as a software trainer, I gained an understanding of how technology can enhance the creation and enjoyment of the arts. After a year of no live events, how computers and the internet can aid in making and sharing art is even more at the front of people's minds. As we slowly open back up and embrace a new normal in the way we share our creations, understanding that the relationship between live and recorded media is been more important. During the lockdown, I was fortunate enough to work on a brand new piece of theatre, devised by undergraduate and graduate students, which explored the effects of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd on our school community. As media director, I was tasked with taking material that was intended for a theatre performance and creating something that kept the spirit of theatre but elevating it through the inclusion of graphics and editing. Nearly a year later, it is still held as a landmark performance for our department. Understanding how we can transform and enhance performance through the use of technology will only increase in importance going forward. My studies, and the work I hope to produce, will embrace these new technologies and transformations in art. Theatre has always been used to reflect on the human condition, and incorporating our relationship with media will be very important in furthering the field of performance studies.

After completing an MFA in the Theatre Department at UGA, I was fortunate enough to be asked to stay on and do a Ph.D. So far, I have been doing very well, completing all of my coursework and passing my portfolio reviews and comprehensive exams, allowing me to submit my prospectus before starting my dissertation. Now comes the exciting part- I get to pursue my research for the next two or three years to complete my degree. A lot of the research I can do traditionally, with books and the internet and using the contacts I have made in the theatre companies I am researching, but to elevate my dissertation to something that will further the field I really need to go and experience the theatre I am researching in real life. I have even been invited to work with a couple of the theatre companies I will be writing about, which would break new ground in my chosen field. This scholarship would help me to travel to see and participate in the theatre I love, complete my research, and further my field of study and the wider discipline, more than anything else. Theatre is a live medium, and I don't think I could do justice to my research if I did not live what I love writing about.

During our second year of an MFA program at UGA Jake, the tall one, wrote a short play. At the urging of our professor, he decided to send it out to some short play festivals. He got accepted to one, in New York! What then ensued was 3 months of applying for grants, GoFundMe campaigns, a fundraising night, and begging and borrowing from friends, family, and professors. But we did it- we took our little play from Georgia all the way to a small festival in NYC. It was one of the best weeks ever.

"Done is better than perfect." Most of us want to make sure we submit the best version of whatever work we do. But this can lead us to be tied up in the minutiae that a lot of people would not notice. We could spend an hour picking the perfect font for our project, but how much difference are people going to see between Times New Roman and Minion Pro? When asking for progress on a project, the last thing a professor or a team leader wants to hear is 'it wasn't good enough, so I didn't hand it in' or 'I didn't finish it, so I didn't hand it in'. Even if what you have done isn't great, it's something, anything, that shows you have been working. If you don't hand in anything, they will assume you have done no work at all. Most people will grant you some kind of extension or leniency if they have evidence that you have at least made an effort. And, most of the time, what you have 'so far' is a lot better than you think it is. So, hand in the thing you have right now, rather than the aspirational thing you think you'll have in a weeks time. Because done is better than perfect.

I believe that supporting families is the best way of empowering women. Whichever way you introduce a child into your family, through adopting or giving birth, from the beginning there are issues. Although maternity leave allowances are improving, many companies do not offer nearly enough leave. Just as concerning is the amount of leave offered to partners- in some companies paternity or partner leave is practically non-existent. Those forts few months are vital for parents to get to know their children, and greater support at home would encourage women to continue their goals or to strive for new ones. If the events of the past year have taught us anything, is that we need greater flexibility in working hours and situations. The conventional single location, 9-5 working day just doesn't work for a lot of people, especially those with families. By allowing people to choose their own ways of working to fit around family commitments, you can prove that you are a company that does care for their employees, putting faith in them getting their work done in their own time in their own way. The cost of childcare is often something that prohibits women from re-entering the workforce. So many women feel that they are the ones which need to sacrifice their objectives in support of their families. Companies and communities could do so much more to provide quality, affordable childcare, which would empower women to fully participate in the workforce. As a mother who is currently studying for a higher degree, the options available to me to take care of my children while I study and teach are prohibitively few. Especially as an international student, who is thousands of miles away from my immediate family, daycares are either shockingly expensive or massively oversubscribed. The issue is compounded when multiple children are involved. There is still a stigma around requesting flexibility in hours and working space. There is a mistaken belief that the only way to get ahead in a company is to arrive early, stay late, and give up all other commitments. We need to put our faith in our employees that they will get the work done if allowed more flexibility, and more support for their families. Everyone is part of a family, though every family looks different. If we recognize that fact, realize that every family has different needs, and support the ways that people need to look after that family, we can empower more women to succeed, and excel, in the workplace and beyond.

The biggest challenge facing me as a mother and a scholar has been childcare. I am an international student, originally from the UK, and all of my family and my spouse's family are back there. Our twin boys were born in March 2019, and for the first month we had both sets of grandparents visiting, so while I was right in the middle of thesis overload, I had parents around me who helped to cook, clean, and watch the babies for us. Even going back to school in the fall of that year, our schedules worked out so that my spouse could watch the babies while I was at school, and me while they were at work. We also had a small group of loving friends who were willing to watch them for an hour or two if I had a meeting or if we wanted a night out, and grandparents would come and visit at Christmas. Then, just a few days after their first birthday party, we went into lockdown due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Suddenly we had no access to our support network; parents couldn't come and visit and all of our friends were sheltering at home. This year has been one of the most difficult of my academic life. My spouse works over an hour away, and on most days I was juggling taking care of two increasingly independent toddlers while trying to write academic papers, TAing for film classes, and preparing for comprehensive exams. I would wake up early in the morning, and work well into the night just to make sure I was keeping up to date with my work and teaching responsibilities, all while taking care of the babies during the day, leaving me exhausted. There were also times I had to Zoom into a class while my babies played in the background, which wasn't ideal for anyone involved; the babies would protest I wasn't giving them enough attention, and I would miss parts of the lecture. While restrictions are now beginning to lift, I am also entering the most difficult part of my academic journey; planning and writing my Ph.D. thesis. For the next two to three years I will need to engage in complex theory and research, with the hope of writing a dissertation that will secure me a job in the field of academia that I love. My babies are hardly babies anymore. They turned 2 years old in March and are full of love, energy, and fun, always eager to learn and explore. Keeping up with them is a full-time job, and they deserve every moment of my attention. But I owe it to myself to write the best dissertation I can, to ensure my academic future. A scholarship like this would enable me to enroll them in daycare or hire a regular babysitter, giving me a few precious hours a week to concentrate on my work, which would make all the difference to my wellbeing and writing. I want my children to have a mother that works hard at a career she is passionate about and is fulfilled by. I want them to see that my hard work and determination has paid off. Having a few hours a week to dedicate to my work, would mean I can go back to them refreshed, and also relaxed, safe in the knowledge I have made good progress with my research. I also look forward to hearing them tell me about all their adventures outside the ones we have together. This scholarship would help me buy a little time, for myself and my children. And as a mother, I know every moment is precious.

I wouldn't be on my way to completing my Ph.D. in performance studies without the help and continued support of Fran Teague. She is not only a superlative professor but a very great friend. And through that friendship, I have grown as a scholar. She has been willing to give advice and read my work, even when it wasn't for a class she was teaching. She has shown me that there are many different types of professors, with many different teaching styles and strengths, but one thing that they all share in common is their desire to see their students do well. She has always been ready to meet for coffee or lunch at a moment's notice, and her passion for her subject fills all her students with a desire to learn. When I started at my current university, as an MFA candidate, I worried if I had the skills to take the next step and continue on the Ph.D. program. she showed me that, by taking a step back and working through my writing carefully, I was more than equipped to pursue a career in academia. If I can become half the scholar and professor Fran Teague is, with such a long and successful career and so many grateful students, I would consider myself very lucky indeed.

My favorite film is Velvet Goldmine by Todd Haynes, starring Ewan McGregor, Toni Colette and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (with an honorable mention for Eddie Izzard). I discovered this movie when I was fifteen, while my friends and I were on a Ewan McGregor binge. The first time we saw it, we were baffled. The non linear plot, the lack of clear motivation, the nudity, the make up! But the second time we watched it, a few months later, I was blown away. I hadn’t really encountered much independent cinema before, and finding out that this huge extravaganza of sight sound, glitter and queer liberation was produced on essentially a shoe string budget astonished me. It took inspiration from the best examples of its kind and melded them into a stunning bricolage; a David Bowie biopic that wasn’t actually a David Bowie biopic, and found its own voice as a result; Citizen Kane, but with platform boots, a beautiful bildungsroman for any kid who ever felt different. As a result I became obsessed with Glam Rock, especially David Bowie, and further dives into English independent cinema. It showed me that being different could be an asset, not a burden. That you could create something special with just a small band of dedicated disciples. Although the films narrative lauds excess and success, the bigger the better and screw the cost, the film itself showed me that even though you might not break box office records and be renowned across the globe, if you make a thing you can be proud of, that’s just about the best feeling there is. So ever since I have strived to make things in my own way, in my own time, and throw a bit of glitter on everything for good measure. Do you jive?