I will be studying performance theatre in college and earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. I plan to later earn my Master of Fine Arts degree and become a theatre instructor. The first thing I ever said I wanted to be was an actor, and my passion for it only grew as I learned what it truly entailed. Acting is a chance to take a character off of a page and transform them on stage and screen to tell their story. Many characters that I've watched and played have inspired me and helped me grow throughout my life. From Annie (1982) I got my very first dream role. From Cinderella (1997), I learned that I can be beautiful in my own skin with my own hair, and playing Katherine Plumber in Newsies taught me that I should not be afraid to dream for the impossible or fight for what’s right. Recalling the impact these characters had on me is a reminder of how important the people who bring these characters to life really are. My main goal as an actress is not to be the center of attention, but to reach someone’s heart and mind the way some of my favorite actors have reached mine. I also grew up in a small town where it’s extremely difficult to gain access to resources to train as a fine artist. I always wanted more opportunities and experiences to grow my craft, but either couldn’t access them, or couldn't afford them. Since I didn't have this access to training outside of public school, it was much harder to get into selective programs where I could receive it. The most disheartening part of it all is that I know there are people who have less opportunities than I do. Though I don't have many training opportunities outside of school, I do attend a high school with hard-working staff that put effort into producing shows for their students. There are many schools that do not produce shows, or even have fine arts classes. I used to say I would never want to be a teacher. This was before I worked with the amazing educators at my school that showed me that a teacher’s hard work can have a significant impact on their students’ lives. My choir and drama teachers have helped me grow my understanding of the arts, while also creating a safe space in their classrooms and providing a listening ear when I needed it. Though it’s hard to find opportunities, most of the non- school related performance and training opportunities that I’ve had were ones that they told me about or helped me prepare for. Everyone deserves a chance to thrive in what they love to do, no matter where they are from. It's important to me that I help others, even if it’s a small number of people, get that chance. With the education and training I receive, I want to help others like me access the resources they need that may seem out of reach.