To me, collaboration in theatre means learning how to create something greater than what any one person could create alone. Theatre is built on trust, communication, creativity, and the willingness to listen to the people around you. While an actor may be the person the audience sees onstage, a performance is never created by one person. It takes directors, fellow actors, stage managers, crew members, designers, and many others working together toward the same goal. Some of my most meaningful experiences in theatre have come from the relationships I have built during rehearsals and performances. Spending weeks working through scenes, practicing lines, giving and receiving feedback, helping each other when something goes wrong, and celebrating when everything finally comes together has taught me what it means to be part of a team. The people I work with become more than just cast members or crew. We share the challenges, mistakes, accomplishments, and excitement that come with creating something together. Those experiences have shown me that some of the most meaningful parts of theatre happen before an audience ever takes their seat. One of the things I value most about collaboration is that everyone brings something different to the process. An actor may have an idea for a character, while a director sees a different interpretation. A designer can create an environment that changes the way a scene feels, while a stage manager makes sure everything happens when it is supposed to. I have learned that listening to other people does not mean giving up my own ideas. Instead, it means being open to possibilities I may not have considered on my own. Sometimes another person's perspective can make an idea stronger than I originally imagined. I have also learned that collaboration requires humility. Not every idea will be used, and not every rehearsal will go perfectly. There will be disagreements, mistakes, and unexpected problems. What matters is how we respond to them. Theatre has taught me to communicate, adapt, accept constructive criticism, and keep working toward the bigger picture instead of focusing only on myself. These experiences have inspired me to pursue theatre as a career because I love not only performing but also being part of a creative community. I want to work alongside people who challenge me, teach me, and share my passion for storytelling. My ambition is to become an actor who contributes to that community rather than simply standing at the center of it. I want to be someone my castmates and creative team can trust, someone who listens, supports others, and brings energy and dedication to every project. To me, collaboration is one of the most rewarding parts of theatre because the final performance belongs to everyone who helped bring it to life. An empty stage can become an entire world when people combine their talents, ideas, and passion. That is what makes theatre special to me, and it is the kind of creative, supportive community I hope to continue building throughout my career.

The books I have read have taught me that every story has the power to make people feel, think, and see the world differently. As a voracious reader, I have explored many different genres, characters, and perspectives. I have never limited myself to one type of story because I enjoy discovering new ideas and seeing the world through different points of view. Rather than one specific book changing my life, it has been the collection of stories I have read that has shaped the person I am becoming. One of the most important lessons reading has taught me is empathy. When I become invested in a character, I begin to understand their motivations, emotions, fears, and struggles. I have learned that people are often more complicated than they first appear and that there is usually more to someone’s story than what can be seen on the surface. Reading has challenged me to look at situations from perspectives different from my own and to be more understanding of people whose experiences may not be the same as mine. This lesson has become especially important to me as a theatre student. Acting requires me to step into the life of another person and portray their experiences honestly. Sometimes a character may have a personality or background that is completely different from my own. Reading has helped me develop the curiosity and empathy necessary to ask, “Why does this character feel this way?” or “What experiences have shaped who they have become?” Instead of simply memorizing lines, I want to understand the person behind them. Reading has also taught me how powerful storytelling can be. A story can stay with you long after you have finished the final page. It can make you laugh, make you cry, challenge something you believe, or help you recognize something about yourself. That lasting impact is the kind of impact I hope to create through theatre. I want my performances to give audiences more than entertainment. I want them to leave the theatre feeling something, thinking about something, or seeing a person or situation in a new way. My ambition is to pursue acting as a career and use performance to inspire audiences through meaningful stories. I know that reaching that goal will require dedication, discipline, and a willingness to continue learning. My passion for reading has shown me that growth comes from being curious and being willing to experience perspectives beyond my own. I want to bring that same drive to my acting by continuing to study my craft, challenge myself, and learn from every character I portray. The books I have read have strengthened my belief that stories matter. They have taught me about empathy, perspective, perseverance, and the ability of one story to influence another person. My love of reading has helped shape my goals because it has shown me what meaningful storytelling can accomplish. I hope to take those lessons with me onto the stage and become a performer who does more than bring characters to life. I want to inspire audiences, connect with people, and use my voice and talent to remind them of the power of a good story.

Living with chronic illness has shaped every part of my educational journey. Although I have not yet received an official diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), I have spent years living with symptoms consistent with it while waiting to be evaluated by an EDS specialist. My mom first suspected hEDS after my first joint dislocation at summer camp when I was eleven. Over the years, my hips, shoulders, fingers, toes, and ankles began dislocating regularly. Despite seeing numerous doctors, no one took my mom's concerns seriously. It was discouraging to know something was wrong while struggling to find answers. Everything changed in the winter of 2024 when, at seventeen, I was diagnosed with POTS. Almost overnight, I became chronically dizzy and experienced frequent fainting episodes—sometimes as many as forty times a day. I couldn't drive, had to take a medical leave from my job, and spent sporadic days confined to bed. Managing my symptoms became a full-time commitment. I began consuming large amounts of electrolytes and followed a strict dairy-, gluten-, and sugar-free diet, which significantly improved my symptoms. Eventually, a naturopathic doctor recognized the connection between my POTS and the symptoms my mom had noticed for years, validating our long-held suspicion of hEDS. After years of searching for answers, finally being believed was an incredible relief. Despite these challenges, I refused to let chronic illness keep me from pursuing my passion. In the fall of 2025, I began a musical theatre conservatory program after performing in community theatre for ten years. The program requires me to perform in eleven shows each week, including three-show Saturdays. I knew the physical demands would challenge my body, but I was determined not to let my health define my future. Success has required constant adaptation. I have learned to carefully manage my POTS symptoms with daily electrolyte supplements, and as rehearsals intensified, I had to find ways to protect my joints from frequent dislocations. Today, I perform wearing hip, knee, and ankle braces so I can safely meet the physical demands of my training. While it can be frustrating to have a body that requires so much maintenance, every adjustment I make allows me to continue pursuing the career I love. Living with chronic illness has taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of advocating for myself. Receiving this scholarship would help ease the financial burden of managing chronic illness while pursuing my education. My electrolyte supplements alone cost more than $100 each month, and I also rely on braces and kinesiology tape to protect my joints and continue performing safely. This support would allow me to focus on my education and professional training instead of worrying about the cost of the tools that make it possible for me to succeed. Although chronic illness has made my educational journey more difficult than I ever expected, it has strengthened my determination. I am committed to building a career in musical theatre, and I refuse to let my diagnosis—or the long road to obtaining one—keep me from pursuing the future I have worked so hard to achieve. I have included a receipt from my ND that includes my diagnosis and a picture of me with my braces getting ready for a performance!

"It was only when I realized how actors have the power to move people that I decided to pursue acting as a career.” Cate Blanchett. I am often asked by people in my life why I am pursuing acting. I always respond in the same way: “I want to move people.” Acting, for me, is a powerful means to reach people emotionally. Through storytelling with my voice and body, I can move the heart of someone sitting twenty rows back from the stage. Even when I sit as a member of an audience, I am moved by the actor who is pouring their soul out in a role. It’s like a secret experience that our hearts are sharing together. That’s the beauty of live theater. I come from a family of very creative people and have been moved by art since I was little. I love drawing people into a shared experience of beauty – whether it’s through music, theatre, art, or even nature. When I moved to Pennsylvania to attend the Sight and Sound Conservatory, I hadn’t yet met many professional actors. A woman I met early on at the Conservatory opened my eyes to the world of acting in a way I’d never experienced before. Rachel Day Hughes is captivating. The way she shapes and utilizes language on the stage is stunning. She has taught three of my classes so far and I’ve learned a number of standard techniques from her. You can tell that Rachel absolutely loves her craft. She has taught me to respect and befriend the characters I have the honor of portraying, and her devotion to moving people is something I can only hope to emulate one day. My high school theater director, Adam, and Rachel have both said things that have inspired me to pursue acting with passion. “You might have done this show 200 times already, and you’re tired but this is the audience’s first time seeing your work. Move them the same way you moved the first audience. (Rachel)” “You have no idea what hardships these people could be bringing in with them tonight. Give them a reason to forget, even just for a few hours. (Adam)” I have performed now for three months in JOSHUA at Sight and Sound and it has been a dream come true! It has been an incredible experience for me that I will never forget. The most personally impactful performance I’ve done so far, was Into The Woods with my local theater company, The Studio. It was my final show with them before leaving for school, so it was a bittersweet time. I had the privilege of playing the role of the Baker’s Wife. She will forever have a special place in my heart, because she was the first character I’d played that was complex and challenging. She had very obvious flaws, and I loved it because for me it was the most conflicting and emotional role I had played thus far! Every character I had played up until then had dreams and fears but she made serious mistakes which is a very human thing to do. She opened my eyes to the many possibilities in acting and the importance of showing real life! I believe that one of the primary purposes of theater is to remind us of our humanity. We are all the same, with dreams and fears, joys and failures, and stage characters carry these just like we do. I pray I get the privilege and joy to carry the mantle of moving hearts of people for the rest of my life!