This fall, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations—studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my greatest aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll have to work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre, I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old, and after experiencing my first round of applause, I knew I would be performing for the rest of my life. The idea of pursuing theatre really solidified for me during my sophomore year at Holt High School. I was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and it was the first time I had ever played a character with such deep emotions. In the musical, Olive’s father neglects to show up to her spelling bee competition, and her mother has moved across the world to find the meaning of life. Olive is all alone. Her song, The I Love You Song, is one of the saddest moments in the show. I knew I wanted to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I remember sitting on stage under the spotlight, and as I sang, I thought about what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Before I knew it, I started to cry. After the performance, a woman from the audience approached me with tears in her eyes. She wrapped me in a hug and told me my performance had moved her to cry too. At that moment, I realized just how powerful theatre could be. I didn’t know what part of Olive’s story had touched her, but something about my performance had made her feel seen. That was the first time I truly understood what kind of impact art can have on people. It’s not just about performing—it’s about connection. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to spend my life telling stories that could touch people's hearts. I think people forget how much the arts impact our daily lives. I believe musicals have the power to reflect what is wrong in society, spark conversations, and advocate for change. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “impractical” career. Without this art form, we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives, and that is why I’ve decided to choose it as my future career. A college education is the best way for me to continue pursuing this passion because I know I still have so much to learn. Many actors my age attend performing arts high schools, which gives them years of professional training that I haven't had access to. These programs have always been out of my family's budget, so I've worked hard to make the most of the opportunities available to me. I’ve spent extra hours drilling choreography and studying vocals with a private teacher, pouring everything I have into this craft. Even though I've worked hard, I know that college would give me the focused training I need to take my skills to the next level. I’m also considering minoring in communications so that I can support myself through social media marketing while auditioning. I know how competitive the theatre industry can be, and having another skill set will help me make money in the future. Education has always been important to me—not just because I want to improve as an artist, but because I want to have something to fall back on if needed. A scholarship would be very beneficial to my college career because, without one, I’m not sure if attending my dream school would be possible. My family is not in the position to cover the cost of college, so paying for school will be a challenge. I've worked throughout high school to make money, but even with my savings, affording college will still be difficult. I know choosing a career in the arts isn’t an easy path, but I truly believe it's the one I was meant to follow. Theatre has given me so much, and I want to spend my life giving back to others. With the help of a scholarship, I hope to continue learning, growing, and using my voice to make a difference—whether that's on a Broadway stage or simply in the lives of the people who see my performances along the way.

This fall, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations—studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my greatest aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll have to work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre, I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old, and after experiencing my first round of applause, I knew I would be performing for the rest of my life. The idea of pursuing theatre really solidified for me during my sophomore year at Holt High School. I was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and it was the first time I had ever played a character with such deep emotions. In the musical, Olive’s father neglects to show up to her spelling bee competition, and her mother has moved across the world to find the meaning of life. Olive is all alone. Her song, The I Love You Song, is one of the saddest moments in the show. I knew I wanted to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I remember sitting on stage under the spotlight, and as I sang, I thought about what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Before I knew it, I started to cry. After the performance, a woman from the audience approached me with tears in her eyes. She wrapped me in a hug and told me my performance had moved her to cry too. At that moment, I realized just how powerful theatre could be. I didn’t know what part of Olive’s story had touched her, but something about my performance had made her feel seen. That was the first time I truly understood what kind of impact art can have on people. It’s not just about performing—it’s about connection. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to spend my life telling stories that could touch people's hearts. One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre is that it's an "impractical" career. I think people forget how much the arts impact our daily lives. I believe musicals have the power to reflect what is wrong in society, spark conversations, and advocate for change. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “impractical” career. Without this art form, we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives, and that is why I’ve decided to choose it as my future career.

In the fall of 2025, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations- studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my big aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and after experiencing my first round of applause I knew I would be performing my whole life. My sophomore year was when that idea really solidified for me. I played the role of Olive in Spelling Bee at Holt High School, and it was one of the first times I had to perform a sad song. Olive’s father neglected to show up to her spelling bee competition and her mother had moved to another country to find the true meaning of life. She was all alone on stage. It was the most beautiful melody, and I knew I had to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I really thought about her life and the lyrics she was singing and on opening night I began to cry while performing. At the end of the show a woman who’d been in the audience approached me with a hug. She had tears in her eyes and said that my performance had made her cry as well. Wow. That was the first time I’d ever moved someone to tears. I didn’t know what it was that had hit her, but my art impacted her. The more people I talked to, the more I learned that several people had been touched and teared up while watching. For me, theatre isn’t just about performing; it’s about connection. I hope that through the stories I tell, someone in the audience might laugh at a joke, feel seen because they can relate to a character, or just enjoy a moment of escape. A scholarship would be very beneficial to my college career because, without one, I’m not sure if attending my dream school would be possible. My family is not in the position to cover the cost of college, so paying for school will be a challenge. I've worked throughout high school to make money, but even with my savings, affording college will still be difficult. I know choosing a career in the arts isn’t an easy path, but I truly believe it's the one I was meant to follow. Theatre has given me so much, and I want to spend my life giving back to others. With the help of a scholarship, I hope to continue learning, growing, and using my voice to make a difference—whether that's on a Broadway stage or simply in the lives of the people who see my performances along the way.

I’ve struggled with mental health my whole life. In the first semester of my junior year, I started therapy, was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety, and began taking medication to help me feel better. Looking back a year later, it feels like I was a completely different person. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have made it through that time without the arts. I’ve loved performing since I was seven years old, and theatre has always been my safe place. In my opinion, singing is the ultimate form of expression—there’s nothing like it. During one of the hardest depressive episodes I’ve ever had, I was in a production of Sweeney Todd, playing Johanna. She’s a girl who has lost her family and is trapped under the control of a judge who plans to marry her. She feels helpless, disgusted, and desperate for freedom. But Johanna isn’t the main character—she only gets one song to express all of that emotion, Green Finch and Linnet Bird. The lyrics don’t outright say, I feel trapped and hopeless—instead, she sings about caged birds, using them as a metaphor for her own isolation. On the surface, it’s just a pretty soprano song, but for me, it was so much more. “Are you crowing? Or are you screaming?” I sang to the birds, six nights in a row, tears running down my face. Johanna and I had completely different struggles, but I understood her pain. Expressing myself through that song gave me comfort in a way nothing else could. Some people turn to journaling or talking things out with a friend, but for me, sometimes all I need is a song with meaning and an audience to listen. My depression isn’t gone, and it never will be, but I’ve learned how to cope. This past semester, I auditioned for musical theatre programs and faced rejection over and over again for the first time. It was painful, but I knew what I was walking into. I chose my audition songs wisely—my favorite was They Just Keep Moving the Line from Smash. The lines “Before I got my trophy, the race began again” and “I made friends with rejection” comforted me when I needed it most. Not everyone loves singing like I do, but I truly believe art is healing. It gives people a way to process emotions, escape reality, and connect with something deeper. For me, performing has been a lifeline, pulling me out of my own head and into something bigger than myself. I hope others struggling with mental health can find their own creative outlet, whether it’s performing, painting, writing, or even just filling in a coloring page. Because sometimes, the right form of expression can make all the difference.

In the fall of 2025, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations- studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my big aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and after experiencing my first round of applause I knew I would be performing my whole life. My sophomore year was when that idea really solidified for me. I played the role of Olive in Spelling Bee at Holt High School, and it was one of the first times I had to perform a sad song. Olive’s father neglected to show up to her spelling bee competition and her mother had moved to another country to find the true meaning of life. She was all alone on stage. It was the most beautiful melody, and I knew I had to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I really thought about her life and the lyrics she was singing and on opening night I began to cry while performing. At the end of the show a woman who’d been in the audience approached me with a hug. She had tears in her eyes and said that my performance had made her cry as well. Wow. That was the first time I’d ever moved someone to tears. I didn’t know what it was that had hit her, but my art impacted her. The more people I talked to, the more I learned that several people had been touched and teared up while watching. For me, theatre isn’t just about performing; it’s about connection. I hope that through the stories I tell, someone in the audience might laugh at a joke, feel seen because they can relate to a character, or just enjoy a moment of escape. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “unpractical” career. I think it’s because many people forget how important the arts are to everyday life. I believe that musicals can tell meaningful stories, point out what is wrong in society and advocate for change. Without theatre we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives and that is why I’ve decided to choose musical theatre as my future career.

In the fall of 2025, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations- studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my big aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and after experiencing my first round of applause I knew I would be performing my whole life. My sophomore year was when that idea really solidified for me. I played the role of Olive in Spelling Bee at Holt High School, and it was one of the first times I had to perform a sad song. Olive’s father neglected to show up to her spelling bee competition and her mother had moved to another country to find the true meaning of life. She was all alone on stage. It was the most beautiful melody, and I knew I had to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I really thought about her life and the lyrics she was singing and on opening night I began to cry while performing. At the end of the show a woman who’d been in the audience approached me with a hug. She had tears in her eyes and said that my performance had made her cry as well. Wow. That was the first time I’d ever moved someone to tears. I didn’t know what it was that had hit her, but my art impacted her. The more people I talked to, the more I learned that several people had been touched and teared up while watching. For me, theatre isn’t just about performing; it’s about connection. I hope that through the stories I tell, someone in the audience might laugh at a joke, feel seen because they can relate to a character, or just enjoy a moment of escape. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “unpractical” career. I think it’s because many people forget how important the arts are to everyday life. I believe that musicals can tell meaningful stories, point out what is wrong in society and advocate for change. Without theatre we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives and that is why I’ve decided to choose musical theatre as my future career.

In the fall of 2025, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations- studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my big aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and after experiencing my first round of applause I knew I would be performing my whole life. My sophomore year was when that idea really solidified for me. I played the role of Olive in Spelling Bee at Holt High School, and it was one of the first times I had to perform a sad song. Olive’s father neglected to show up to her spelling bee competition and her mother had moved to another country to find the true meaning of life. She was all alone on stage. It was the most beautiful melody, and I knew I had to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I really thought about her life and the lyrics she was singing and on opening night I began to cry while performing. At the end of the show a woman who’d been in the audience approached me with a hug. She had tears in her eyes and said that my performance had made her cry as well. Wow. That was the first time I’d ever moved someone to tears. I didn’t know what it was that had hit her, but my art impacted her. The more people I talked to, the more I learned that several people had been touched and teared up while watching. For me, theatre isn’t just about performing; it’s about connection. I hope that through the stories I tell, someone in the audience might laugh at a joke, feel seen because they can relate to a character, or just enjoy a moment of escape. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “unpractical” career. I think it’s because many people forget how important the arts are to everyday life. I believe that musicals can tell meaningful stories, point out what is wrong in society and advocate for change. Without theatre we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives and that is why I’ve decided to choose musical theatre as my future career.

In the fall of 2025, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations- studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my big aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and after experiencing my first round of applause I knew I would be performing my whole life. My sophomore year was when that idea really solidified for me. I played the role of Olive in Spelling Bee at Holt High School, and it was one of the first times I had to perform a sad song. Olive’s father neglected to show up to her spelling bee competition and her mother had moved to another country to find the true meaning of life. She was all alone on stage. It was the most beautiful melody, and I knew I had to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I really thought about her life and the lyrics she was singing and on opening night I began to cry while performing. At the end of the show a woman who’d been in the audience approached me with a hug. She had tears in her eyes and said that my performance had made her cry as well. Wow. That was the first time I’d ever moved someone to tears. I didn’t know what it was that had hit her, but my art impacted her. The more people I talked to, the more I learned that several people had been touched and teared up while watching. For me, theatre isn’t just about performing; it’s about connection. I hope that through the stories I tell, someone in the audience might laugh at a joke, feel seen because they can relate to a character, or just enjoy a moment of escape. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “unpractical” career. I think it’s because many people forget how important the arts are to everyday life. I believe that musicals can tell meaningful stories, point out what is wrong in society and advocate for change. Without theatre we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives and that is why I’ve decided to choose musical theatre as my future career.

In the fall of 2025, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations- studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my big aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old and after experiencing my first round of applause I knew I would be performing my whole life. My sophomore year was when that idea really solidified for me. I played the role of Olive in Spelling Bee at Holt High School, and it was one of the first times I had to perform a sad song. Olive’s father neglected to show up to her spelling bee competition and her mother had moved to another country to find the true meaning of life. She was all alone on stage. It was the most beautiful melody, and I knew I had to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I really thought about her life and the lyrics she was singing and on opening night I began to cry while performing. At the end of the show a woman who’d been in the audience approached me with a hug. She had tears in her eyes and said that my performance had made her cry as well. Wow. That was the first time I’d ever moved someone to tears. I didn’t know what it was that had hit her, but my art impacted her. The more people I talked to, the more I learned that several people had been touched and teared up while watching. For me, theatre isn’t just about performing; it’s about connection. I hope that through the stories I tell, someone in the audience might laugh at a joke, feel seen because they can relate to a character, or just enjoy a moment of escape. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “unpractical” career. I think it’s because many people forget how important the arts are to everyday life. I believe that musicals can tell meaningful stories, point out what is wrong in society and advocate for change. Without theatre we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives and that is why I’ve decided to choose musical theatre as my future career.

This fall, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations—studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my greatest aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll have to work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre, I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old, and after experiencing my first round of applause, I knew I would be performing for the rest of my life. The idea of pursuing theatre really solidified for me during my sophomore year at Holt High School. I was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and it was the first time I had ever played a character with such deep emotions. In the musical, Olive’s father neglects to show up to her spelling bee competition, and her mother has moved across the world to find the meaning of life. Olive is all alone. Her song, The I Love You Song, is one of the saddest moments in the show. I knew I wanted to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I remember sitting on stage under the spotlight, and as I sang, I thought about what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Before I knew it, I started to cry. After the performance, a woman from the audience approached me with tears in her eyes. She wrapped me in a hug and told me my performance had moved her to cry too. At that moment, I realized just how powerful theatre could be. I didn’t know what part of Olive’s story had touched her, but something about my performance had made her feel seen. That was the first time I truly understood what kind of impact art can have on people. It’s not just about performing—it’s about connection. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to spend my life telling stories that could touch people's hearts. One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre is that it's an "impractical" career. I think people forget how much the arts impact our daily lives. I believe musicals have the power to reflect what is wrong in society, spark conversations, and advocate for change. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “impractical” career. Without this art form, we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives, and that is why I’ve decided to choose it as my future career. A college education is the best way for me to continue pursuing this passion because I know I still have so much to learn. Many actors my age attend performing arts high schools, which gives them years of professional training that I haven't had access to. These programs have always been out of my family's budget, so I've worked hard to make the most of the opportunities available to me. I’ve spent extra hours drilling choreography and studying vocals with a private teacher, pouring everything I have into this craft. Even though I've worked hard, I know that college would give me the focused training I need to take my skills to the next level. I’m also considering minoring in communications so that I can support myself through social media marketing while auditioning. I know how competitive the theatre industry can be, and having another skill set will help me make money in the future. Education has always been important to me—not just because I want to improve as an artist, but because I want to have something to fall back on if needed. A scholarship would be very beneficial to my college career because, without one, I’m not sure if attending my dream school would be possible. My family is not in the position to cover the cost of college, so paying for school will be a challenge. I've worked throughout high school to make money, but even with my savings, affording college will still be difficult. I know choosing a career in the arts isn’t an easy path, but I truly believe it's the one I was meant to follow. Theatre has given me so much, and I want to spend my life giving back to others. With the help of a scholarship, I hope to continue learning, growing, and using my voice to make a difference—whether that's on a Broadway stage or simply in the lives of the people who see my performances along the way.

I’ve struggled with mental health my whole life. In the first semester of my junior year, I started therapy, was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety, and began taking medication to help me feel better. Looking back a year later, it feels like I was a completely different person. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have made it through that time without the arts. I’ve loved performing since I was seven years old, and theatre has always been my safe place. In my opinion, singing is the ultimate form of expression—there’s nothing like it. During one of the hardest depressive episodes I’ve ever had, I was in a production of Sweeney Todd, playing Johanna. She’s a girl who has lost her family and is trapped under the control of a judge who plans to marry her. She feels helpless, disgusted, and desperate for freedom. But Johanna isn’t the main character—she only gets one song to express all of that emotion, Green Finch and Linnet Bird. The lyrics don’t outright say, I feel trapped and hopeless—instead, she sings about caged birds, using them as a metaphor for her own isolation. On the surface, it’s just a pretty soprano song, but for me, it was so much more. “Are you crowing? Or are you screaming?” I sang to the birds, six nights in a row, tears running down my face. Johanna and I had completely different struggles, but I understood her pain. Expressing myself through that song gave me comfort in a way nothing else could. Some people turn to journaling or talking things out with a friend, but for me, sometimes all I need is a song with meaning and an audience to listen. My depression isn’t gone, and it never will be, but I’ve learned how to cope. This past semester, I auditioned for musical theatre programs and faced rejection over and over again for the first time. It was painful, but I knew what I was walking into. I chose my audition songs wisely—my favorite was They Just Keep Moving the Line from Smash. The lines “Before I got my trophy, the race began again” and “I made friends with rejection” comforted me when I needed it most. Not everyone loves singing like I do, but I truly believe art is healing. It gives people a way to process emotions, escape reality, and connect with something deeper. For me, performing has been a lifeline, pulling me out of my own head and into something bigger than myself. I hope others struggling with mental health can find their own creative outlet, whether it’s performing, painting, writing, or even just filling in a coloring page. Because sometimes, the right form of expression can make all the difference.

This fall, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations—studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my greatest aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll have to work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre, I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old, and after experiencing my first round of applause, I knew I would be performing for the rest of my life. The idea of pursuing theatre really solidified for me during my sophomore year at Holt High School. I was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and it was the first time I had ever played a character with such deep emotions. In the musical, Olive’s father neglects to show up to her spelling bee competition, and her mother has moved across the world to find the meaning of life. Olive is all alone. Her song, The I Love You Song, is one of the saddest moments in the show. I knew I wanted to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I remember sitting on stage under the spotlight, and as I sang, I thought about what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Before I knew it, I started to cry. After the performance, a woman from the audience approached me with tears in her eyes. She wrapped me in a hug and told me my performance had moved her to cry too. At that moment, I realized just how powerful theatre could be. I didn’t know what part of Olive’s story had touched her, but something about my performance had made her feel seen. That was the first time I truly understood what kind of impact art can have on people. It’s not just about performing—it’s about connection. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to spend my life telling stories that could touch people's hearts. One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre is that it's an "impractical" career. I think people forget how much the arts impact our daily lives. I believe musicals have the power to reflect what is wrong in society, spark conversations, and advocate for change. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “impractical” career. Without this art form, we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives, and that is why I’ve decided to choose it as my future career.

This fall, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations—studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my greatest aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll have to work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre, I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old, and after experiencing my first round of applause, I knew I would be performing for the rest of my life. The idea of pursuing theatre really solidified for me during my sophomore year at Holt High School. I was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and it was the first time I had ever played a character with such deep emotions. In the musical, Olive’s father neglects to show up to her spelling bee competition, and her mother has moved across the world to find the meaning of life. Olive is all alone. Her song, The I Love You Song, is one of the saddest moments in the show. I knew I wanted to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I remember sitting on stage under the spotlight, and as I sang, I thought about what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Before I knew it, I started to cry. After the performance, a woman from the audience approached me with tears in her eyes. She wrapped me in a hug and told me my performance had moved her to cry too. At that moment, I realized just how powerful theatre could be. I didn’t know what part of Olive’s story had touched her, but something about my performance had made her feel seen. That was the first time I truly understood what kind of impact art can have on people. It’s not just about performing—it’s about connection. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to spend my life telling stories that could touch people's hearts. One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre is that it's an "impractical" career. I think people forget how much the arts impact our daily lives. I believe musicals have the power to reflect what is wrong in society, spark conversations, and advocate for change. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “impractical” career. Without this art form, we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives, and that is why I’ve decided to choose it as my future career.

FADE IN: A little girl, just 16 months old, sits on the floor, cradling a newborn baby in her arms. Her mother watches closely, smiling as she gently says, “Be kind to your brother.” A soft melody underscores the moment—one that will return throughout her story. The lights dim, then brighten again. She’s six, gripping a pencil as her mother guides her hand. “That’s not just a ‘y’—do it the pretty way.” The girl carefully forms the loops, realizing for the first time that even the smallest details matter. Another shift: she’s eleven, sitting in a classroom, writing in her journal. Her teacher, Ms. Jewel, writes a quote on the board every morning. “Write what it means to you,” she says. Some students groan, but the girl loves it. Words are starting to mean something to her—how they can shape a thought, a feeling, a whole life. CUT TO: Age twelve. She sits next to her cousin, gripping a Nintendo controller. “Press the button when the countdown hits ‘2’—it gives you a speed boost,” he whispers. A simple trick, but it feels like something more—a little shortcut, a little secret advantage. Then she’s fourteen, curled up in bed, clutching her phone. “I think I like guys, not girls,” her first boyfriend texts. Her chest tightens, but then—relief. So this is why it never felt right. She exhales, sends back, “I’m really proud of you.” The music slows. She’s sixteen, standing alone on a stage. The theatre is empty, save for a single spotlight illuminating her. She isn’t performing—just existing, letting the silence settle. Something inside her feels hollow, heavy, inescapable. When her parents find her later, she can’t quite explain the sadness. But still, she keeps moving. MONTAGE: Audition after audition. Rejection after rejection. Doors closing, dreams feeling just out of reach. But she keeps going, keeps singing, keeps believing. She finds herself in the middle of an audition season filled with uncertainty. She chooses her songs carefully. They Just Keep Moving the Line becomes her anthem. “Before I got my trophy, the race began again.” The words hit deep. “I made friends with rejection.” She’s learning that resilience isn’t just about success—it’s about pushing forward when success seems impossible. FADE TO PRESENT: Seventeen now. She’s on the couch with her brother, talking for hours about nothing and everything all at once. The doorbell rings, and she jumps up to answer. Lucas steps inside. Her best friend. She grins, pulling him into a hug before handing him a controller. It’s time for the most intense Mario Kart race of their lives. As the countdown begins—3… 2… 1…—her brother turns to her, smirking. “Are you ready?” She doesn’t hesitate. She just smiles and repeats the words she’s come to live by: "The key to success is to start before you're ready." FADE TO BLACK. ROLL CREDITS: The people who shaped her. Her brother. Her parents. Lucas. Ms. Jewel. Her cousin. Her mentors. A lifetime of small moments that, together, tell a story worth watching.

I’ve struggled with mental health my whole life. In the first semester of my junior year, I started therapy, was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety, and began taking medication to help me feel better. Looking back a year later, it feels like I was a completely different person. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have made it through that time without the arts. I’ve loved performing since I was seven years old, and theatre has always been my safe place. In my opinion, singing is the ultimate form of expression—there’s nothing like it. During one of the hardest depressive episodes I’ve ever had, I was in a production of Sweeney Todd, playing Johanna. She’s a girl who has lost her family and is trapped under the control of a judge who plans to marry her. She feels helpless, disgusted, and desperate for freedom. But Johanna isn’t the main character—she only gets one song to express all of that emotion, Green Finch and Linnet Bird. The lyrics don’t outright say, I feel trapped and hopeless—instead, she sings about caged birds, using them as a metaphor for her own isolation. On the surface, it’s just a pretty soprano song, but for me, it was so much more. “Are you crowing? Or are you screaming?” I sang to the birds, six nights in a row, tears running down my face. Johanna and I had completely different struggles, but I understood her pain. Expressing myself through that song gave me comfort in a way nothing else could. Some people turn to journaling or talking things out with a friend, but for me, sometimes all I need is a song with meaning and an audience to listen. My depression isn’t gone, and it never will be, but I’ve learned how to cope. This past semester, I auditioned for musical theatre programs and faced rejection over and over again for the first time. It was painful, but I knew what I was walking into. I chose my audition songs wisely—my favorite was They Just Keep Moving the Line from Smash. The lines “Before I got my trophy, the race began again” and “I made friends with rejection” comforted me when I needed it most. Not everyone loves singing like I do, but I truly believe art is healing. It gives people a way to process emotions, escape reality, and connect with something deeper. For me, performing has been a lifeline, pulling me out of my own head and into something bigger than myself. I hope others struggling with mental health can find their own creative outlet, whether it’s performing, painting, writing, or even just filling in a coloring page. Because sometimes, the right form of expression can make all the difference.

This fall, I will finally accomplish one of my biggest aspirations—studying my dream career at university. I’m really doing it. Another one of my greatest aspirations is to perform on Broadway, but I’ll have to work my way up to that. By majoring in musical theatre, I hope that one day I will be able to accomplish all of my dreams. I’ve been performing since I was seven years old, and after experiencing my first round of applause, I knew I would be performing for the rest of my life. The idea of pursuing theatre really solidified for me during my sophomore year at Holt High School. I was cast as Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and it was the first time I had ever played a character with such deep emotions. In the musical, Olive’s father neglects to show up to her spelling bee competition, and her mother has moved across the world to find the meaning of life. Olive is all alone. Her song, The I Love You Song, is one of the saddest moments in the show. I knew I wanted to tell Olive’s story the best I could. I remember sitting on stage under the spotlight, and as I sang, I thought about what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Before I knew it, I started to cry. After the performance, a woman from the audience approached me with tears in her eyes. She wrapped me in a hug and told me my performance had moved her to cry too. At that moment, I realized just how powerful theatre could be. I didn’t know what part of Olive’s story had touched her, but something about my performance had made her feel seen. That was the first time I truly understood what kind of impact art can have on people. It’s not just about performing—it’s about connection. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to spend my life telling stories that could touch people's hearts. One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre is that it's an "impractical" career. I think people forget how much the arts impact our daily lives. I believe musicals have the power to reflect what is wrong in society, spark conversations, and advocate for change. Despite all of this many people still see theatre as an “impractical” career. Without this art form, we would lose such an important part of culture. Musicals can inspire peoples’ everyday lives, and that is why I’ve decided to choose it as my future career.