I have always been a storyteller. When I was young, I would babble on about extravagant stories that I made up in my head, and as I got older I started writing short stories all the time. When I was around nine years old, I started performing on stage. This hobby fulfilled my love for storytelling, and shortly turned into more than a hobby. As we say in the theater, I was “bit by the theater bug.” And it is true. I started using all of my free time performing and being in productions all around our rural community. Being able to share messages and stories in front of a live audience is such a thrilling experience that I am so thankful for. I have been lucky to play so many roles including Young Anya in "Anastasia", Violet in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", Portia in "Something Rotten", and currently I am playing Elsa in "Frozen". Through those roles, I have been able to connect with the audience in ways I would have never imagined. I want to continue to share information and stories with the public in the future, which is why I am going into journalism. At its core, journalism is storytelling with a purpose. It is about seeing what is happening in the world, asking questions, and speaking your truth to the world. Theater has helped me understand the power of words and the way they work to create a message. This is helped me to become a better writer and communicator with others, which is why I want to go into journalism. I have always enjoyed writing, English, and reading. So I thought with my theater background and my interest in writing, it would be a perfect career path for me. I don’t exactly know what I am going to do in the journalism field, whether it’s a reporter, editor, photojournalist, investigative journalist, or anything in that realm. I plan on majoring in Journalism and Communications to broaden by field of study a bit. All I know is that I want to continue to say what I believe in and speak it to the world. Theater taught me how to reach people emotionally, and journalism will teach me how to reach them logically and intellectually. I want to use my strengths to make a difference in this world, and writing is one of the best ways to do so.

Being “bit by the theater bug” is an expression people use to describe their experience with finding theater. When I was nine years old, I got the courage to audition for my very first show at a theater in our rural community. The show was “Annie”, which is a musical I have always loved, and I was determined to play Annie. Although I had always been very musical, I had never sung in front of an audience. So stepping on that stage and singing in front of the casting team felt extremely vulnerable. I was very introverted and could not fathom putting myself out there in front of an audience. But I did it! I sang my song and felt a wave of relief wash over me as I uttered the last note. After auditioning, I remember thinking that I would never do that again. Days later, when I found out the news that I was cast as Annie, I was shocked. This show sparked the ignition for my love of theater. From then on, I was hooked, and have been acting ever since. Performing in the theater has taught me hard life lessons that I cannot get anywhere else. I have learned the importance of community, self-confidence, determination, empathy, time management, and even disappointment. As of now, I have performed in sixteen shows total. I have performed in community theater productions as well as in high school theater productions. As I continue performing, I gain confidence in myself and my abilities. Acting on stage pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to come out of my shell, which helped me overcome my shyness. In all sixteen shows I have been in, I have played a different role. Each of those roles has not only helped me step into the shoes of others, but also helped me learn something new about myself. Acting is more than just playing a part - it is stepping into that character’s world and bringing your own experiences to portray the story. I am extremely thankful for the lessons and experiences I have had over the last eight years in theater, and they have truly defined who I am as a person. While auditions never get easy, they get easier. As I audition now, I remember the feelings and nerves I felt at my very first audition. While I am not quite as petrified, I still have remnants of those emotions. I often think about how if I had never got the courage to do that first audition, I may have never found my love for theater. Right now, I have the wonderful opportunity to play “Elsa” in our high school’s production of “Frozen”, and I am so thankful that I got “bit by the theater bug” and never looked back. I hope to continue telling stories through Journalism in college and as a career.