“The secret to good acting is knowing how to listen.” This quote from Uta Hagen encapsulates the depth and authenticity of theatre. A performance is not genuine if an actor prances around the stage, reciting their lines and patiently awaiting their next cue. In this way, acting is similar to reality; we are doing ourselves a disservice by simply going through the motions, never fully experiencing or discovering what is to be found in our world. This universe holds many secrets, some of which we will never know. But I believe the most precious of these secrets are to be found in the minds and souls of our fellow man, and I say that learning how to listen will be fruitful to me in more than just my acting. The theatre has been my heart’s devotion since I was nine, but even before my first production, I was no stranger to the stage. My journey officially began when I sang a Christmas special at my backwoods church. I must have been around the age of three because I remember a woman sitting on the front pew with my words written on a poster board, and I thought to myself: “What use is that? I can’t read!” Soon enough, solos at church turned into audition cuts at every theatre within a thirty-mile radius. The excitement and unpredictability of live theatre always kept me coming back for more. My infatuation became a passion, and I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing what brought me and so many others such joy. With my life figured out by age twelve, I was on top of the world. I knew exactly what I was going to do. I was going to attend NYU and graduate at the top of my class with no student debt. Then, I was to be offered the lead role in an original Broadway musical, become instantly rich and famous, and live carefree for the rest of my days. I vividly remember the day that my magnificent illusion came crashing down. I had been accepted to the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for their Drama Academy camp. After all the anxiety caused by the audition process, I was ready for the next two weeks to be fun and rewarding. Boy, was I in for a surprise. The theatre became a place of dread for me. I started to expect another day of mistakes, frustration, and never quite giving what my teachers wanted of me. I was in a dazed state most of the time as my thoughts and anxieties overcame me. Was I cut out for this? Am I on the wrong path? What can I do to make myself better? The next day, we had a demonstration in class, where two Governor’s School alums came back to do a scene for us. It was paced with emotion, and I thought it was very polished and nuanced. As soon as they finished, our head teacher walked up to both of them. “I want you to do it again, and this time, LISTEN to each other. Every word is fresh, and every feeling is new.” What they gave us the second time has been burned into my brain. It was raw. They were angry at each other one second and forgiving the next. They were crying, really crying. They got on their knees. They kicked over chairs. And not a single ounce of it was forced. The only thing that changed was they let the full force of their partner’s words hit them and reacted with no boundaries. I didn’t realize before how impactful their words had been until they truly listened to each other. The secret was discovered. Everything fell into place. It’s not about me; it’s about what I can take away from everyone else. Although I know my greatest passion is acting, I have no clue where it will lead me. There are so many opportunities across the globe that I hope to take advantage of, but I need a firm foundation before I can. Obtaining a BFA in Musical Theatre is my gateway into the world I dream of. Pursuing this degree will help me learn so much about the importance of human connection, how it has shaped our world this far, and how it will pave the way for the future. I hunger to grow as an actress, and I know that as I do, I will also grow as a listener. I can only hope to fully grasp the intricacies of my characters, as well as the people I interact with every day. I dream that I will be successful in many aspects of theatre. I hope my understanding of human nature makes me capable of writing moving and relatable scripts or directing other actors to best express the scenes written for them. No matter what college I attend, I know the experience of heightening my education in theatre can only grow my potential as a performer and a person. Acting is a fickle thing by nature. You cannot reproduce the same exact thing twice. The goal is imperfection. Your performance changes based on how you are feeling at that particular moment. It’s a lot like real life, even though it seems the complete opposite. Sanford Meisner famously said that “acting is living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” No wonder he was on Broadway at nineteen. We still have so much to learn about acting as an art, and just when we have it all figured out, it will change again. Sounds a lot like our universe, doesn't it? Humans will only continue to transform, but with more change comes more room for exploration. More emotion. More discovery. More reality. And no matter who you are or what you hope to explore, there can always be more listening.