As humans we use stories to make sense of a world that is immense, uncertain, and intimidating. A bold claim, but one that I think is true; people have been telling stories in front of audiences for thousands of years -- around campfires and in amphitheaters, on the streets and under circus tents, in black boxes and opera houses. Theater is a very special medium to me because it’s one of the most versatile, and has the ability to encompass any genre, any visual style, and any experience, continuing to innovate as the definition expands. The evolution of the art is part of what drew me to become a technical theater major, in New York City. Another large part of what drew me to study technical theater is the ability for me to be symbolically present on stage, without physically needing to be. The skills that I bring to any given production I want to use to enrich the audience’s experience, whether that be through set design, lighting, costume design, et cetera. If even a single audience member walks away from a production inspired, I think we (the entire cast and crew) have done our jobs well -- a goal I constantly strive to achieve. On a larger scale, my goal is also to show people that theater is an art form worth paying attention to, especially in times of political unrest. Unfortunately, theater is often inaccessible, whether that be due to a lack of disability seating, lack of captioning technology, high ticket prices, or countless other issues. However, I strongly believe that theater is and always has been for all. Storytelling is in our nature; it's how we relate to others, build compassion, and create lenses with which to analyze the world. In many ways, it creates a common ground for everyone to stand on, and I want to play my very small part in giving agency and voice to anyone I can. I'm honored as a technical theater student to play a small part in something that has the potential to change how people think and perhaps society entirely; to make a kinder, better world. Don't get me wrong, I don't think theater can cure everything, but I do believe that what is played out on stage, fictional or not, is a catalyst for profound understanding of our relationship to ourselves and others, and in discovering how to bring empathy and the magic of theater into our everyday lives.