When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and identifying similarities between them and myself, I was able to understand their actions better and ultimately feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave. Adapting the stories of women in history, like Malala Yousafzai and Rosa Parks, for the stage showcases themes of courage and perseverance that can inspire young girls. Visually seeing various women’s struggles and triumphs on stage can be much more impactful than just reading about them. Theatre can empower young girls by providing them with role models and inspiring them to pursue their goals with courage and determination. In the Fall I will be starting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I will be studying at the Stella Adler acting studio in which one of the main focuses is merging the topics of theatre and social change. Especially with what’s going on in the world today, I hope to bring the issue of women’s rights to the forefront and begin putting on and participating in shows that highlight the incredible stories of the women who have come before us, and those who still stand with us today.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and identifying similarities between them and myself, I was able to understand their actions better and ultimately feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave. Adapting the stories of women in history, like Malala Yousafzai and Rosa Parks, for the stage showcases themes of courage and perseverance that can inspire young girls. Visually seeing various women’s struggles and triumphs on stage can be much more impactful than just reading about them. Theatre can empower young girls by providing them with role models and inspiring them to pursue their goals with courage and determination. In the Fall I will be starting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I will be studying at the Stella Adler acting studio in which one of the main focuses is merging the topics of theatre and social change. Especially with what’s going on in the world today, I hope to bring the issue of women’s rights to the forefront and begin putting on and participating in shows that highlight the incredible stories of the women who have come before us, and those who still stand with us today.

In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and identifying similarities between them and myself, I was able to understand their actions better and ultimately feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and identifying similarities between them and myself, I was able to understand their actions better and ultimately feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave. Adapting the stories of women in history, like Malala Yousafzai and Rosa Parks, for the stage showcases themes of courage and perseverance that can inspire young girls. Visually seeing various women’s struggles and triumphs on stage can be much more impactful than just reading about them. Theatre can empower young girls by providing them with role models and inspiring them to pursue their goals with courage and determination. In the Fall I will be starting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I will be studying at the Stella Adler acting studio in which one of the main focuses is merging the topics of theatre and social change. Especially with what’s going on in the world today, I hope to bring the issue of women’s rights to the forefront and begin putting on and participating in shows that highlight the incredible stories of the women who have come before us, and those who still stand with us today.

In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes, jumping into the shoes of many characters. However, there are two roles that have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested hours in perfecting my physicality, and facial and vocal expressions. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and identifying similarities between them and myself, I was able to understand their actions better and ultimately feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave. Adapting the stories of women in history, like Malala Yousafzai and Rosa Parks, for the stage showcases themes of courage and perseverance that can inspire young girls. Visually seeing various women’s struggles and triumphs on stage can be much more impactful than just reading about them. Theatre can empower young girls by providing them with role models and inspiring them to pursue their goals with courage and determination. In the Fall I will be starting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I will be studying theatre education and acting at the Stella Adler studio in which one of the main focuses is merging the topics of theatre and social change. Especially with what’s going on in the world today, I hope to bring the issue of women’s rights to the forefront and begin putting on and participating in shows that highlight the incredible stories of the women who have come before us, and those who still stand with us today.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and identifying similarities between them and myself, I was able to understand their actions better and ultimately feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave. Adapting the stories of women in history, like Malala Yousafzai and Rosa Parks, for the stage showcases themes of courage and perseverance that can inspire young girls. Visually seeing various women’s struggles and triumphs on stage can be much more impactful than just reading about them. Theatre can empower young girls by providing them with role models and inspiring them to pursue their goals with courage and determination. In the Fall I will be starting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. I will be studying at the Stella Adler acting studio in which one of the main focuses is merging the topics of theatre and social change. Especially with what’s going on in the world today, I hope to bring the issue of women’s rights to the forefront and begin putting on and participating in shows that highlight the incredible stories of the women who have come before us, and those who still stand with us today.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts, and judgment is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave, and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. After eight years of working myself to the bone to expand my acting skill set and enduring countless rejections without giving up, my hard work finally paid off when I received my acceptance letter to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the provision of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre program at NYU also encourages collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The facilities and faculty in the drama program at NYU are like no other; however, top-of-the-line resources come at an expensive cost. A scholarship of this amount would allow me to attend NYU and put me one step closer to achieving my dreams.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts, and judgment is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave, and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. After eight years of working myself to the bone to expand my acting skill set and enduring countless rejections without giving up, my hard work finally paid off when I received my acceptance letter to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the provision of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre program at NYU also encourages collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The facilities and faculty in the drama program at NYU are like no other; however, top-of-the-line resources come at an expensive cost. A scholarship of this amount would allow me to attend NYU and put me one step closer to achieving my dreams.

In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. After learning about the characters’ lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave, and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts, and judgment is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave, and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. After eight years of working myself to the bone to expand my acting skill set and enduring countless rejections without giving up, my hard work finally paid off when I received my acceptance letter to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the provision of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre program at NYU also encourages collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The facilities and faculty in the drama program at NYU are like no other; however, top-of-the-line resources come at an expensive cost. A scholarship of this amount would allow me to attend NYU and put me one step closer to achieving my dreams.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts, and judgment is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point, I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me ever since I played them: the roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Una in We Are The Sea. Both are dramatic roles in which I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una, I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the characters’ lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave, and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. After eight years of working myself to the bone to expand my acting skill set and enduring countless rejections without giving up, my hard work finally paid off when I received my acceptance letter to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the provision of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre program at NYU also encourages collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The facilities and faculty in the drama program at NYU are like no other; however, top-of-the-line resources come at an expensive cost. A scholarship of this amount would allow me to attend NYU and put me one step closer to achieving my dreams.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. I've learned several useful skills from my theatre studies that I can use throughout life, such as time management, improvisation, and public speaking. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life-changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgment is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into through the power of knowledge.  In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played by exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.  Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the provision of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre programs at various universities also encourage collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The chance to continue my theatre studies in college would effectively provide me with the necessary abilities for a successful acting career. I have committed to the acting program at NYU in which tuition is costly. A scholarship opportunity like this would aid in helping me pursue my dreams.

I could only concentrate on the friendships that would be impacted by a great distance when I moved from a small town in Illinois to the suburbs outside of Richmond, Virginia. While I was full of emotion and sadness then, I can now see the beneficial traits that moving has given me as a developing young woman. One of the largest hurdles was going from a graduating class of approximately seventy to nearly six hundred students. Given the size of the school, I had to step outside of my comfort zone and engage students in order to make new friends. Although, new friends didn’t come as easy as they do in the movies. In my new school, I quickly witnessed students who discourage newcomers, creating a hostile environment and making the transfer to a new school challenging for newcomers like me. Cliques had already been formed and memories had already been made, so why would my classmates need an addition to their friend groups? I felt like a complete outsider, and my once extroverted disposition quickly crumbled as I entered through the school doors each morning. While it did take a bit of time, I eventually warmed up to a couple of people in my classes and we became great friends. However, I will never forget the feeling of being isolated from everyone else. I hope that my patience and understanding in these situations will make it easier for incoming students to adjust. I wish to contribute to the development of a welcoming atmosphere where the goal is forming enduring bonds. I will bring openness and acceptance to the community as students like myself begin the next chapter in their life. In addition to these qualities, I have various hours of experience with volunteer work that I hope to continue to participate in during my college career. Helping others through volunteering is an important part of my life that I hope to encourage other students to join in on too. On multiple occasions, I have assisted with the eye exam station for the Special Olympics in Richmond Virginia. I had the opportunity to speak with each competitor one-on-one about their selected event and their competitive experience. The work we were doing to make this Olympic experience unique for these individuals was really appreciated. Though it was not a national event, the little community formed by individuals with special needs and their families managed to assemble a large number of volunteers and athletes to allow them to participate as if it were the actual Olympics. All ages could participate in events, and I saw the happiness on the faces of those who had finished their race and had a great time, as well as those who received medals. The prospect of competing in such a massive Olympics thrilled those who hadn't finished an event yet. Making a personal connection and having a conversation with the athletes was more important to me than simply performing my duties and providing the participants with a proper examination. My family and I were able to bond over it, and I was able to impart to my siblings the value of giving back to the community.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. I've learned several useful skills from my theatre studies that I can use throughout life, such as time management, improvisation, and public speaking. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts, and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, there are two roles that have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the providing of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre programs at various universities also encourage collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The chance to continue my theatre studies in college would effectively provide me with the needed abilities necessary to a successful acting career. I have committed to the acting program at NYU in which tuition is very expensive. A scholarship opportunity like this would aid in helping me pursue my dreams.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. I've learned several useful skills from my theatre studies that I can use throughout life, such as time management, improvisation, and public speaking. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, there are two roles that have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the providing of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre programs at various universities also encourage collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The chance to continue my theatre studies in college would effectively provide me with the needed abilities necessary to a successful acting career. I have committed to the acting program at NYU in which tuition is very expensive. A scholarship opportunity like this would aid in helping me pursue my dreams.

As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into through the power of education. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. But most of all, I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. Pursuing theatre at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the provision of foundational acting techniques and methods from classic teachers like Meisner and Stanislavski. Additionally, diving deeper into the skill of script analysis will enhance my ability to display what my character is thinking and feeling through facial expressions and body language even when there is no dialogue present. The theatre programs at various universities also encourage collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The numerous performance spaces that are offered, and genres to choose from emphasize the importance of versatility in theatre and provide training of adaptability to students. The locations of the universities of which I am choosing between, whether near or in the heart of the city, open the door for opportunities to be involved in local and large-scale productions, as well as build connections with others. The chance to continue my theatre studies in college would effectively provide me with the needed abilities, understanding, and connections necessary to a successful acting career. I have been accepted into both of the acting programs at Syracuse and NYU in which tuition is very expensive. A scholarship opportunity like this would aid in helping me pursue an acting career at one of these universities.

In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. But most of all, I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.

As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into through the power of education. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. But most of all, I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. Pursuing theatre studies at a college level will prepare me for a career in theatre through the providing of foundational acting techniques from classic teachers. The theatre programs at various universities also encourage collaboration skills that are pertinent in working with various actors, directors, and members of the tech crew. The chance to continue my theatre studies in college would effectively provide me with the needed abilities necessary to a successful acting career. I have been accepted into both of the acting programs at Syracuse and NYU in which tuition is very expensive. A scholarship opportunity like this would aid in helping me pursue an acting career at one of these universities.

As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into through the power of education. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. Most of all, I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. What inspires me to never give up hope is my friends. No matter the occasion or day, my friends understand the importance of the message I am working to portray through my art and give me all their undying support and love. Through kind words, jokes, quality time, and much more, my friends remind me to never give up and encourage me to keep pushing and while it takes time, I will one day see results. After all, if I can only change one person’s mind about theatre, that is enough for me.

As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into through the power of education. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefited me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. Most of all, I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope. What inspires me to never give up hope is my friends. No matter the occasion or day, my friends understand the importance of the message I am working to portray through my art and give me all their undying support and love. Through kind words, jokes, quality time, and much more, my friends remind me to never give up and encourage me to keep pushing and while it takes time, I will one day see results. After all, if I can only change one person’s mind about theatre, that is enough for me.

Living during a time where the use of technology and the internet is so prominent in society’s culture, I have laid my eyes upon a fair amount of negative posts, stories and tweets making fun of those with disabilities and special needs. People with special needs or mental disabilities have long faced discrimination and negative stigma. Seeing others make fun of or mislead them because they are not "normal like everyone else" disgusts me. Since individual differences are what define us, we should all embrace our differences. We ought to be encouraging and supporting one another, as well as raising awareness for people with special needs. One way I have achieved this is by volunteering within my community. On multiple occasions, I have assisted with the eye exam station for the Special Olympics in Richmond Virginia. I had the opportunity to speak with each competitor one-on-one about their selected event and their competitive experience. The work we were doing to make this Olympic experience unique for these individuals was really appreciated. Though it was not a national event, the little community formed by individuals with special needs and their families managed to assemble a large number of volunteers and athletes to allow them to participate as if it were the actual Olympics. All ages could participate in events, and I saw the happiness on the faces of those who had finished their race and had a great time, as well as those who received medals. The prospect of competing in such a massive Olympics thrilled those who hadn't even finished an event yet. Making a personal connection and having a conversation with the athletes was more important to me than simply performing my duties and providing the participants with a proper examination. Moving forward, I would love the opportunity to publicize this event on a larger scale and amp up the participation of volunteers as well as athletes, forming a positive community full of support and aiding in creating special memories and connections for numerous participants.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to grow, I've understood that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage. I've learned several useful skills from my theatre studies that I can use throughout life, such as time management, improvisation, and public speaking. Theatre has aided me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self-discipline, and also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre can impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. However, many fail to see theatre in any way more than just dressing up in silly costumes and dancing and singing on stage. The messages embedded within every performance can be life changing for many and can even serve as inspiration or a call to action. The preconceived stigma against theatre hurts and judgement is constantly expressed towards actors such as myself. But, the negativity in the world isn’t enough to stop my passion for theatre and the arts, and I aim to break the mean stereotypes that actors are placed into through the power of education. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the “real them” proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. Most of all, I strive to honor the lives of the characters I have played through exemplifying that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and I hope to inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.

I could only concentrate on the friendships that would be impacted by a great distance when I moved from a small town in Illinois to the suburbs outside of Richmond, Virginia. While I was full of emotion and sadness then, I can now see the beneficial traits that moving has given me as a developing young woman. One of the largest hurdles was going from a graduating class of approximately seventy to nearly six hundred students. Given the size of the school, I had to step outside of my comfort zone and engage students in order to make new friends. Although, new friends didn’t come as easy as they do in the movies. In my new school, I quickly witnessed students who discourage newcomers, creating a hostile environment and making the transfer to a new school challenging for newcomers like me. Cliques had already been formed and memories had already been made, so why would my classmates need an addition to their friend groups? I felt like a complete outsider, and my once extroverted disposition quickly crumbled as I entered through the school doors each morning. While it did take a bit of time, I eventually warmed up to a couple of people in my classes and we became great friends. However, I will never forget the feeling of being isolated from everyone else. I hope that my patience and understanding in these situations will make it easier for incoming students to adjust. I wish to contribute to the development of a welcoming atmosphere where the goal is forming enduring bonds. I will bring openness and acceptance to the community as students like myself begin the next chapter in their life. In addition to these qualities, I have various hours of experience with volunteer work that I hope to continue to participate in during my college career. Helping others through volunteering is an important part of my life that I hope to encourage other students to join in on too. On multiple occasions, I have assisted with the eye exam station for the Special Olympics in Richmond Virginia. I had the opportunity to speak with each competitor one-on-one about their selected event and their competitive experience. The work we were doing to make this Olympic experience unique for these individuals was really appreciated. Though it was not a national event, the little community formed by individuals with special needs and their families managed to assemble a large number of volunteers and athletes to allow them to participate as if it were the actual Olympics. All ages could participate in events, and I saw the happiness on the faces of those who had finished their race and had a great time, as well as those who received medals. The prospect of competing in such a massive Olympics thrilled those who hadn't finished an event yet. Making a personal connection and having a conversation with the athletes was more important to me than simply performing my duties and providing the participants with a proper examination. My family and I were able to bond over it, and I was able to impart to my siblings the value of giving back to the community.

When I was chosen to play Hermia in a fourth-grade production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, I developed an intense passion for everything related to stage work and theatre. As I've continued to develop and grow, I've come to understand that theatre is much more than just performing as a character on stage . I've learned a number of useful skills from my theatre studies that I can use throughout life, such as time management, improvisation, and public speaking. Additionally, theatre has helped me in building confidence, teamwork skills, and self discipline. It has also helped me establish a closer connection to my emotions by immersing myself in a new atmosphere for each performance. Theatre has the ability to impact people in many ways and serves as a platform for showcasing artistic viewpoints in addition to raising public awareness. Acting and theatre are subjective, and there is always more to learn about them. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the real them proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. Most of all makes them proud and exemplifies that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and will inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.

Our perspectives as humans are subjective and ever changing. Depending on factors such as how we were raised or where we grew up, we are going to see things differently. In addition to that, the art of acting is subjective and ever changing. No line is ever said the same twice, and no performance ever runs the same twice. These two philosophies can be connected in how each audience member, casting director, or peer sees a performance. Whether positive or negative, everyone is going to have their own opinions. There isn’t a wrong answer in these types of situations, as those who think strongly for one way or another are going to have adequate evidence to support their reasoning. This reasoning would most likely stem from their familiarity of the show, past theatre experiences, relationship to the cast, etc. I believe that the subjectiveness of opinions and performances opens up the door for endless amounts of learning within the theatre realm. In my theatre career, I have played an abundance of role archetypes. From girly girls to “cool” guys, and even literal water at one point- I have had the opportunity to jump into new shoes with every performance. However, two roles have continued to stick with me, ever since I played them. The roles of Raja Englanderova in I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Una in We Are The Sea. Both being dramatic roles, I invested numerous hours perfecting my physicality, facial and vocal expressions, and connecting with my character. These characters meant so much more to me because they were based on real people, and the plays they were in were based on true events. When I performed as Raja and Una I wanted to make the real them proud by continuing to share their stories. This aspect highlights one of my favorite topics of theatre: outreach theatre/theatre for change. Getting to spread awareness of the devastating events that both Raja and Una endured, and connect with audience members who might be familiar with or have gone through these events themselves, makes me appreciate theatre on an entirely new level. Through these experiences, I also became more in touch with myself and my emotions. After learning about the character’s lives and finding similarities between us, I was able to better understand their actions and ultimately, feel the impact of their grief. I will admit that playing these characters challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeply into research like I never had before. Although, in the end, as an actor, it greatly benefitted me and I was able to expand my knowledge as well as share someone’s story and keep their legacy alive for one more day. Most of all makes them proud and exemplifies that their pain and suffering were incredibly brave and will inspire many more young girls to keep believing and never give up hope.