I’m a fan of Wicked because it was one of the first professional theatre productions I ever saw, and it played a defining role in shaping my love for theatre. Seeing it as a kid was a transformative experience. I remember being completely absorbed by the scale of the production—the music, the storytelling, the emotion—but more importantly, by how deeply it made me feel. Wicked was the first show that made me understand theatre as something powerful and alive, and it planted the idea that this was a world I wanted to be part of. As I’ve grown older, what I appreciate most about Wicked is its emotional depth and complexity. The relationship between Elphaba and Glinda is at the heart of the story, and their evolving friendship feels deeply human. Their journey—from misunderstanding each other to truly seeing one another—mirrors the kind of relationships that shape us in real life. That emotional honesty is what continues to make the show resonate with me, long after the spectacle fades. The music also played a huge role in my connection to the show. Songs like “Defying Gravity” and “For Good” capture moments of self-realization and transformation that feel universal. “Defying Gravity,” in particular, represents the courage it takes to stand in your truth, even when it means being misunderstood. Hearing that song for the first time as a child was electrifying, and revisiting it now carries an entirely different meaning—one shaped by experience, effort, and growth. This year, I began my BFA program at NYU, my dream school, and revisiting Wicked during this time has been especially emotional. With the film adaptation coming out, I found myself reflecting on how far I’ve come since that first moment in the audience. What once felt like an unreachable dream has become my reality through years of dedication, training, and perseverance. Wicked now serves as a reminder not just of what inspired me, but of the work it took to get here. Ultimately, Wicked represents both the beginning of my journey and a milestone within it. It reminds me why I fell in love with theatre in the first place and how that love has guided me to where I am today. Watching it now feels like coming full circle—a celebration of how passion, courage, and belief in oneself can shape a life in theatre.

The Taylor Swift performance I find most moving is her live performance of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” on Saturday Night Live in 2021. While Taylor has delivered countless technically impressive performances throughout her career, this one stands out to me because of its emotional restraint, clarity, and confidence. It felt less like a performance designed to impress and more like an artist standing firmly in her own truth. What makes this performance especially powerful is how little she relies on spectacle. There are no elaborate visuals, choreography, or costume changes—just Taylor, her band, and the story. After years of performing in stadiums and navigating the pressures of public scrutiny, this stripped-down setting highlights her growth as a storyteller. Every lyric is delivered with intention, and the quiet moments between lines feel just as important as the climactic ones. It’s clear she trusts the song—and herself—enough to let the words carry the weight. The performance is also moving because of the history behind it. “All Too Well” has long been one of her most beloved songs, but this extended version represents reclamation. Watching her perform it years after its original release, with full ownership of her work and narrative, adds a deeper emotional layer. There’s a sense of reflection rather than heartbreak—she’s not reliving the pain so much as acknowledging it, understanding it, and moving beyond it. That maturity comes through in her delivery, which feels grounded rather than raw in a way that suggests healing. In the context of an album like The Life of A Showgirl, which reflects on Taylor’s life in the public eye, this performance feels especially meaningful. It captures the balance she has learned to strike between vulnerability and control. She allows the audience into an intimate emotional space while maintaining authority over her story. That balance is difficult to achieve, and watching her embody it so naturally is what makes the performance unforgettable to me. Ultimately, this performance moved me because it showed how far Taylor Swift has come—not just as a performer, but as an artist who understands the power of her voice, her history, and her presence. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most impactful moments onstage are the quietest ones.

I am a fan of Sabrina Carpenter because of the way she has grown into her artistry with confidence and authenticity. Following her career has felt less like watching a celebrity and more like witnessing an artist gradually step into her voice. She didn’t become who she is overnight; instead, she allowed herself to evolve publicly, and that honesty has made her journey especially meaningful to me. I first discovered Sabrina Carpenter when I was younger through her work on Disney Channel. At the time, I admired her for her charisma, talent, and presence on screen. As a child, I connected to her in a simple way—she was someone I enjoyed watching and listening to without thinking much beyond that. However, as I grew older, my understanding of her work deepened. Watching her mature as an artist alongside my own growth made her career feel personal and relatable. The transition from a Disney Channel actress to a confident, self-assured musician mirrored my own process of growing up and discovering my identity. What stands out to me most about Sabrina Carpenter today is her willingness to take creative risks and embrace vulnerability. While her earlier music leaned toward polished, mainstream pop, her more recent work feels increasingly honest and self-reflective. Albums like emails i can’t send showcase her ability to tell stories with clarity, humor, and emotional depth. Her songwriting feels intentional and specific, as if she is trusting her audience with her real experiences rather than hiding behind a carefully constructed image. That openness has encouraged me to be more comfortable expressing myself creatively, even when it feels uncomfortable or imperfect. Her background in acting and musical theatre has also influenced the way I connect to her work. Sabrina brings a strong sense of storytelling to her music, both in her lyrics and her performances. Her stage presence, timing, and emotional awareness reflect her experience as a performer across multiple disciplines. Seeing her successfully transition between acting and music has reinforced the idea that artists do not need to limit themselves to a single path, and that versatility can be a powerful tool for growth. Sabrina Carpenter’s career has also demonstrated the importance of perseverance. For years, she was often underestimated or placed into narrow expectations because of her early career. Instead of allowing those limitations to define her, she continued to refine her sound and take creative control of her work. Watching her step into confidence and ownership of her artistry has been empowering and inspiring. Ultimately, I admire Sabrina Carpenter because her career represents growth, resilience, and self-discovery. Growing up alongside her work has shaped the way I view creativity and personal evolution. Her journey reminds me that artistic development takes time, and that embracing change is an essential part of becoming a more authentic and confident individual.

For me, collaboration in theatre is the foundation of everything that makes the art form meaningful. Theatre does not exist in isolation; it is built through the collective effort of actors, directors, designers, stage managers, and technicians, all contributing their voices to a shared vision. Much like Pam Branchini’s experience in music and theatre, I have come to understand that the most lasting impact of theatre is often found in the relationships formed during the rehearsal and preparation process, not only in the final performance. Collaboration in theatre means listening as much as contributing. It requires trust in the director’s vision, in fellow performers’ instincts, and in the ensemble as a whole. I see collaboration as an ongoing dialogue, where ideas are exchanged, challenged, and refined in pursuit of telling a story honestly and effectively. Each rehearsal becomes a space for experimentation, vulnerability, and growth, where individual creativity is strengthened by collective input. One of the most inspiring collaborative experiences I have had in theatre involved working as part of an ensemble where no single role was treated as more important than another. Through table work, blocking, and character development, I learned how deeply interconnected every element of a production is. A small adjustment in an actor’s delivery could influence lighting cues; a change in set design could reshape how a scene was staged. Witnessing how these components evolved together reinforced my belief that theatre is a living, collaborative process rather than a fixed product. Another meaningful experience came from navigating creative differences within a production. While disagreements can be challenging, they often led to deeper understanding and stronger artistic choices. Learning how to communicate respectfully, compromise when necessary, and advocate thoughtfully for my ideas helped me grow not only as an artist but as a collaborator. These moments taught me that collaboration does not mean sacrificing individuality, but rather using it in service of the ensemble and the story being told. What continues to inspire me about theatre collaboration is the sense of community it creates. Rehearsal rooms become spaces of shared commitment, where long hours and problem-solving foster genuine connection. The collective effort toward opening night builds a unique bond among collaborators, one rooted in trust, accountability, and mutual support. Those relationships often extend beyond the production itself, shaping how I approach future creative work. In my intended field of theatre, I hope to continue engaging in collaborative environments that value openness, respect, and curiosity. I am inspired by the idea that every production is an opportunity to learn from others, strengthen artistic relationships, and contribute to something larger than myself. Ultimately, collaboration is what transforms theatre from a performance into a shared human experience both for the artists creating it and for the audience who experiences it.

Women’s healthcare is often overlooked and is incredibly expensive. According to the National Institute of Heath, on average women have 420 periods lasting 2 to 6 days every 28 days from ages 12 to 51. On average a woman will use 11,154 pads throughout her life. I live in a small community with high levels of poverty. I recognized that many girls in my school are not able to afford period products and miss out on school and extracurricular activities or suffer through days of bleeding through their clothes in public. This affects not only their education, but also their social interactions with peers and their inclusion. In response to this issue, I founded and organized a community service program called The Period Princess. The Period Princess is dedicated to providing all public schools in the county with pads and tampons for those who need them. I applied for and was awarded a $5000 grant, every penny of which is going directly to purchasing pads and tampons. This grant alone will be able to supply enough pads and tampons for roughly 750 periods within the school districts. I have worked with managers at CVS to get products in bulk at a discount, the Health Care Foundation of Miami County to receive the grant, United Way, Helping Hands, and the guidance departments at all the schools in the county to build bridges between each organization, person, and financial situation. In the coming months, I will also be mentoring a few underclassmen, so when I move to college, they are able to keep The Period Princess alive and continue to do good in the community. The Period Princess exists because all girls deserve a sense of belonging.

I have been playing piano since first grade and flute since sixth. My dad is a choir teacher and professional musician, so I have always been surrounded by and in love with music. I joined band in sixth grade and since my freshman year I have been in Jazz Band, Marching Band, Concert Band, and Pep Band. I am now section leader in each of those esembles. I have seen many kids grow and thrive throughout the entire music department, but particularly within the band program. Band give students from all backgrounds a safe place and sense of belonging. As a musician I strive to connect with and creat lasting relationships with my fellow ensemble members. Band has given me countless memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Many of the students in the bands come from more difficult circumstances than I do. Band gives them a family and the support that they need. They know that they always have someone to sit with at lunch, someone to give them a ride, a shoulder to cry on, someone to help them with homework, and someone who will grab them food on the way to rehersal or a game. When I am having a bad day I am able to walk into the band room and know that I will have someone to talk to or cry with, and for so many kids the only way they get that is being in band. It is crucial for kids to have support and to feel like they belong. Band is able to provide this to so many kids. Band has also taught me the importance of dedication and perseverance. Marching band has taught me the importance of precision and paying attention to detail. Jazz band, on the other hand, has taught me how each individual sound and person can do their own thing while purposfully aligning with the group to create a masterpiece. Music and insturmentation is truly a form of art that so many take for granted. At the very least the beauty of the connections within the group and through the group is phenomenal and an art in itself. I would not be who am I today if it were not or music, and especially if it were not for the memories and lessons and connections that I got through being in band. Every single kid deserves to feel like they belong (because they do) and band is a phenomenal way to do that.

I have chosen to pursue my degree in theatre because acting makes me feel alive. The beauty of live theatre is that it is a fleeting art. Once the final echo of a line dissipates that exact moment in time is over. Theatre, like all art, reflects the world while simultaneously acting as a distraction from the very same world it reflects. Theatre is exactly what each individual member of an audience needs it to be at that moment of their life. As a little kid I sat in theater seats applauding the actors as they took their bows and then left the theater replaying the scenes in my head, thinking through the minute details and processing the story I had just witnessed. It is my dream to share stories and create once in a lifetime memories with new audiences every night. Simply put, my dream is to be an accomplished actor on Broadway. Upon further inquiry, however, my goal is to share the spectacle and art of theatre with people of all walks of life and give them the reflections and distractions they both want and need. I come from a very small town in Indiana with very limited opportunities for me to take classes and experience true theatre. I have worked very hard to not only expand my knowledge of theatre on my own, but to also provide resources to other students and adults alike who are also interested in theatre. I have helped restart and grow my schools drama club and a proud to say that our current show has a full cast with a remarkable ensemble of over 20 underclassmen. The numbers from my freshman year pale in comparison with less than 10 kids involved. Establishing a career in theatre open the door for me to create a platform on which I will be able to speak out against injustice and support those in marginalized communities. Theatre has helped me find who I really am as a person and truly hope to have the same impact on countless others who feel lost in the world right now. My dreams have been fueled by support from my family and friends as well as encouragement from those who are currently in the industry. This has had a major impact on how I see theatre as a viable job. Subsequently, I hope to provide inspiration and mentorship to the next generation of aspiring actors.

The Harry Potter movies have had the greatest impact on my life. My mom introduced me to Harry Potter when I was only four years old. As I grew up she read me the books, and then showed me the movies, and then I read the books and watched the movies myself. I then got to watch my younger brother also grow up reading the book and watching the movies. As I got older I rewatched the movies and was able to connect with them in new ways. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic I leaned on the series to get me through. The movies were familiar and consistent and served as a stark contrast from everything going on in the world. Right now in particular, I have been relating to the golden trio in their experiences through Deathly Hallows. When I need an escape I can get lost in the magical wonder of it all. When I need connection I can find it in the relationship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione. When I need family I can find it in the Weasleys, in Sirius, in Lupin and Tonks. I grew up with the movies, and they grew with me. In Deathly Hallows the golden trio experiences a lot of difficult emotions of not knowing what will happen next and trying to be in control of as much as they can and make the best decisions with the information they have. I feel very similarly right now with the college application process. Next year I am movie from a very small town surrounded by corn in Indiana to New York City. That is a huge leap of faith that the universe will catch me. The Harry Potter series has shown me that I sometimes just need to jump in and trust that my friends and family will be there for me as I get through it. The series has also shown me that it is ok to rely on my support system. Harry through the entirety of the series relies on Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, the Weasley's, and countless others for support and advice. The Harry Potter movies have always been there to comfort and guide me as I have grown up and faced new challenges. I have learned countless lessons from the films and have been able to relate to the characters and emotions throughout my life. I am always able to look at the story and find comfort, escape, validity, and home in the characters, in the realtionships, and in Hogwarts much like Harry, Ron, and Hermione.