In 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, based on the stage show of the same name, was released. It was largely deemed as a flop, but in queer urban scenes, the movie exploded with cult-like popularity for its midnight showings, a tradition that has continued to this day. Because of its overtly queer themes, campy aesthetic, and catchy music, it’s no wonder it has achieved cult classic status. It’s been referenced in multitudes of other media, and I’d bet you’ve heard at least one song from the film in passing or on a Halloween playlist. This leads to the story of a lonely, questioning 14 year old; I was introduced to the movie through a mentor, and quickly, it was burned into my brain like an oft-repeated CD. The movie tells the story of a newly engaged couple encountering a group of oddballs; the leader, Frank-N-Furter, his aides Magenta, Columbia, and Riff-Raff, and his new creation, Rocky. Themes of rebellion, self-expression, and rebirth appear, which spoke to me heavily at that point in my life. I found immense joy in both the movie itself and its message, and it gave me a newfound confidence in who I was and how I expressed myself creatively. I also found belonging in Rocky Horror. As with any cult-classic film, the fans of such are often die-hard and enthusiastic, an energy I matched with delight. In both the internet and real life I met people with the same interest, which gave me that push needed to come out of my shell. By the next year, Rocky Horror’s influence was apparent; I was unapologetically confident and extroverted, taking after the movie itself. I had also joined a children’s theater and started participating in my school’s theater, helped by my recent self-assurance and determination to enter the scene I so desperately wanted to experience. Now, at 18, I’m pursuing musical theater as a degree, and I would additionally attribute that to Rocky Horror’s presence in my life. I initially watched a taping of the stage show before I experienced the movie, and it encouraged me to consume more musicals, as opposed to just cast recordings, because of the lively atmosphere and compelling visuals. I’ve seen around 5 touring shows due to this influence, which have furthered my knowledge and interest in the field. Furthermore, Rocky Horror lends itself to community--an important facet of theater. The movie showed me the reach that musicals have and their cultural importance, leading to my decision of pursuing a career in such, and wanting to use it as a way to reach people with important messages and ideas. The Rocky Horror Picture Show may not be popular among mainstream audiences, or even known outside the queer community, but it aided my growth as a person. I would go as far as to say it molded me into who I am today; expressive, extroverted, and eccentric. These traits allow me to love myself and will carry me far in a personality-reliant career, thanks to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Art has been a part of my life since the moment I was born. Ever since I could pick up a crayon, I’ve filled pages upon pages, starting with scribbles and soon turning into large scale paintings. I explored this creativity in school, winning “Artist of the Year” in fifth grade and attending the Gifted Visual Arts Program at Virginia Beach Middle School. Additionally, in middle school I discovered theater. I started backstage, designing sound from scratch for my school’s one act play, and eventually joining an extracurricular program with Music Makers of Virginia Beach, where I’ve participated in more than 5 seasons and grown exponentially under the care of my director and voice teacher. I still do visual arts in my free time, expressing myself and storytelling through the medium. Needless to say, art is extremely important to me; however, the real question is, how has art truly impacted my life? First, and most obviously, I have met a plethora of people who have influenced my character through creative spaces. I would attribute my senses of empathy and understanding to this. Because I have come to meet so many different people with a common interest to me, differences can be seen through and common ground can be found to create unexpected and meaningful connections. I can easily say I have made many friends who I would have never interacted with if not for art and theater, and they have brought me countless happy memories and beneficial connections. I have also been able to explore and experiment freely through artistic mediums. In middle school, everybody is finding who they are, and I did that through my art. I shifted from landscapes to portraits, and furthermore stylization to realism, finding my style and what messages I wanted to convey in my art. During this time, my outward expression changed. I dyed my hair, wore different styles of clothing, and played with makeup, which all led me to how I express myself today; those are all things I am certain I would have been scared to try had I not been so engaged with visual art. However, most importantly, I have learned about myself. Art led me to technical theater, and technical theater led me to performance. I’ve been performing for over 5 years now, and the things I have discovered about myself are endless. On the surface, I realized I love the stage; as a child I was shy and introverted, but I took the opportunity to try something new, and it turned out to be my favorite thing in the world. Living with chronic depression, art, and more specifically theater, has pulled me out of some abyssal spirits. Looking forward to rehearsals and show nights helped me put my mood into perspective and look forward to the future. Moreover, deep down, the roles I have played have allowed me to process my traumas, release stifled emotions, and find my own identity. Lucy Westenra helped me heal my past; Donna Sheridan empowered me to face the future; Grover Underwood gave me an opportunity to express my own identity on stage as a genderqueer person. Furthermore, there are so many more roles that have shaped me as a person, which is why theater holds such a special place in my heart. So, why am I pursuing theater in college? First of all, it fills me with such sheer joy that I could not imagine doing anything else with my life. But, I also want to help people the way art has helped me. I plan on studying Musical Theater and going on to performing on Broadway or at regional theaters, a reach for the stars, but hopefully an achievable one with my future studies and further growth in abilities like dance and vocal music. This scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies without having to worry about parts of payment like dorms, books, and meals. I feel that I should be awarded this specific scholarship because of the importance arts has on my life, character, and mood; I would not be the same person had I taken a different path as a child. In short, the impact art has had on me is so vast, so intertwined through every aspect of my life, that I feel I could not pursue any other field of study.