Explain how your life experiences are reflected through your project.

When I first started writing “Colliding Echoes” I knew that I wanted it to be based on feelings and events that I had personally experienced or observed. Each character that was created was based off of a friend from my past or someone whom I felt close to and witnessed events in their lives that dealt with relationship based trauma such as bad friendships or parents. I used a lot of my own emotions about failed friendships to write the poems. Specifically Eastons poem is one that I related to on a deeper level. The feeling of being an outsider or an observer is an emotion that I struggle with. I wrote a lot of the poems when I was in an emotionally low place. Each of the poems were written to be Slam Poems. I wanted to do this because of my experience with slam poetry, which has  been the final project for my theatre classes for the last three years. It has always been one of my favorite performances to participate in. Being able to write your emotions into metaphors is therapeutic to me, and I believe that's greatly reflected in these poems and this performance. 

Thinking about the Extra-curricular hours you completed, reflect upon what you learned through the experiences and/or how you have been impacted as an artist?

The majority of my extra-curricular hours were spent creating, rehearsing, and performing in QCHS Theatre Company’s holiday events such as Haunted Barn, Nightmare on Ellsworth, and “A Christmas Carol” Dinner Theatre. I also went through the audition process and the beginning of rehearsals for our spring musical "Chicago: Teen Edition". Through each of these events and performances I have learned a lot more about the technical side of theatre. I've spent a lot of time studying how to perform so it was fun to learn more about how to create the different worlds we were immersing ourselves in. I was also impacted by the audition process for the musical because I feel as though I went into it with a different mentality than I normally do. I spent less time worrying about being liked and more time focused on the actual audition. It was my last major audition for high school and I didn't want to be stressed about the way I was presenting myself. 

How is your life positively impacted by the arts?

My life would not be the same without the arts. Many of my friendships and experiences have stemmed from my time in the arts. I have been given a space where I feel comfortable and safe enough to explore choices I normally wouldn't. Being a part of theatre has made me more outgoing, and I have become a stronger person. I've experienced emotions I normally would only feel in emotionally charged situations but in a controlled environment, and I've been able to feel completely joyful and determined emotions that I only occasionally experience outside of theatre. Choir has helped me find my voice. I no longer feel as though I don’t have a place where I can be heard. The ability to have these experiences has allowed me to feel empowered and safe. That's something I will always be grateful for. 

How do you plan to include artistic experiences in your future after high school?

In my future, I know that I will be spending time in the arts because it is my escape and my creative outlet. I plan to audition for lots of community shows, and I hope to take acting classes individually. Even though I am not planning on majoring in a fine arts field such as theatre or music, I do plan on creating a space for it in my life. I would not be who I am without the time I've spent in theatre and choir. Currently, my educational goal is to go to a university and major in early elementary education. When I become a teacher, I would like to incorporate music and theatre into my classroom as much as possible because I do believe that it helps us learn and grow as people. 

What advice would you give an incoming freshmen about studying the arts to help them make the most of their experiences while in high school?

If I could have known one thing my freshman year about studying the arts I wish I could’ve known that no matter what, being yourself is the best thing you can be and learning how to improve your skills instead of trying to copy others is the best thing  to do. There is only one you, so be nice to yourself and let people see YOU. I spent a lot of time my freshman year trying to fit in rather than focusing on how I could be authentic. It’s important to be authentic in the world of the arts, especially when it comes down to auditioning, collaborating, and performing. Allowing yourself to open up and be authentic will let you grow so much as an actor, tech, and person. I still struggle to do this but it's something that I am constantly working towards.