My parents have always been supportive of my interest in theatre, encouraging me in my talents but never trying to sway me either way. Growing up, I was always dramatic, or at least very expressive. People often asked me if I did theatre, but there wasn’t a theatre near us so I didn’t really have an opportunity to try it out.
I was in choir for 12 years of my life and played violin, clarinet, and oboe in orchestra and band, although singing was always my true passion.
I was that kid in choir who was always asked to quiet down, or not be so expressive, or stop dancing.
I got involved in theatre when our family moved to Everett. My mom had been researching activities for me to get involved in, and found that Village Theatre KIDSTAGE was not far from our house and seemed to offer an excellent theatre program. I auditioned for their fall show, “Into the Woods.” I got in, but I got the only part that I didn’t want, or at least thought I didn’t want, the baker’s wife. Nevertheless, the show and the people involved kindled my love of theatre. I learned a huge amount from the director, Christian, about acting, but he also taught me about what it was to be a part of a community. That experience shaped my character in so many ways.
When it came time to think about college, I knew that I was supposed to go to SPU to study theatre. I couldn’t even tell you exactly why. I just knew that there wasn’t anything else that I was supposed to do. Consequently, SPU was the only school I applied to. I remember that there was a moment in my auditions for a performance scholarship when George Scranton came out and greeted my family, and made me feel very much at home.
I wanted a community and a family to learn with, and I also wanted to learn about how faith and theatre are connected. I get all of that here at SPU. I have been challenged to think outside of my box of comfortable thoughts in literally every single class I’ve been in.
But, honestly, it’s grown most of all through the relationships I’ve formed here — with the people on my floor, my friends, my teachers. They all challenge me to view the world differently. It’s uncomfortable sometimes, and sometimes I want to ignore it and stay in my comfortable-thoughts box. But that box gets lonely and sad real quick, and the world outside is colorful and exciting, so I try to get out as much as I can. It’s more fun to find God in the places he doesn’t seem present in right away.