When I was eleven years old, I saw a behind-thescenes/bloopers video of one of my favorite TV shows at the time. The camraderie and the sheer fun that was demonstrated by thse people working together to bring a story to life sparked something in me. I immediately bounded upstairs to my mom and said, “Mom, I want to be on T.V.” She smiled at me, in the endearing and supportive way that mothers do, and said, “Well, let’s start with theater.”
I was enrolled in Journey Theater’s ‘Foundations of Drama’ class and quickly realized that being on stage, open and exposed, is a vulnerable place to be. I was a perfectionist to a fault and terrified of failure, and in an attempt to avoice facing those fears I started as a part of the backstage crew. I absolutely loved it! Helping to bring a story to life for an audience sparked something again in me, and it was in that first year I realized just how safe Journey was. The acceptance that I experienced from my teachers and peers (who over the years grew into dear mentors and life-long friends) made it so clear that their heart was to take me as I was and help grow into who I was created to be, on stage and off. Finally, I auditioned for and was cast in Journey’s production of Seussical the Musical way back in 2015. I vividly remember sitting in the firs rehearsal, surrounded by these incredible actors of different ages, experiences, and skill levels prepping to bring the story to life by doing what they loved, and thinking, “Oh, so this is what I was missing!” (I got to wear a massive yellow wig, too. It was awesome!)
I had the joy of being a part of the Journey family for seven years. Looking back, they are filled with some of my
most exhiliarating moments, toughest challenges, greatest rewards, and strongest, life-long relationships. Those seven years changed my life. I aged out in 2021, and that same year the pieces fell into place and I auditioned for and was accepted into Sight & Sound Conservatory, an arts program on the east coast. Timid little twelve-year-old me would never have imagined that she’d be performing onstage in Sight & Sound’s world premiere of David eight years later. Journey Theater is my constant reminder of the beauty of God’s overarching plan, his faithfulness in taking these seeds that we plant, these leaps of faith, the decisions that unkowingly alter the course of our life, and growing them into somethign bigger and more beautiful that we could ever ask for or imagine!