When I was 8 I auditioned for my first Journey show. And I was… less than thrilled; I nearly backed out twice. I sang “This Little Light of Mine”, and I forgot the name of the song onstage. The only reason I was there in the first place was because a friend dragged me into it. (Love ya Grace!) Since then though, I can’t tell you how glad I am that I auditioned.
Journey Theater has had a huge impact on how I was shaped as a person. Through my 10 years and 20+ shows in this program, I have found comfort in my darkest moments, and accomplished the things I’m proudest of in life.
I was so warmly received into the community from my very first day at rehearsal. The amazing thing about Journey was the way the older students and teens watched out for and mentored the young kids like me. I got to grow up in a community that felt like a family.
Then Covid hit. I was 13. Journey’s production of The Secret Garden was canceled literally hours before its opening show. Both the company and its community suffered.
After the pandemic, a lot of things had changed. With most teens aged out by that time, me and my small circle of pre-teen friends suddenly found ourselves to be the older kids.
It’s hard to find role models as wonderful as the people I grew up knowing in Journey, but my friends and I learned and are continuing to learn how to love and encourage the students the same way we were loved and encouraged. I’ve grown up in Journey with people who are my oldest and closest friends, and it’s a miraculous thing to step back and realize that now it’s our turn to mentor the new generation of Journey Kids. It’s a tremendous honor to get to step into that leadership role.
Perhaps, though, the most invaluable thing Journey has taught me is how God can work through the stories we tell. Storytelling is perhaps the most powerful form of ministry, and theatre is perhaps the most powerful form of storytelling.
Because of Journey I am pursuing a career in the Performing Arts. I want to show the world the heart of Jesus while doing what I love to do, what I’ve loved since I was 8 years old singing “This Little Light of Mine” in some random church basement. And I’m so glad I decided to sing, because Journey taught me how to shine that light.