[Student Profile]
[Prompt & Essay]
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that
responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
As long as I can remember, math was never my favorite class. Complex formulas and equations were a foreign language to me, making Algebra and Geometry some of the most challenging aspects of my high school career. Panic and worry consumed me daily as I walked into class because I wasn’t good at solving problems and I lacked the confidence to even try. Little did I know, one of my favorite activities, stage crew, would ultimately serve as a key factor in not only changing my attitude towards mathematics but improving my skills and outlook, too.
You know that feeling when you are about to go down a 30-foot drop on a rollercoaster? It's the same sort of rush I get upon entering the auditorium on the first day of Drama Festival. As my eyes scour every aspect of the room, my amygdala sends a rush of anxiety, excitement, and fear throughout my body. Audience members would never guess that the [state] Educational Theatre Guild Drama Festival causes such deep-rooted emotions in the crew backstage as we work to avoid a slip up that could cost us everything.
By February, countless hours have been spent preparing for the big day. As stage crew manager, it is my job to oversee the entire execution that occurs backstage. Within the tight 5 minutes given to set up and take down, I make sure that my crew is ready for the battle we are about tonight. When the whistle blows, we jump in throwing every set piece on stage. One slip-up could cost us a position in the next round, so there is pressure to make sure that everything is precise. It is essential for the stage layout to be both practical and captivating as it helps tell the story, enchanting the audience as they watch the performance.
As a freshman, I never imagined what my role would eventually become. Drama Fest was a daunting task, and as the sole freshman, I was fortunate to be embraced into the crew life by the team that taught me painstakingly the details of backstage. I stayed dedicated to the theater department each year, putting my time, determination, and efforts into something I love. My director saw my passion and I was thrilled when she appointed me Stage Manager. The responsibility sharpened my resolve to handle issues swiftly, keep morale high, and manage my own anxieties for the sake of the mission.
Despite the constant pressure and lightning fast-pace, Drama Fest was worth every moment as years of perseverance paid off when we won that day. I feel grateful for the opportunity that was given to me and for the honor of leading my peers. The skills I learned from being stage manager, and the memories I made at Drama fest, are going to be my wings that help my forward. These skills were developed by trial and error. I needed to have tried something once to become more proficient the second time. Whereas before, I would never have sought help because I was embarrassed. I found my voice in stage crew through my processing of failure and this experience helped to develop my confidence to ask for help. It gave me a strong belief in my ability to tackle any problems.
As my mindset about problems changed, so did my attitude towards problems outside of drama, namely math. I no longer saw problems as things to avoid. Instead, I came to embrace challenges which resulted in a vast improvement in my performance and even turning math into one of my favorite classes. Last year was my best academic year and I’m especially proud of earning A’s in Algebra 2. Armed with the skills gained from Stage Crew Management, linear functions along with other challenges that come my way are just another stage for me to command and work through, just like performance day.