For me, success is defined by being happy and doing what I want in my life, and I want to do so much. I really want to travel, get out of Virginia and see the world. There’s just so much I haven’t experienced and I think it’s fascinating to see how people in other cultures live. I want to know people.

Most people know that I am heavily involved with the school’s theatre department. I have been performing since before I could talk and I always wanted to be a singer until middle school. In sixth grade I auditioned for the school play. I didn’t know what it was about or even anyone in the room, that didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to be a part of something. I instantly fell in love with it.

The sense of community, being on the stage, memorizing lines; it was all exciting. So I obviously auditioned for the spring musical too, little did I know that theatre would go on to change my life in so many ways. Theatre brought me more than just something that I’m passionate about, it helped me find some of the most incredible friends, people that I want in my life forever. I never knew how much people could mean to me until then. Though there tends to be drama, we all love each other in the end and we suffer through the long hours of rehearsals together.

I quickly realized theatre was more to me than just a hobby. Over the last few years I’ve thought about many things I could go to school for and pursue as a career, I just couldn’t get theatre out of my mind. I have this feeling it’s what I need to do, so I am. I have continued theatre throughout the pandemic and now I am looking into colleges with musical theatre programs to audition for.

The goal is to eventually be on Broadway but as long as I am somewhat successful that’s all that matters to me. I’ll just be happy to do what I love.