Student Blog: A Work in Progress

For me, Springtime always feels like a very reflective time. It’s not an ending per se, but more of a pause to catch my breath following a long year, in excitement for the summer ahead. As I am nearing the end of my sophomore year, I’ve been thinking a lot less about where I should be and more about where I am, both as a person and as an artist. My focus recently has been on having faith in the process in new ways, rather than the often-daunting “trust in the process” that can feel so far out of reach. In theatre specifically, I find it really easy to get caught in moments that feel almost like failures; whether that’s in an audition that doesn’t go the way I want it to, the difficult vocal days, or the classes where it feels like nothing is clicking. I’ve realized how quickly those moments can overshadow the progress I’m actually making, especially when there are strides I'm taking that should be celebrated and acknowledged.

As the end of the year approaches, I've also been trying to shift my attention away from being too hard on myself. It's easy to fixate on the pitfalls or challenges, but I want to encourage myself to notice the change and the small victories, especially in moments when things do connect. Even if these moments feel smaller, I still think they deserve to be recognized. I’m learning that growth, especially in these very significant years where I am still finding my voice and who I am in theatre, isn’t always extremely obvious or noticeable. It's about consistency and choosing to show up each and every day with the same level of care, even when it feels hard. That, in itself, is a huge part of the craft.

I’ve also been trying to remind myself to stay inspired. To keep seeing theatre, to keep engaging with work that excites me, and to reaffirm why I love this art form. When I watch something that moves me, it acts as a reset for me, and it helps pull me out of comparison and judgment of myself and my work and back towards curiosity and inspiration. When I’m creating from a more natural, inspired place, I feel like I am genuinely able to find new textures and colors within my own art, and it feels more true to me. I want to create in ways that truly make me happy, and not just to complete an assignment or meet a required expectation. The difference isn’t always obvious, but it changes everything about how the work feels for me.

Looking ahead to next year as a Junior, I’m thinking a lot about what I want to take with me. Not just skills, but mindset. I want to build a deeper sense of trust in myself and my process, even if it looks different from others around me. I truly believe that each day is just a smaller stepping stone in the larger picture, and as long as I stay true to myself and work hard, things will come together as they are meant to. I want to keep finding the things that inspire me and make my work feel alive and personal within my own process. And most importantly, I want to keep choosing joy in the process of making theatre, not just in the outcome.