Student Blogger: Olivia Murray

Self-care is something I’ve tried to implement more into my life, and it really does pay off.

Life isn’t a simple thing, but realizing that feeling happy and sad simultaneously is normal, may help out a little bit.

Believe it or not, I didn't always enjoy theatre. I have done it for as long as I can remember, but there was about a two year gap when I thought I would be done for good. I wasn't excited about going to rehearsals anymore, I didn't want to perform in front of anyone. Being on stage didn't feel like something I wanted to keep doing. So, I eased out of it by helping with hair, makeup, and crew and then I thought I was done.

I can't say I'm perfect by any means, but I know I'm in a better place than I was a few years ago. By working hard and persevering, I feel that I am becoming a better version of myself. It's not easy, and you may feel you're putting yourself somewhere out of your comfort zone, but it can help push you in the right direction. Don't give up on yourself, and I'll promise to not give up on myself. I want to have you become your best you as I work to become the best version of myself too.

Whether you celebrate one of the holidays during December or not, it’s finally that time of year where we get a chance to take a breath and relax. You may be home from your fall semester of college, on winter break from school, or just a break from work.

The connection of this community is unlike any other and, even better, anyone can be part of it. We all witness community in theatre in some aspect - whether it's your own community or maybe it's the Broadway community many of us have grown to love. It's a special kind of community. One where we share a common interest, we share our talents with each other, and we build each other up so that we can all be at our best.

This show was absolutely immaculate and there is nothing that can compare to it. I could honestly continue to go on and list every detail I noticed and analyzed, but that would be a very long read for you. I am just so grateful I was able to see this talented company with my sister and her grandmother, and I loved being able to show them why I love theatre so much. The touring company of Hadestown is no joke. I highly recommend to anyone who is able, to go and see the show when it comes to a city near you, you won't want to miss it.

This time of the semester can be difficult for everyone, exam after exam, it does sort of feel never-ending. But have you thought about some of the ways to try and mitigate that stress? Music can be your escape when you don't have another outlet to get away. And maybe if you're lucky, with theatres opening back up, you could take the night off and go see a show. Local or professional theatre can both be fun ways to take your mind off of all the stress you've endured during your season of midterms.