This is the story of a girl who loved imaginary stories, who could step into the world of a book and believe in its reality. This girl grew up to be an actor… but how? She doesn’t remember the moment that her calling became clear. Yes, there were elementary school script-writing attempts, and disappointment that instead of a class play, her fifth grade teacher made everyone give presentations on famous people. There was singing in the church choir and school chorus, piano lessons that started early enough that she can’t remember not knowing how to read music. She’s seen the picture of her little self, playing the angel in the nursery school Christmas pageant, where she stood on a chair with a paper-cut-out star to say “Be Not Afraid.”
Her family was supportive and let her try pretty much anything she wanted. She was bright, loved to play dress up, and good at memorizing. But what choices led from book-worm to actor? Put yourself in her shoes…
You are in high school. Much to your disappointment, your arrival at the homecoming dance your freshman year did not turn you into Cinderella, suddenly beautiful and popular. So, you are smart, but you are quiet about it, because you would rather be thought of as pretty or talented than brainy. You’re pretty sure that no boys think of you at all, but if they do, it’s only to ask you about last night’s homework, not to ask you out. You love performing in the danceline (think high school rockettes) with the marching band each week, and you’re a co-captain from your sophomore through senior years. You sing in all the choirs, and take voice lessons. You audition for all the high school musicals, and are always in the ensemble. Your junior and senior year you’re called back for leads, but you don’t get the parts you wanted. In two comedies, though, you have fun, scantily clad roles - Brooke in “Noises Off” and Diana in “Lend Me A Tenor.” You take all honors and AP classes, and really love French… but you don’t study abroad your senior year, you stay in Pennsylvania to do the musical.
So… what do you want to study in college, and where are you going to go to school?
Do you choose: