When I was a little girl, I used to sing and choreograph dances and write my own plays. I dreamed of being on stage. Never in a million years did I think I would actually be onstage doing what I love. Theater saved my life, and I owe a big thank you for that.

I never tried to do theater until high school. I waited a long time, and I wish I wouldn't have. My first musical, I thought it would just be something to do. I never thought I would become addicted to it. But I did, and there was no looking back. It's become my addiction, and no matter how hard I try, I can never quit and walk away. I had a lot of help from my director and chorus teacher persuading me to actually audition, and I am so thankful that they did.

Many people ask me why I love theater so much, and it's simply because I get to be whoever I want to be. I love the fact that I get to put my regular self aside and become a different character for a few hours. There is no boy drama, no bullying, no bad grades, no family drama. There is nothing in your mind. Once that spotlight hits you, there's not a care in the world. All of the awful things in your life just disappear. I find that I am happiest onstage than at any other time. I love expressing my talent with others. I love working my butt off so that people leave after the show thinking, "Wow, that was spectacular."

I spend the majority of my time listening to Broadway show tunes. I promise, ask any theater person about their Pandora stations and they will have at least one Broadway show tunes station on there. I spend hours trying to find a high-quality version of musicals on YouTube. Most people wait by the computer for their favorite bands tour tickets to go on sale, I wait by the computer for tickets to my new favorite show to go on sale.

I dream of being on Broadway one day. I practice my Tony award speech in the mirror at least five times a day. I daydream of me taking Sutton Foster's spot in "The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein" just for one night. I know every word to "Grease." I am that person that gets angry when movies ruin perfectly good musicals. I am still furious about "Grease 2" because it was a joke.

Now, I'm sure you guys don't understand me when I say that I eat, sleep, and breathe theater. I crave it. Some girls crave chocolate, I crave theater. I love the sound of applause. I love the feeling of a spotlight being on me, no matter how bright it is. I love the feeling of having a microphone attached to my body because it makes me feel like the real deal. I love looking around at a set and thinking, "Wow, this looks great!" I tear up when the audience gives a standing ovation, and I cherish that bow at curtain call. I become devastated when it's time to strike. The feeling of, "Wow, we finally did it," after tech week, the choreography practices, the constant singing, the practices that ended late, the awful feeling of having to call line, and the frustration we get towards ourselves and each other when something doesn't go right. All of that stress just disappears when I take that final bow.

When I'm onstage, I matter, the cast matters. It's a second family, a second home. It's my one true love, and something that can never be taken away. It's my addiction and I promise you, as soon as I hear the words "places" being yelled, I take a deep breath, walk to my place, and when the curtain goes up, I look around and think to myself, "I'm home," and let me tell you, there is no place like home.