When I got involved with theater, I was a self-proclaimed “awkward preteen” with braces, bony limbs, and virtually no self-esteem. One of my close friends had always been involved in shows and summer camps at First Stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Watching her have the time of her life inspired me to audition there and participate in a summer camp. What I thought would become a fun hobby turned out to be something that provided me with memories, skills, and friendships that I will cherish forever. Since I wanted to focus on nothing but my rigorous college major’s curriculum, I unfortunately chose to say goodbye to performing when I graduated from high school. But my years of participating in theater have affected me in the best ways.

First of all, you gain confidence, whether it’s suddenly or gradually. It definitely takes confidence and courage to get up on a stage and speak, let alone act like a different person, in front of other people. Even seasoned professionals are aware of this, and everyone is accepting of one another. Actors encourage other actors to take risks and not be afraid of making mistakes. As time passes, maybe you realize that you feel a million times more confident during your fifth show than your first show. Getting involved in theater provides you not only the confidence to act/sing/dance while an audience watches, but also the skills to answer a question in class or start a conversation with ease.

You also become a highly empathetic individual. There’s something about doing theater that makes you understand other humans more than you ever thought possible. Maybe it’s because you put yourself in your character’s shoes, or maybe it’s because you spend so much time around other people while rehearsing for a show or participating in a class, workshop, or camp. Either way, you just get people. You’re most likely a very accepting person and your friends feel comfortable telling you their deepest secrets.

Fortunately, public speaking, America’s number one fear, doesn’t scare you nearly as much as it does some of your peers. Because of all the time you spend onstage, a little speech in front of your class can’t bring you down. Thirty kids sitting in desks pales in comparison to an auditorium filled with thousands. You feel bad for your non-theater friends who went through high school speech class with red faces and sweaty palms. But you have to admit that you probably spent hours panicking before your first show ever. With practice, you learn how to turn that stage fright into excitement and energy.

In addition, you learn how to be positive in negative situations. A performer can’t let outside problems or negativity get in the way of his or her performance, and the same goes for any task in life. You are expected to leave any negative energy outside of the stage door. After all, nobody wants to watch a sulking Belle from Beauty and the Beast or a tearful Mary Poppins. Likewise, employers and coworkers would rather work with someone with a consistent positive attitude over someone who lets their personal life interfere with his or her work.

Finally, doing theater introduces you to some of the best people you’ll probably ever meet. Everyone shares the common interest of theater, and this interest is one that requires a good attitude, personality, and work ethic. It’s no surprise that the people you meet become some of your best friends. They’re there to support you through the good times and the bad, the second callbacks and the flubbed lines. This makes closing a show or ending a class even more difficult, but the memories you make with these people are ones that last a lifetime.

Evidently, theater has the ability to leave a positive impact on anyone who participates in it. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to get involved with performing when I did. If you took out theater from the mixing pot of experiences and traits that make me me, I feel like I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.