Halfway through my junior year of high school, I was completely burnt out.

I was coming right off of a month-long run of "Bye Bye Birdie" followed by an equally exhausting production of "The Crucible" at school. I was in the middle of rehearsals for "Kiss Me Kate" (our school's spring musical) when I had my first breakdown. It was right around the time my grandfather passed away, and I was feeling completely lost. I was having a miserable time in "Kiss Me Kate," my friend group was severely limited, and I was drowning in school work. All motivation was gone, and I had no sense of direction for what I wanted to do with my life.

A few months before, I had begun the college search process. I was so determined to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre. The majority of my theatrical experience had consisted of being onstage—I loved the rush of performing and being able to step into someone else's shoes for a few hours. I made my spreadsheet, starting taking dance class, looked for audition songs, planned which schools I was going to audition for, etc.

Then the second half of junior year happened, and suddenly, I just hit a wall.

I started to doubt myself. I had no clue as to why I was doing what I was doing. I had been cast in another bit role for the umpteenth time for "Kiss Me Kate" and faced the conundrum that every high school theatre kid faces at one point or another: if I can't even get a lead role in my high school show, how will I ever make it in the business? Around the same time, I started really getting into English and had started steering myself towards pursuing a degree in education.

I was ready to give up on theatre and let it all go. I was absolutely miserable, exhausted, frustrated, upset, hurt, etc. I felt every emotion a person could possibly feel that spring. Then I remember having a conversation with my middle school choir director who had taken over my old middle school's musical that year. I explained my situation, and he responded with asking if I would be interested in coming back to help with the show. I'm not sure why I allowed myself to take on yet another project, but I'm so glad that I did.

Going back to my middle school and helping with the show saved me.

Seeing the excitement and the energy in the eyes of the kids reminded me why I fell in love with theatre in the first place. I saw myself back in middle school, thrilled to be performing on the stage. Because I was with my friends, telling a story. I didn't care what role I had. I was just there to have fun and make theatre. I originally got into theatre because I didn't think I was good at anything else. Now I do theatre because I can't see myself doing anything else.

It was a humbling experience that really brought me full circle.

After the show had wrapped, I went back to the high school, got through "Kiss Me Kate" and made a vow to myself: I would never allow myself to return to that dark place ever again. I got myself back into the college search and realized that I didn't just want to perform anymore— I wanted to teach. I wanted to help kids find their passion like how I found mine.

I chose to pursue a BA in Theatre Studies because I felt like this would be the degree that would help me achieve that dream. I want to direct, I want to write, I want to act, I want to sing, I want to design, I want to do it all.

Theatre has always been the one thing in my life that has been a constant. Shows may open and close, but the idea will always be there.

The memories may fade, but the feeling of being a part of something magical won't.

And that is why I chose to major in theatre.