Theatre Education, better known as ThEd, is a small major at Ball State. In my class, there are seven people and in the class that graduated last spring, there were three people--albeit, two of them were super seniors.

It's also an unknown major, meaning if you've not met a THED or considered being one, you probably have no idea that it even exists.

Those of us studying as THEDs, mostly, want to be high school or middle school theater teacher--I have to say mostly because there are occasionally people who want to do drama therapy or something else of the like. To us, that means that we are doing the normal teacher things--writing lesson plans, teaching five classes, etc.--as well as all the things that come with the theater--managing the theater, picking shows that will fit the school and the community, PR for shows, etc.

In short, it's a whole lot of work.

But it's worth it.

I've had a lot of people tell me that, with the current state of our education system, they don't understand why I would want to teach. Not to mention, no one really seems to understand what I get from being a theater teacher.

For me, theater changed my life. I was by no means shy as a child--I had a lot of friends and played sports--I didn't know that there was really anything else. My dad played softball, basketball, and volleyball when I was growing up and did a whole lot more when he was a teenager. My mom was an athlete in high school and my sister and I both played the same sports my dad on and off. I didn't know that there was anything other than sports. When I got on that stage for the first time, though, it was like I was a completely new kid with a whole world of possibilities in front of me.

When I got to high school, my theater teacher always managed to brighten my day. She was a funny and kind woman and I aspired to be like her.

I became a ThEd so that I could inspire some teenager that way one day.

I'm a ThEd because when I told the cast of the show I was assistant directing that I wasn't going to be able to make it to the rest of their shows because of spring break and I cried, many of them hugged me and told me they'd missed me and how much they appreciate me--and one of them tried to ignore me because he was upset with me.

I'm a ThEd because when I told the student who was upset with me that I would change my plans if I could, he forgave me and gave me a hug too.

I'm a ThEd because I love finding new and exciting ways to teach theater.

I'm a ThEd because, as one of my professors once said, "All ThEds are stars."

I'm a ThEd because I can't think of any other career that could possibly make me happy.