I was 10 years old when I auditioned for my first school musical. I had always loved singing and dancing, and I signed up for my elementary school's production of Grease the second I was old enough. I was hooked after one rehearsal and I've been in every school production since then, plus countless other community productions in my town. These theater programs- no matter what the show or even the scale of the production, have changed my entire life and made me into the person I am today.

I would be an entirely different person with an entirely different personality if it wasn't for theater. To this day, people compliment me on my ability to speak in front of people so well. That's all thanks to theater. My rhetoric and ability to articulate comes from reciting endless lines of dialogue in front of a mirror in preparation for shows. Theater gives you such a strong sense of self. When you stand on a stage, pretending to be someone else, crafting emotions night after night, and bearing your mind to the audience, you get to know yourself. Your strengths, your weaknesses, your emotions, and your abilities somehow become evident and from the moment you realize them you know yourself better.

My self confidence would also never be where it is now if it weren't for theater. I was always an outgoing kid, but never the one to sing a solo with confidence or to get in front of so much as a classroom for a presentation. Since starting theater I've gathered enough confidence that I acted in front of an audience of 1,000. I don't know how to describe the effect that theater has on a person's self confidence, but it's immeasurable. When a child is in theater, especially in their teenage years, getting up on a stage and crafting a performance night after night gives them a self confidence that nothing else can. I've seen a little girl who never spoke a word in rehearsal stand on stage and sing her heart out. I've seen a high school senior who didn't speak to anyone get up in front of an audience of 300+ people and belt out "You're The One That I Want" as Danny Zuko. I've seen a soccer player get up on stage in a sailor costume and smile from ear to ear as he sang and danced.

Theatre has given me so many friends- directors, choreographers, cast members, and crew- because of the countless hours we spent working together. Those who work in theater, whether it's the actors, crew, or the creative team, put in so many hours of their own time just to make productions happen. The people who I've worked with have given me a strong work ethic and sense of dedication and commitment that I can, without a doubt, apply to everything else I do in life.

Even if theater isn't your passion, consider joining a show. Join your school's production. Look up a local theater group and go to auditions. Even if you are just in the ensemble, the experience of being on a stage and telling a story is unlike any other. Go see a live show and consider the actors behind the characters; they put in hours and hours of work and practice in order to give justice to a meaningful story. Appreciate all that goes into performing live- we forget what goes into creating a live show. Theatre isn't like movies where you can just move to another location or where you can just cut the scene if it goes wrong. It's all live, and we have no second chances. So, join a show and experience the process. Also, encourage the young people you know to become involved in the arts- it is indescribable how rewarding they are and how much growth can come from performing.