How Theaters left a Source Code inside me

It’s been a winding road with some breaks and new directions, but my love for the stage has remained strong. Here’s how my theater experiences have evolved through high school and where I stand now as a junior.

When I transitioned to high school in ninth grade, I was excited to continue my theater journey. I joined a theater class, hoping to build on the skills I had developed in middle school. However, the experience wasn’t quite what I expected. The instructor’s style didn’t resonate with me, and I found myself not enjoying the class as much as I had hoped. This was a bit disheartening, and it led me to take a break from theater plays for the rest of ninth grade.

In tenth grade, I decided to step away from theater altogether. I wanted to explore other interests and give myself a break from the stage. It was a time of self-discovery, and while I missed the excitement of performing, I felt that the break was necessary.

As my junior year approached, I started feeling the pull of theater again. I missed the creativity, the camaraderie, and the thrill of performing. However, instead of returning to traditional theater plays and musicals, I decided to try something different: improv. I joined my school’s improv troupe, and it was a game-changer for me.

Improv was a completely new experience. It’s all about thinking on your feet, being spontaneous, and working collaboratively with your fellow performers. I quickly fell in love with the freedom and creativity that improv offered. It was exhilarating to create scenes on the spot, make people laugh, and connect with the audience in a unique way.

As I continued with the improv troupe, I found myself taking on more responsibilities. Many of the older members had graduated, and I naturally stepped into a leadership role. Now, as one of the leads, I help guide the troupe, organize practices, and mentor new members. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a team.

Reflecting on my theater journey, I realize how much I’ve grown and evolved. From being an extra in the Aladdin musical in sixth grade to landing lead roles in middle school, and now leading an improv troupe in high school, each experience has shaped me in different ways. Even the breaks I took in ninth and tenth grades were important—they gave me the space to explore other interests and come back to theater with a renewed passion.

Some of my proudest achievements in theater include my performances in middle school plays. In sixth grade, I was part of the chorus in Aladdin, which was my first taste of the magic of theater. In seventh grade, I landed my first lead role, and in eighth grade, I took on the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, a role I didn’t even audition for but was chosen for by my theater teacher. These experiences built my confidence and honed my acting skills.

Now, as a junior, I’m thrilled to be part of the improv troupe. It’s a different kind of challenge, but one that I’ve embraced wholeheartedly. Leading the troupe has taught me about responsibility, collaboration, and the joy of creating something spontaneous and unique every time we perform.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to see where my theatre journey will take me next. Whether it’s more improv, traditional plays, or something entirely new, I know that theater will always be a part of my life. It’s taught me so much about myself, about working with others, and about the power of creativity.