Self-ValYOU On The Stage

I want to tell you about something new I’ve been up to the past several weeks! There are so many ways to help and reach all kinds of people of different ages, abilities, and needs improve and maintain their positive self-esteem and self-image. I have been doing this in a fun way this fall -- reinforcing the principles of my Self-ValYOU program without even having to bust out a road sign.

As you probably know I am planning to go to college to get a degree in Musical Theater. It is what I want to do as a career - be a stage (hopefully Broadway, someday, when it reopens) actress. The first musical I was ever in was “Shrek: The Musical Jr.”, and I was the Mad Hatter. Now, almost 7 years later, as a Senior in high school, I get to do the show in a very unique role.

The “Access the Arts for All Abilities” program at STAGES Performing Arts Academy is letting me volunteer as a student assistant with young people (the program goes from kids up to young adults) who have special abilities to put on their FIRST EVER full production! I’m also excited to say that in addition to learning about teaching theater and inclusivity they are letting me be in the show too, so I will be playing Mama Ogre, Mama Bear, and Young Princess Fiona. A few years ago I was able to do something a little similar as an ensemble cast member in Variety St. Louis’ productions of Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast, where professional musical theater performers work kids with special needs into full-scale professional productions, and I was honored to partner up with, be assigned to help, and perform alongside those amazing kids over all of the long, challenging rehearsals and performances.

I’ve loved getting to be with the cast of Shrek the past several weeks and helping them perform, and watching them grow and reinforce their confidence and positive self-image (and we all know I love a positive self-image builder right??). Theater is for EVERYONE and that’s a big reason (other than loving to perform of course) why I’m going to study it in college and pursue a career in it. In a 2009 study, 12 years of data was collected for the National Educational Longitudinal Survey to look at the effect of education, visual, and performing arts on the achievement and values of children. The study found that students who were highly involved with the arts outperformed less-involved peers, especially music. The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts' Education center has all kinds of information about how the arts directly contribute to a child's positive self esteeem (here is a great article on this - https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/articles-and-how-tos/articles/collections/getting-parents-involved/what-the-arts-can-do-for-your-child/ ). So, reaching out to kids in this way is a natural fit for me. One of the ways I em exploring combining my work in theater and my work on Self-ValYOU is by getting a double major degree (I will probably have to take an extra year or so of classes) in not only Musical Theater, but Psychology. That way, if I ever have an Act II for my career or want to transition out of full time theater, or I need to have a "day job" while I am working on auditions for performance opportunities, I could work in Music or Drama Therapy, for example.

I’m so proud and grateful to be able to be volunteering my Saturdays helping kids in this special way.

And coming soon is a new Positive Pages video! So stay tuned for that.

#valYOUable