#valYOUable Inclusive Stage Experience

The past few weeks have been very crazy and busy wrapping up a LOT of things including senior year classes and finals, my college decisions, and this really special experience—volunteering as a student assistant for Stages St. Louis’ inclusive Access The Arts musical theater class. After many months of spending my Saturdays working with these awesome kids and young adults, the class put on its performance of “Shrek: The Musical.” I am so proud of every single student and it was amazing to see the process of their learning how to be in a show and how self-confident and positive about themselves they became with each rehearsal! It was a privilege to work with them and appear with them on stage. It was also bittersweet for me because the very first show I did for Stages was Shrek, Jr.! I have learned so much by being a part of inclusive theater, including as far back as when I worked with Variety St. Louis in the Wizard Of Oz and Beauty And The Beast. Being a part of helping people gain new skills that give them more positive ways to identify and talk about themselves is priceless! #valYOUable