The Power of Performance by Jackson

The Power of Performance by Jackson - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a timid person. For such a long time I was afraid of truly being myself and living out loud. I was hiding from who I truly was. Participating in theater helped me gain confidence and stay true to myself. Having to act and sing on stage in front of hundreds of people can be incredibly intimidating. But, despite my shy exterior, I enjoyed the thrill of the stage extremely. This partly stemmed from the fact that I could be someone completely different on the stage. By being someone else, I could act as confidently as I want. This then translated to me becoming more and more confident all of the time. I was gradually getting used to being more outgoing and more upbeat. Theater helped me find myself, and I believed everyone should be given that opportunity as well.
Theater provides extensive opportunities for students to gain the confidence they may need. By presenting an act in front of their peers, students can learn how to act confident in front of others and even talk and socialize with others. Theater teachers can guide shy, anxious teens toward a place of self-acceptance and assurance. However, so many students do not get these benefits of theater because it is an extracurricular activity that takes plenty of time and effort. A lot of students simply don’t have the time to commit, having large amounts of other activities and homework. If theater classes were mandatory classes, then all students could enjoy the benefits of theater without having to commit time outside of school. Students can gain confidence and learn about themselves in a classroom setting. Math and science classes, although extremely useful, cannot provide the insight that theater can. Theater has helped me a great amount in my life, and I truly feel everyone should enjoy something so meaningful and inspirational.