Letting Go of Perfection by Kate

Letting Go of Perfection by Kate - March 2024 Scholarship Essay

As opening night of our school musical Annie quickly approached, my costar and duet partner Zach still didn’t know his lines. He still didn’t know his choreography. He still didn’t know our song. The question on my mind as I became more and more nervous about his lack of preparation was “How can I get Zach ready in time?” I had known my lines for months and felt confident in myself, but now it was time to deal with my lack of confidence in someone else. Zach was much more laid back than me, with a carefree perspective that I just couldn't relate to.

First, I rehearsed lines with Zach on the bus on a band trip and recruited the Student Government President to help out as well. We made good use of a lot of downtime during the long drive. I even came up with the idea to bribe Zach with some of my snacks to motivate him to stay focused. It was an exercise in patience for sure but gradually, he improved.

Second, I gave up on the need for perfection. I could control my part in preparing for the role, but I had to learn to let go of what was outside of my control. When the show finally opened, I knew I had done all I could. I also realized part of the fun of musical theater is its unpredictability and that what matters most is the contagious joy of performing even when things don’t go according to plan. As I heard the audience laugh at the antics of Miss Hannigan and her sleazy brother, I understood that my previous fears of disaster were mostly unfounded.

There will be many times in my life when I am part of a team in which a teammate needs extra coaching as well as an attitude of support rather than judgment. This experience taught me how to build others up and motivate them in ways that are rewarding and productive.