To Be or Not To Be by Shelbie

To Be or Not To Be by Shelbie - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

Saying that I love theater is like saying Winnie the Pooh loves honey, a complete understatement. I have been a loyal member of Fernley High School’s Drama Club for the past four years, treasuring every minute of it. Throughout the years I’ve met some amazing people, made some incredible memories, and marketed some fun plays; I owe a lot of my wonderful high school experience to the FHS Drama Club.

I would like to think I contributed a fair share of influence to the group. I worked diligently to make sure everything was situated for the performances, knowing not only my own parts but also everyone else’s. I practiced my scenes and lines countless times to ensure a worthy quality for the shows, never wanting to leave the audience disappointed. Our drama club was able to audition for the Nevada Thespians Association, learning that hard work pays off; unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the state competition in Las Vegas. However, we did get to travel to Las Vegas, after spending numerous hours fundraising for money, and witness some phenomenal plays put on by fellow Nevadan students. In Vegas we also participated in various workshops and I learned how to improve as a performer and a writer. It was a once-in- lifetime experience—I hope we’re actually able to compete in the state competition this year.

Drama has influenced my future plans because my dream occupation is to become a successful screenwriter in Hollywood. My passion is telling stories, especially ones performed by actors. My goal is to create a positive impact in peoples’ lives through movies and TV shows, hopefully inspiring others with engaging scenarios.

In these past four years I’ve learned a vast amount about teamwork and the importance of dedication. A show can be decent with one person being the only star, similar to a cake being decent without icing. But once that icing is added, the show itself can be crafted into something more astonishing and the outcome is more spectacular. I’ve learned to take responsibility for my mistakes and I now understand the meaning of having someone’s back: if a fellow actor messes up on stage I ought to dig them out of their hole and guarantee that the show goes on. I’ve learned to not sweat over the small things and to never give up, even if the final seconds are ticking. Most importantly, I’ve learned that I’m more of a social person than I ever imagined. I used to despise public speaking, always dreading a class presentation. Yet, I’ve overcome my fear of oratory, relishing in the opportunity to entertain someone.

I am forever grateful that I partook in Fernley High School’s Drama Club. It has been an essential, invaluable part of my life and I wouldn’t be the easygoing person I am today because of it!