Helping Kids Help Themselves by Thomas

Helping Kids Help Themselves by Thomas - February 2019 Scholarship Essay

In the sixth grade, I joined my middle school’s drama club as a rather quiet and introverted kid merely looking for an extracurricular to become involved in. At the time, I had minimal prior knowledge of theatre; however, the activity soon grew into a passion, and the stage became a home to me.
I am currently a first year undergraduate studying in the Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Boston as a Theatre Arts major with a minor in Music. I fell in love with theatre throughout years of designing, painting, and building scenery; creating props; rigging lights; and forming friendships across numerous productions. Paint stains on my school clothes from my after school fun were worn as badges of honor. While working backstage, each actor entrance, set change, and tech cue is an exhilarating thrill.
The arts allow me to express my vision and perception of the world, and I am grateful for the opportunities to create provided by my academic environment growing up. Several teachers have taught me not only valuable information from the curriculum but also lessons regarding humanity, self improvement, and interpersonal relationships. Particularly in my latter years of high school, I collaborated with my art and theatre teachers on significant projects in which I worked with them as an equal rather than as a student. The respect I earned, the responsibilities I fulfilled, the ambition I developed, and the professionalism I demonstrated have continued to help me thrive in college--shall I mention I currently carry a 4.0 grade point average in addition to working part time and extracurricular involvement?
My senior year featured one especially memorable role I obtained by reaching out to my former middle school director. I asked him if he could use my aid in that year’s play because I knew his former faculty assistant had retired the year prior. He readily accepted my invitation, and I was thus the new volunteer assistant director of the drama club where my theatrical career began.
The play we staged that year was Robin Hood. Throughout the rehearsal process, I was constantly and genuinely happy to teach the middle school students the basic foundations of acting, design, and performance. I referred to the students simply as, “my kids”, for I grew to develop a personal mentorship sentiment towards them. It was fun to see the raw talent some of them possessed and the growth they exhibited upon weeks of refinement. Other groundwork responsibilities of mine included stage setup and breakdown, prop tracking, show cues, and program editing. In addition to teaching them stage-related techniques, my primary goal was to share with them more extensive life lessons like teachers of my past.
The environment I promoted centered around encouragement, especially for the kids who had nowhere else to “fit in” socially. The young teenage years, as I experienced in their shoes not too long ago, can be emotionally challenging in that regard; I wanted to serve as a support system for them. Drama club was a place for the students to express and celebrate their abilities. Together as a club, we created memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. I know this from all the hugs, tears, and thank you’s I received from my kids - as well as their parents - at the end of our final show.
With my degree, I plan on a profession as a fine and performing arts educator. During every moment I spent with the kids on Robin Hood, I felt excited and driven--two aspects vital to what I consider a dream job. Whether I teach high school or middle school is yet to be determined. Either way, I wish to assist and inspire the minds of the future by sharing the same fundamental arts knowledge and sentimental values I did at Austintown Middle School.
Most likely, not every student I come across will pursue an artistic career. I have worked with several passionate artists, actors, and musicians who found tremendous success in fields unrelated to the arts. However, partaking in creative endeavors while in school helps students build personal foundations of work ethic, time management, collaboration, and confidence that are vital to any career.
Attending college in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the biggest and most active cities in the United States, is a tremendous privilege. I aim to build upon my own knowledge and skills as much as possible through my courses and practicums. In the near future, I plan on applying for theatre, music, or arts jobs or internships in schools in the surrounding area to hone my teaching aptitude. Furthermore, while some may contend that the arts are not as constructive or useful to society as fields such as science, engineering, medicine, or law, I once read a quote that stated, “Art helps kids help themselves.” This notion that my professional and personal dreams are able to enhance youth development has propelled my ambition.