I Had A Dream by Tierney

I Had A Dream by Tierney - June 2017 Scholarship Essay

ACTION!!!!! When I’m on stage I feel like it’s just me in the moment by myself. I don’t see the stage, audience, or hear voices. Everything that has happened in my life before this point cease to exist. I become my character, living vicariously through her story, engulfed in her being. Surprisingly, this wasn’t always the case for me.
As a young child I never liked school. Any excuse you can think of to get out of class I have done. Placing a thermometer in hot water, licking my palms to make them appear sweaty, stomach aches, you name it, I’ve done it. I think the number one reason why I dreaded going to school so much was because I didn’t understanding the material being taught in class. I was diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADHD in fourth grade. Because of my learning disability it seemed like all the material that we learned was scrabbled in my brain and I couldn't seem to make sense of it. I became so frustrated I just started giving up on myself.

I joined my 8th grade drama team and everything changed. I was selected for a small part that did not involve speaking lines. This was perfect for me. I’ve always had a love for movies, television shows and acting. However, because of my disability, I didn’t think it was possible and I was afraid if I spoke out loud I would just embarrass myself. But being in drama club I didn't feel embarrassed at all. My desire and love for the art made me want to express myself even more. I challenged myself to take on speaking roles. I practiced reading through scripts and a variety of books my English teacher would give to me. I knew in order to become an actress I had to understand words I've never seen before and be able to understand the text from the scripts.
That was when my training began. I woke up early in the morning every day to see my drama teacher to practice monologues. I refused to let my disability hold me back. Growing up I finally realized that just because I learn differently than other people do doesn't mean I have to limit myself, i realized that through the application of my willpower and through the support from teachers and instructors that a mere deficiency in my learning did not make When I got into acting I truly felt as if it made me become a better reader by reading different scripts it helped challenge me.
I have currently been acting for five years. I have learned techniques that have helped me understand how to read and master my scripts successfully. My disability has allowed me to go past words on a paper and delve into the meaning of them. Providing me with what I feel is an inner ability to express words through my craft, art, and talent. I hope to help others student actors and actresses through my personal experiences. To teach them that no matter what disabilities or challenges they may face, it does not limit your dreams or your level of success.