Part of the human experience is finding passions that make life feel purposeful. Fortunately for me, this feeling came when I was very young. I’ve done theatre for the majority of my life, and once I began doing it, there was never a doubt in my mind that it was what I was meant to be doing. It’s something I’ve known inherently since the moment I first walked out onto a stage– it felt like breathing.  I immediately fell in love with it as a form of storytelling and creativity, but more importantly, a place of community. When I entered my late teen years, I discovered another passion: theatre education. Theatre teaches people confidence, creativity, and how to embrace every part of themselves: intricacies, quirks, and all. Being able to teach someone those skills all while giving them a place where they can truly be themselves is just as magical than being onstage. While I teach, I lean on the philosophy of “failing forward”, which allows students the ability to make mistakes as many times as they need to and learn from it every time– without the pressure of having to be perfect all the time. My students inspire me every day when it comes to being a performer. Their bravery, curiosity, and passion make me want to be the best actor I can be.