The first lesson in college is often about socializing with people. I struggled with social anxiety and usually found it difficult to present myself through clubs, dining halls, or classroom interactions. But my experience in theater during high school had prepared me to navigate these challenges smoothly. Stepping into a new community at Wesleyan felt like starting a new show entirely —a stage I had never performed on before, but one where I could apply what I had learned.
In high school, I dedicated myself to the arts both in and out of school. I participated in a play, and I even sang. I was dedicated and respected the people who loved the arts. Still, when I came to the school, I had no intention of pursuing theater; I needed familiarity to open myself. I was, of course, hesitant about Wesleyan’s much bigger theater program, but I had taken a leap of Faith.
Two courses at Wesleyan shaped my confidence and voice. An introductory theater course, it taught about the works that shape the performing arts today, as well as the conversations that critique them to be better. It became A significant shift in perspective from what was presented to me in high school. The second course propelled me to speak up and contribute to the details of my person. This late-night, three-hour weekly theater class had only one other student enrolled, creating a space where I could actively participate. I worked with formerly incarcerated individuals who would come to the class, share their stories about their experiences in the U.S. justice system, and I had to speak and ask them riveting questions because their stories carried a great deal of weight. I talk so much, and in there, I found myself giving more to them and to the people around me. In the end, I had a chance to perform the monologue of an individual whose story has shaped me and the way I speak up to others.
Now, you can find me as the financial manager for SHADES, the theater collective for students of color on campus. I have managed to work as an assistant director for a small play titled “All about Adeaze.” I worked in the spring of 2025 as a coordinator in collaboration with Spike’s stage for the cabaret, and I again worked in the fall of 2025 to put on a great cabaret show.
Shades is not as big on campus, which is why it’s perfect for me, and so are all the theater ventures I have participated in. I don’t have to worry about big productions; it still allows me to actively contribute, meet a tiny subset of individuals in the arts, and, more importantly, build myself socially. through the friends I have and the interactions I have had to make from my awkward self. All because I allow familiarity to become the means through which I navigate my then-new social life.
