Coming into this production I thought that as chorus my only job would to sing harmonies in the background while the principals shone in the spotlight. However, being a part of the chorus, I became immersed in the entire production. Not only did I have to learn how to memorize almost ten different dance routines in the span of a month and a half, but as an understudy and back up for two of the principle characters, I also had to learn their parts and solo songs. My learning experience didn’t stop there however. I learned where all the set pieces were required to be, memorized what pieces were needed for each scene and by production week I had become assistant stage manager; now instructing others how to do this as well. By the end of our first show, I had become the only one that the stage manager trusted with important jobs during set up and throughout the performances.
This production turned out to be one of the most challenging tasks I had ever undertaken. I learned both physical and people skills I had never imagined, not to mention the time consuming nature of the project (3-5 hours a night). Nonetheless, if given the option; I would do it all over again. In the world where I see my generation into specific roles and jobs, I feel that the diversity, talents, and skills that I gain from experiences such as this one to be entirely worth the time spent doing them.This isn’t to say that I don’t have any specific goals or dreams in life (because I do), but I feel that these goals or dreams cannot be achieved if I am not diversifying my talents as well as improving them. Before this experience, I had many diversified talents, but now I have just a few more talents. Furthermore, not only do I have a few more talents, these talents complete me and molds me into a person that isn’t just skilled in one area. These talents mold me into a competent citizen in society who is conscious of the decisions that they make and how they affect those around them as well as the world. If it were possible for me to define in one word what I believe to be the most important talent or skill that I have gained from my experiences: that word would be compassion. Compassion because these experiences have opened me up to different views and perceptions on the world, and in this world I see a lot of suffering. A lot of suffering that I feel can be ended if only there are people who have enough compassion to care enough to fix it. So sure, I could have spent a few more hours studying rather than volunteering at the senior care center, but in the whole scheme of life, is a higher grade on a test that only cares about how well you memorized a bunch of steps or rules, but not how to apply them more important than actually being involved in making a difference in the world? Maybe I’m wrong, but I would strongly disagree and beg to differ with the person who attempts to convince me that I am. Becoming a compassionate person, with a good conscience, and a thirst for knowledge so that I can become a competent leader in this world... That is my desire, and I know that although I have exhausted all the experiences that high school has to offer me, new experiences at my future college and career will continue to satiate that thirst.
