I was also told that I have a learning disability during the 5th grade. I would be placed in Special Education from 2001-2009. Unfortunately, I was placed in a very terrible program. Being told repetitively from my old junior high school and high school that I would not succeed in life if I don’t get A’s on my report card would traumatize me for years. I would spend the next 8 years doing everything I can to become a better version of myself and not let the learning disability get in the way of my goals. …show more content…
Instead of getting involved with their theatre department during my first year, I moved down to Orlando to participate in the Disney College Program. I would spend the Spring semester of 2010 working at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Once I’ve moved back up to Illinois, I would take my first collegiate Acting class at COD. This would begin a snowball effect consisting of taking many theatre classes, performing in 8 COD theatre productions and stage managing their annual children’s improv show.
Once I’ve left COD after 5 years, I began auditioning all around the Chicagoland area. I’ve been very fortunate to perform in shows in the city and in the suburbs. My first show outside of the college stage was Proof at the Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora. On New Years Eve on 2014, I worked with Redmoon Theatre in their Revolution 2015 celebration. Shortly after New Years, I performed in the comedy, Mr. Pim Passes By, with Elgin Independent Players.
I’ve also spent this time taking classes at The Second City Training Center in Chicago. I first completed their acting program and gone through their improv program. During my time there, I’ve performed in multiple improv groups and one Coached …show more content…
I’ve also taken Script Analysis, Theatre History II, and Classical Acting classes at NCC.
This journey has brought me to the doorsteps of UIC. What attracted me to the school was the intensive theatre program that generates new and bright individuals each year. Not only that I would be challenged to my knowledge of the craft, but also gain new knowledge and experience in the process and being able to use it to better the theatre community on campus, in the city, and beyond.
As I’ve said earlier, I have a learning disability. The problem with the word “disability” is that it suggests an inability to do something that most people take for granted. This journey of mine is proof that I have not let my learning disability get in the way of my success, in the academic, professional, and theatrical world.
This journey has also taught me the importance of theatre in our culture. Theatre brings people together to ask many profound questions, to portray the truth of social and political situations, to experience the roar of a laughter from an audience, and to make people believe that they are in a whole new world outside of their own for just a couple of