My first year at Rosebud School of the Arts was a year I will never forget. I made some incredible friends, I began the journey of accepting myself was an artist, and found a place I can call my artist journey. This was the first place where I began to feel accepted and welcomed for who I really am and then was celebrated for it. I’m not saying it was an easy year, trial precedes celebration. However, this was the beginning of a powerful, challenging, and rewarding four years.

My second year at Rosebud School of the Arts was packed full. This was the year where I was taught a lot about being professional, what the craft of acting is about, and how much energy it requires to do this job. Did I make through the year? Absolutely. I met every challenge with open arms and I was hungry for more. This was the year when Rosebud began to be my home and my identity was becoming my own. I wasn’t associated with my parents so much anymore. It was a separation I had never experienced before. I was scared but I knew that I still wasn’t alone.

Third year brought so many challenges that I didn’t think would come that fast. My first Rosebud Theatre Opera house show, May & Joe, was taking 9 classes, did a student production, and worked two part time jobs. On top of that, God threw so many new ideas and questions my way that I couldn’t find answers for no matter how hard I searched. But this was the year where I had to accept that I have to flexible, work hard, and that it’s the simple things that will get me through life. I gained a new level gratitude and trust.

That summer I got the opportunity of a lifetime: speaking the lines of Jesus. Rosebud Theatre brought back Cotton Patch Gospel because the Artistic Director, Morris Ertman, saw a couple of girls doing dinner music in the Rosebud Mercantile and I was one of them. This show was so important to me because I got to know my Lord again. I understood His hurt, sacrifice, and above all the volume of His love. This show inspired my desire to spread love to all of humanity.

My fourth year is by far the hardest year yet. I spent the summer before trusting God completely and not worrying about a thing about the future. Then after Cotton Patch Gospel closed, everything seemed to go down hill. I felt so alone and abandoned. However, this year I have learned that I can experience joy and still allow the sadness to be alive. I spent such a long time pushing emotion down and concentrating on being professional and polished. Humanity has struck me constantly, and through this discovery, I can embrace my own humanity. I believe that people are really good at heart. It has taken me a while but I have begun to see my worth through the power of this love.

This is the year that I have finally become an artist: I know what I have to offer, I am not ashamed, and I have worth in who I am.