UC San Diego

I entered this masters program hoping to gain the tools necessary to consider myself a professional actor. To do that I needed to gain things beyond technique which I was not guaranteed, but could not leave without: confidence, experience, and perseverance.

I am 25 years old this August and have spent almost half of those years in school studying acting. I have had the enormous luxury to develop until I am ready to call myself a professional. I ask myself now, what makes me worthy, what makes me ready? Proud as I am to get my MFA, I now know that "master of fine arts" is an oxymoron. A wanting student, I had strived for mastery and heartbreakingly failed myself every time. I came into this program unsure, messy, and lost. I am leaving equipped with the ability to bring honesty out of my mess, to bring my whole self to my role, and feel the terror and thrill of imperfection.

Even more importantly in my time here I have gained an immense appreciation and more articulate understanding of what I think makes great theatre. Using the gifts I received from UCSD I want to continue to be a part of the immediacy and potential that I have felt as an audience member in a electrifying theatre, and when I feel when I am working on a truly great play. I now do not feel "ready" but rather am bursting to start my career and strive to create imperfect and alive works of art.