After graduating from high school, I swore that I was not going to theater in college. I still

absolutely loved it but found myself thinking that college would be for different pursuits. It would be a time for joining clubs that I’d always wanted to, for dedicating time to my studies more than anything else, and to make friends I would actually make an effort to keep in touch with after my eventual graduation. Looking back, I was able to meet those goals at least to an extent. But I just couldn’t give up acting like I’d planned, not after finding my home in the theater department at EMU. I started acting at EMU the second semester of my first year in Beauty and the Beast and couldn’t stop. I was officially hooked. I’ve done every show that I could since, and for good reason. Rehearsal filled me with energy and introduced me to my closest friends. For a few productions before COVID hit, anyone in the cast and crew who wanted to would gather to watch movies or play games every single weekend after our three hour Friday and Saturday rehearsals. You might think that after sometimes 20+ hours a week around the same people you’d get sick of each other. That wasn’t the case, at least for me. Being in theater and around theater is where I could show off my weirdest self knowing that no one would judge. It was where I found confidence. It was where I knew everyone was committed and deeply cared about the same thing. I don’t know anywhere else where you can find that. When COVID arrived, things shifted. We were two weeks out from performing Shrek the Musical the first time round when everyone was sent home for the rest of the semester. The next Fall semester we weren’t able to do a show, or a lot of other things for that matter. The next semester after over a year long hiatus we finally performed Shrek the Musical, this time outside with masks and some new faces in the cast and crew. Every single rehearsal we pushed our many set pieces up the hill onto Thomas Plaza and rolled them back down again when we were finished. It was strenuous, but we did it. That will never cease to impress me. This year, my final year in EMU theater, is bittersweet. I have loved being in both shows

this school year. They were different, one of a kind experiences. All the frustration and late

nights that comes with doing a show was balanced by joy, new friendships and knowing that we were able to create something beautiful together. And now, after a rollercoaster four years, it’s time to say goodbye. So goodbye EMU theater. I can’t wait to see what you do next. I trust that every one of you will make the experience truly magical.