I chose Heidelberg because I came to sit in on a theatre rehearsal late one night by myself and as I was walking down the main strip of campus to leave, I just knew it was the place I had to spend the next 4 years.
I majored in Musical Theatre because it has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. When I started at Heidelberg as a theatre major, I had no idea how vast the theatre industry was or how far I would grow as a theatre artist and arts administrator.
A major challenge I encountered while at Heidelberg was figuring out who I truly was without all the social pressure of my hometown and I handled it by being truthful to myself and surrounding myself with all of the amazing people that Heidelberg brought into my life.
Above all, Heidelberg prepared me to be a caring well-rounded human being, while also being successful in all of the goals I have set for myself.
Outside the classroom, I was involved in many different groups on campus throughout my time here. Rho Eta Delta, Zeta Theta Psi, Delta Sigma Chi, Hei-Notes Show Choir, Concert Choir, and a Student Ambassador. All of these groups, while also being involved in almost every single theatre production throughout my four years here at Heidelberg.
My favorite extracurricular activity was all of the theatre productions because it allowed me to make some of the strongest longest-lasting friendships I have ever had, while creating some breathtaking art that will stick with me the rest of my life. When you spend 4 hours with the same people in a theatre every single night for 4 years, you are bound to be soul-bonded for life at some point.
One faculty or staff mentor or advisor who impacted my 'Berg experience is Carol Dusdieker because she has been an integral part of my Heidelberg experience, and has really gone above and beyond to make my final weeks at Heidelberg as an undergrad as memorable as humanly possible! She is someone who will always be there for you when you need it the most!
My favorite Heidelberg memory is when we piled the entire theatre department into 3 Heidelberg vans and drove 8 hours to New York City only to get a call from the administration saying we had to turn around and drive home due to COVID-19. We were parked at a New Jersey train station with the city skyline behind us, only to get sent home. We all ended up piling back into the vans, spending the night in the Poconos, having a nice dinner, and running around a random Target at 11:00pm. It's the memory of a lifetime!
My plans after graduation are to spend the summer as Head of Company Management at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, New York, and then come back to Heidelberg in the fall to continue my education for one more year to receive my Master of Business Administration through the PlusOneAdvantage® Program.