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In the future I hope to see myself as a professional Stage Manager on a touring show so that I can do the work that I love while travelling the world. I began stage managing in my first year and fell in love it. Eventually after a few years of travelling I would like to settle down in a city a become the stage manager for a local theatre company.

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In my past I used to always be super critical of my work. If it wasn't perfect then it was garbage. I looked for validation through assignments to measure my worth. However, since coming to UT I've learned to appreciate the process rather than the outcome. I've been part of shows where actors still had to be on book because of script changes or where the lights and sound are "rough" because finding designers is hard. Yet I don't appreciate these shows any less because I still got to do the work I love and learned along the way.

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I'm currently obsessed and inspired by fantasy and mythology. World-building, monsters, heroes, fable, etc. ideas that allow no bounds to creativity and aren't limited by realism. I am trying to expand my imagination by doing shows that excite me--which tend to be shows with a more whimsical vibe to them.

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This is the current Greek Mythology podcast I have been listening to. It covers a lot of myths about Gods, Monsters, and Heroes

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Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold

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Eatin’ Kids & Killin’ Dads, an Introduction to Greek Mythology

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Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! Greek & Roman Mythology Retold

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Since starting at UT I've come to appreciate the idea of creating art that pleases both my current self and my inner child. I have learned the importance of play and its impact on the devising process. There's a simplicity that comes with play that I really enjoy, and from this you can build your story.

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My first TYA play I did for the Cohen New Works Festival

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I think collaboration is important because everyone has different identities and ideas. When working on a play you should always think about the impact it will have on the audience, which can be different for each person depending on their background. Through collaboration you can create a well rounded play that reaches a larger audience rather than a specific group.

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For me collaboration has always come kind of easy. I prefer working with others where we can bounce ideas off one another and just be sounding boards for the other. It also can make the work easier because you can divide tasks amongst your group instead of doing everything by yourself. When you work in a group you get many different narratives and perspectives which creates a more well rounded play.

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Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers nationwide. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors' Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions. #EquityWorks.

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Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, represents more than 51,000 professional Actors and Stage Managers nationwide. Equity seeks to foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans.

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After being a stage manager for a some years I imagine myself becoming a theatre teacher for a high school. I want to use the information and tools I will learn from stage managing professionally and apply them to my job as an educator. High School is when children really start thinking about what they want from their futures, and I would love to help them explore a possible future in Theatre.

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This is the website (with video) that I read and watched by UT's UTeach Program that drew me to this major.

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Department of Theatre and Dance - The University of Texas at Austin

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The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Education (UTeach Theatre) degree plan is a nationally recognized, pre-professional program for students interested in teaching theatre at the high school, middle school or elementary school level. The B.F.A. in Theatre Education degree plan leads to K-12 theatre teacher certification.

Outstanding faculty offer students a comprehensive curriculum in theatre, drama, technical theatre and educational methods combined with in-depth field and student teaching experiences.

There are more than 20 performance opportunities each year for students majoring in theatre. Many productions are student-produced, providing opportunities to develop new skills as directors, writers, production managers, designers and dramaturgs.

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B.F.A. in Theatre Education (UTeach Theatre)

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UTeach Theatre, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Education degree plan, is a nationally recognized, pre-professional program for students interested in teaching theatre at the high school, middle school or elementary school level.

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This article talks about the danger of academic validation and the impact it has on mental health

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Seven out of ten teens have named anxiety as a major problem among each other. Individuals continue to applaud those who receive high academic achievements but do not realize the amount of work the student had to do. With the praise a student receives from a young age, they may base most if not their whole identity on their academic success. Academic praise can become unhealthy when not managed properly.

Two-thirds of high school students and 87 percent of college students find themselves stressed about their academics. Most fear that if they receive a low grade, then they are a failure in life.

Psychology Professor Jeffrey Pedroza, B.S. in Psychology, and M.S. in Clinical Psychology was a therapist for 20 years and has been a Psychology professor for more than 20 years teaching areas such as the introduction of psychology, and abnormal psychology.

"Unhealthy consequences include correlating our sense of identity with our grades. 'I have a poor grade, therefore I am a bad person,'" replied Pedroza when asked about the greatest consequence of having an unhealthy academic validation desire.

Academic validation is the reliance a student has on their academics in order to feel appreciated and successful/valued in life. It is a constant reliance on a letter grade or appreciation from their educators.

"Academic validation is a phenomenon in which students seek gratification from their academic grades, goals, and accomplishments. Sometimes, their well-being and self-esteem is tied to academia," said Pedroza.

Students who work towards academic validation usually end up as perfectionists. This can lead them to stay up all night, have little to no social life, and/or be on the verge of burnout.

"Often students seek academic validation to feel that they are doing well, but that can also be very draining, exhausting, and take a toll on mental health," said high school Counselor Arlene Quiñonez, B.A. in Psychology, and M.A. in Educational Counseling.

Those who are seen at home take part in a student's search for academic validation.

"There are also parent expectations, where parents contribute a lot to students stressing out because they do not have perfect A's. So, there is that pressure from families, from school, from 'wanting a future,'" said Quiñonez.

If an individual only works for academic validation, they will be in a narrowed head space at the end of their academic journey. When they finally finish that journey, they will likely be in a workspace in which they are not content because that was the last of their concerns.

According to Inc. Magazine , "the problem is we end up making career choices to impress other people so we can feel that fleeting rush of validation. In the process, we lose sight of what makes us truly happy."

Being successful in academics is a positive thing however when students overwork themselves to continually receive that form of validation, it becomes negative, as they leave out crucial aspects of their life.

Quiñonez said, "Yes you do need to be academically strong to pursue a future, but there is much more to a student than that. It's not just all academics, but also who you are as a student. Who is this student that yes, academically excels but what more does the student have to offer? We are more than our grades."

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Academic validation: the unhealthy relationship of a students' life

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Seven out of ten teens have named anxiety as a major problem among each other. Individuals continue to applaud those who receive high academic achievements but do not realize the amount of work the student had to do. With the praise a student receives from a young age, they may base most if not their...

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n the future I want to have a work ethic like Taylor Swift, someone who recognizes when she is undervalued and removes herself from the situation. Someone who is unafraid to try new fields in a cutthroat industry. She is a strong example of a powerful woman in the workplace who doesn’t let others tear her down. Taylor Swift is an inspiration to many women and people because she is hard-working and has still remained kind.

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This Taylor Swift song talks about how men and women are viewed differently in the workplace. Men who take charge are leaders but women who do are "bossy"

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I love seeing how much I have grown as a professional and as a person since starting here at UT 2 years ago. In my emails you can see how I have grown more confident in my stage managing skills through how confident I sound in them, and the content within the bodies. On the outside you can see I have grown because two years ago I would never have imagined myself taking a class about collaboration where I'll have to work with strangers, and now I love interacting with my peers.

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My biggest takeaway since starting my university experience is having grace with others and with yourself. Its important to understand that everyone is different and is coming into a rehearsal or class with probably a 100 other thoughts. Sometimes what may seem like low effort is all they can mentally and physically contribute that day. That's why I enjoy doing access checks because they give us a better understanding of who/what I'm working with in a space and what that person needs to accomplish their work.

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How to show grace to others and meet their needs

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"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29

8. Gratitude- say thank you often and let people know how much you appreciate them.

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

9. Take an Interest in Others- learn about other people, ask them questions, listen and care.

"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3

Who can you be gracious towards today?

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9 Ways to Extend Grace to Others - Dawn Klinge

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Showing grace to others is about showing kindness even when they don't deserve it. God has shown such grace to us . We, in turn, are asked to show grace to each other. Here are nine ways to extend grace to others.