When I was younger, the rule of "don't talk to strangers" really didn't seem to stick. I'd go up to strangers and ask them about their days, I once told someone where I lived for the sake of friendship, I looked forward to going to the regular places with my mom (grocery store, etc.) because I felt like I had people I could greet everywhere I went! The nurse in my doctor's office affectionately called me Oprah. I talked to everyone. Maybe too much. A more positive way to look at it is that I love sharing! Like Oprah, I love being able to listen to other people's stories, I like telling people about books I've read, or hearing someone's opinion on a social issue or about something that's important to them. Sharing is what drew me to theatre and film two storytelling mediums. Sharing is storytelling! Theatre and film are both more immersive mediums that enable an audience to be transported to different worlds, to hear stories from people that might not have otherwise been heard, to be educated and exposed to the world greater than what they know. Beyond creating, I'm interested in communities and advocacy. I want to combine those interests with my interest in theatre and film as tools to share stories, create communities, and encourage empathy.
Majors
Radio-Television-Film; Theatre and Dance (with a focus in Stage Management)
Other Academic Interests
Minor in Arts Management and Administration
Extracurricular Activities
President of Fine Arts Council; Social Communications and Historian of the USITT UT Student Chapter; Intern for Austin Film Festival; Assistant Producer of the Cohen New Works Festival
What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program (FASP)?
I initially heard about the Forty Acres Scholars Program while attending a Fine Arts Information session at UT Austin. I did my own research afterwards, and it sounded like everything I wanted: academic excellence, diversity, a rich cultural/social experience, and long lasting friendships/connections. I was already super interested in UT, so the thought of being supported through a program like FASP made the idea of coming to UT even more exciting. Coming to Finalist Weekend just confirmed to me how much I wanted to be a part of this community and program. The resources offered to us sounded amazing; every single finalist was passionate, driven, kind, and inspiring, and getting a more in depth look at what my life might look like at UT just made me fall in love all over again!
What makes your scholar cohort unique?
We're tiny but mighty!
What do you want prospective students to know about The University of Texas?
UT IS THE BEST! College is really all about what you make it. You can technically go anywhere and succeed by tapping into the resources and communities that are available to you. UT makes that so easy because there are SO MANY resources and communities. I truly believe there is a place for everyone here. And the people are absolutely amazing. Everyone is supportive, friendly, and open. That makes a world of difference when you're trying to find a home for the next four years of your life (at least - maybe more years!).