As I wrap up my junior year of college, and my 20th year of life, I realized how incredible this time has been, and how fast it has flown by when I didn’t even notice or appreciate half of it. I did things that I never thought I would.

I got straight A’s in school.

I fell in love.

I became president.

I learned guitar.

I tried Greek food.

I lived in my own room.

I became addicted to grown up soda.

I developed a love for strawberry ice cream.

I moshed for the first and probably only time.

I networked.

I declared my major (finally.)

I became friends with people I never thought I’d speak to.

I applied to 43 internships, interviewed for 10, and turned down 3.

I created my own internship.

I got enough sleep.

I didn’t pull a single all nighter.

I’m became more mature, responsible and career-oriented than I ever thought possible.

I put my heart and soul into everything I took on.

I laughed and cried a lot.

I spoke my mind.

I was brave.

I let go of hate.

I started to trust again.

I watched someone perform for the very last time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vzAPFVI3y4&feature=share

Dave Plamondon of UConn was tragically killed a mere 2 days after performing in an a cappella invitational hosted by his group, A Minor, this past March. His 21st birthday was coming up just before mine this summer. I feel honored to have spent his last weekend with him, sharing in the beauty of music, friendship and our mutual love for the Boston Red Sox. Rest in Peace, Dave.

cutest thing i have ever read.

this picture is so beautiful to me.

“The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of a nation, is close to the center of a nation’s purpose — and is a test of the quality of a nation’s civilization.”

John F. Kennedy said it, man. For as long as I can remember, my community theatre, Riverside Theatre Works, has been my haven. Growing up, I was incredibly introverted, and finally discovered myself through the performing arts. I found my voice at Riverside, and I eventually wanted to go to graduate school for arts administration and work there as an adult, in order to share with others what made my childhood so special. That dream, however, has come to a shrieking halt. Things have really changed at Riverside, this year especially. Financial problems have severely hit us, and it’s heart wrenching to think that in another year, my childhood memories and future goals will be diminished to hazy recollections.

Marietta Phinney, founding director of Riverside, and second mother to me, has always been one of the most important people in my life. Yes- she is getting up there in years, and no- she’s not as able as she once was, but her rose-colored glasses for the theatre have never been removed over the past thirty-something odd years that she has been chasing her dream. She has always been living proof that if you work hard enough and never lose sight of your goal, that dreams really can come true. Our founding statement is one which has been drilled into my head since I was very young: “Only those who see the invisible can do the impossible” When I was growing up as a restless teenager in our old French’s Opera House location, I heard this phrase probably one hundred times a week…making it kind of lose meaning to me over the years. Now, however, this is the one phrase that I have to say every time I climb up the creaky stairs of our building.

Riverside may end up closing it’s doors at some point in the near future, but I’m trying my best, along with my fellow childhood performers to make sure that other young children are lucky enough to have the opportunities we had growing up. The theatre is an outlet unlike any other, and I have been blessed with amazing teachers at Riverside that have taught me lasting life lessons that I could have never learned in a classroom.

So, come see what Riverside can do for you. Take a class, take voice, piano or guitar lessons, come to shows, come to my fundraising cabaret on July 24th. Take a chance on seeing the invisible with us, as we try to do the impossible and keep our doors open for another thirty-something odd years.
www.rtwboston.org

“If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.”

This is a statement that I have never believed in more than I do today. This month, as I totally forgot until now, is basically the anniversary of the most upsetting and traumatic moments of my life. Most of my close friends know why- but it basically had to do with a past relationship and unnecessary complications that came from both ends. Though this rude awakening was not very well received in my world at the time, and I felt as though nothing would make me smile again, here I am- healed, happy and surprised how the worst experience of my short life has truly turned my life around for the better.

This year- more specifically, this spring semester at school as proven that I can overcome any obstacle life throws my way. I took my hardships and put them towards positive action! Last year, consumed with home and a one sided relationship, I never really took the time to appreciate Hofstra and all it had to offer.  I was home every other weekend, did not participate in any extra-curriculars and never went out like my fellow freshmen.  I was not having a college experience, and was blinded—unable to see why I could not love school like practically everyone else who surrounded me.  A reality check awaited me last May as I came home and experience the worst few months of my life, and realized that I had to put my best foot forward this year and get back on my feet— I needed to be the involved, upbeat and confident girl I had been in high school.

I decided to set forth to create my college experience. I started by auditioning for the best a cappella group on campus, was accepted and made some of the best friends I have ever had. The amount of talent and love in the room each and every rehearsal made me start to feel “alive” again. Going out and actually being with my friends was a large contributing factor to my year as well, and I learned to appreciate the amazing people I’m lucky enough to call my best friends. Along my sophomore year journey I made new friends, and lots of them! In every realm of people that exists on campus, and everywhere I went, I saw a familiar and friendly face. I got cast in the spring musical, became even more involved, and finally knew that Hofstra, a place I once detested, had been the place for me all along.

Now? I’m happy as ever. I have incredible friends at home and at school, an amazing boy who actually cares about me, good grades, music everywhere and a lot of things going for me. This has been a year of transformation, growth, maturity and love. I can only hope for the same as the next school year approaches. I used to count down the days until home, and now it’s the exact opposite— what an amazing feeling.

We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance. I fully prepare on taking advantage of mine.