when I was younger I was very shy I would never talk in class or to
would never talk in class or to
would never talk in class or to strangers and giving a presentation like
strangers and giving a presentation like
strangers and giving a presentation like this one was one of my worst fears for
this one was one of my worst fears for
this one was one of my worst fears for example in my eighth grade history class
example in my eighth grade history class
example in my eighth grade history class I had to give a speech once and it was
I had to give a speech once and it was
I had to give a speech once and it was horrible
horrible
horrible I kept tripping over my words I was
I kept tripping over my words I was
I kept tripping over my words I was visibly shaking and I forgot nearly the
visibly shaking and I forgot nearly the
visibly shaking and I forgot nearly the entire thing now some are you are
entire thing now some are you are
entire thing now some are you are probably wondering what happened what
probably wondering what happened what
probably wondering what happened what could have possibly changed in just a
could have possibly changed in just a
could have possibly changed in just a few years that enables me to give this
few years that enables me to give this
few years that enables me to give this talk to you without majorly stressing
talk to you without majorly stressing
talk to you without majorly stressing out well that answer is actually really
out well that answer is actually really
out well that answer is actually really simple
simple
simple I joined drama though I had been scared
I joined drama though I had been scared
I joined drama though I had been scared to perform I had always been fascinated
to perform I had always been fascinated
to perform I had always been fascinated with acting in theatre and freshman year
with acting in theatre and freshman year
with acting in theatre and freshman year I joined drama and that’s what helped me
I joined drama and that’s what helped me
I joined drama and that’s what helped me become more confident now going and I’m
become more confident now going and I’m
become more confident now going and I’m not the only one who’s experienced this
not the only one who’s experienced this
not the only one who’s experienced this all of my theater friends would agree
all of my theater friends would agree
all of my theater friends would agree that drama and the arts gave them a
that drama and the arts gave them a
that drama and the arts gave them a place where they belonged and help them
place where they belonged and help them
place where they belonged and help them develop self-confidence now my drama
develop self-confidence now my drama
develop self-confidence now my drama class really helped me develop my
class really helped me develop my
class really helped me develop my confidence because I went from being
confidence because I went from being
confidence because I went from being barely able to introduce myself to the
barely able to introduce myself to the
barely able to introduce myself to the class at the beginning of the year to
class at the beginning of the year to
class at the beginning of the year to reciting three monologues perfectly at
reciting three monologues perfectly at
reciting three monologues perfectly at the end now last year I decided to
the end now last year I decided to
the end now last year I decided to audition for a play just for fun because
audition for a play just for fun because
audition for a play just for fun because I miss performing I didn’t think I would
I miss performing I didn’t think I would
I miss performing I didn’t think I would actually get in but I did the rehearsal
actually get in but I did the rehearsal
actually get in but I did the rehearsal process was a lot of fun and I really
process was a lot of fun and I really
process was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it but although I hit it really
enjoyed it but although I hit it really
enjoyed it but although I hit it really well I was actually really nervous
well I was actually really nervous
well I was actually really nervous before every rehearsal which is
before every rehearsal which is
before every rehearsal which is understandable because it was my first
understandable because it was my first
understandable because it was my first play I wanted to impress all my cast
play I wanted to impress all my cast
play I wanted to impress all my cast mates and just didn’t want to let them
mates and just didn’t want to let them
mates and just didn’t want to let them down but as time drew on and the play
down but as time drew on and the play
down but as time drew on and the play came closer I became more confident in
came closer I became more confident in
came closer I became more confident in my abilities and lots of people feel
my abilities and lots of people feel
my abilities and lots of people feel this way because the American Alliance
this way because the American Alliance
this way because the American Alliance for theater and Education
for theater and Education
for theater and Education found that the act of performing can
found that the act of performing can
found that the act of performing can help students and youth recognize their
help students and youth recognize their
help students and youth recognize their potential for success and improve their
potential for success and improve their
potential for success and improve their confidence so by the time the play came
confidence so by the time the play came
confidence so by the time the play came I wasn’t nervous at all even for the
I wasn’t nervous at all even for the
I wasn’t nervous at all even for the actual performances I love the entire
actual performances I love the entire
actual performances I love the entire experience of performing so I was
experience of performing so I was
experience of performing so I was alarmed when I was on the internet one
alarmed when I was on the internet one
alarmed when I was on the internet one day as I usually am not a surprise there
day as I usually am not a surprise there
day as I usually am not a surprise there but I read that fun
but I read that fun
but I read that fun having cut in more than 80% of school
having cut in more than 80% of school
having cut in more than 80% of school districts since 2008 and usually the the
districts since 2008 and usually the the
districts since 2008 and usually the the first programs to go or the arts now
first programs to go or the arts now
first programs to go or the arts now this really disappointed me because to
this really disappointed me because to
this really disappointed me because to me personally the arts were the best
me personally the arts were the best
me personally the arts were the best part of school and it turns out that
part of school and it turns out that
part of school and it turns out that lots of people actually agreed with me
lots of people actually agreed with me
lots of people actually agreed with me 93% of Americans feel that the arts are
93% of Americans feel that the arts are
93% of Americans feel that the arts are essential to a well-rounded education
essential to a well-rounded education
essential to a well-rounded education and 79 percent feel that the arts should
and 79 percent feel that the arts should
and 79 percent feel that the arts should be a priority in education reform now if
be a priority in education reform now if
be a priority in education reform now if a poll like this we’re taking a day
a poll like this we’re taking a day
a poll like this we’re taking a day I bet the numbers would be even higher
I bet the numbers would be even higher
I bet the numbers would be even higher thanks to new Broadway musical Hamilton
thanks to new Broadway musical Hamilton
thanks to new Broadway musical Hamilton that’s taking the world by storm
that’s taking the world by storm
that’s taking the world by storm Hamilton is about the life of one of
Hamilton is about the life of one of
Hamilton is about the life of one of America’s founding fathers Alexander
America’s founding fathers Alexander
America’s founding fathers Alexander Hamilton and it is completely sunk
Hamilton and it is completely sunk
Hamilton and it is completely sunk through meaning there’s no dialogue no
through meaning there’s no dialogue no
through meaning there’s no dialogue no talking just music more specifically rap
talking just music more specifically rap
talking just music more specifically rap and hip hop music now this might sound a
and hip hop music now this might sound a
and hip hop music now this might sound a little strange but it is a work of
little strange but it is a work of
little strange but it is a work of absolute genius and I love it
absolute genius and I love it
absolute genius and I love it celebrities ranging from former
celebrities ranging from former
celebrities ranging from former President Obama to Meryl Streep to
President Obama to Meryl Streep to
President Obama to Meryl Streep to Beyonce
Beyonce
Beyonce have all seen this show one of the best
have all seen this show one of the best
have all seen this show one of the best things about it though is yes it’s very
things about it though is yes it’s very
things about it though is yes it’s very entertaining but it’s also really
entertaining but it’s also really
entertaining but it’s also really educational and the writer and star
educational and the writer and star
educational and the writer and star lin-manuel Miranda has taken it upon
lin-manuel Miranda has taken it upon
lin-manuel Miranda has taken it upon himself to start a program which he
himself to start a program which he
himself to start a program which he refers to on Twitter as hashtag edu ham
refers to on Twitter as hashtag edu ham
refers to on Twitter as hashtag edu ham which is going to give over 100,000
which is going to give over 100,000
which is going to give over 100,000 students across the nation the chance to
students across the nation the chance to
students across the nation the chance to attend special interactive matinee
attend special interactive matinee
attend special interactive matinee performances of Hamilton for just $10 a
performances of Hamilton for just $10 a
performances of Hamilton for just $10 a ticket now let’s put this in perspective
ticket now let’s put this in perspective
ticket now let’s put this in perspective on Broadway premium seats for Hamilton
on Broadway premium seats for Hamilton
on Broadway premium seats for Hamilton are about eight hundred forty nine
are about eight hundred forty nine
are about eight hundred forty nine dollars per person so these kids are
dollars per person so these kids are
dollars per person so these kids are getting a real bargain and it’s so great
getting a real bargain and it’s so great
getting a real bargain and it’s so great that the producers and performers are
that the producers and performers are
that the producers and performers are willing to give these students the
willing to give these students the
willing to give these students the chance to visit the theater and gain
chance to visit the theater and gain
chance to visit the theater and gain education because there are so many
education because there are so many
education because there are so many benefits from just seeing like theater
benefits from just seeing like theater
benefits from just seeing like theater so naturally students who know about
so naturally students who know about
so naturally students who know about Hamilton have an advantage in history
Hamilton have an advantage in history
Hamilton have an advantage in history but it turns out that lots of theater
but it turns out that lots of theater
but it turns out that lots of theater kids actually have an advantage in all
kids actually have an advantage in all
kids actually have an advantage in all subjects when you sign up for the SAT
subjects when you sign up for the SAT
subjects when you sign up for the SAT the College Board asks you a few
the College Board asks you a few
the College Board asks you a few questions about your extracurriculars
questions about your extracurriculars
questions about your extracurriculars for example if you’re a part of a sports
for example if you’re a part of a sports
for example if you’re a part of a sports team or plan
team or plan
team or plan but apparently the college board doesn’t
but apparently the college board doesn’t
but apparently the college board doesn’t have a lot to do so one day they decided
have a lot to do so one day they decided
have a lot to do so one day they decided to see how our students did on the SAT
to see how our students did on the SAT
to see how our students did on the SAT against students who were a part of the
against students who were a part of the
against students who were a part of the Arts and the results are actually kind
Arts and the results are actually kind
Arts and the results are actually kind of surprising on the 2005 SAT students
of surprising on the 2005 SAT students
of surprising on the 2005 SAT students who were involved in the arts did an
who were involved in the arts did an
who were involved in the arts did an average did better by an average of 65
average did better by an average of 65
average did better by an average of 65 points on the verbal component which is
points on the verbal component which is
points on the verbal component which is the reading and writing and 34 points on
the reading and writing and 34 points on
the reading and writing and 34 points on the math component better than students
the math component better than students
the math component better than students who were involved in the arts so this
who were involved in the arts so this
who were involved in the arts so this doesn’t mean that if you do the arts you
doesn’t mean that if you do the arts you
doesn’t mean that if you do the arts you Leiby come a genius even though I wish
Leiby come a genius even though I wish
Leiby come a genius even though I wish this were true but it shows that there
this were true but it shows that there
this were true but it shows that there might be a correlation between all the
might be a correlation between all the
might be a correlation between all the dedication and hard work it takes to put
dedication and hard work it takes to put
dedication and hard work it takes to put on a concert or production and all the
on a concert or production and all the
on a concert or production and all the dedication and hard work that it takes
dedication and hard work that it takes
dedication and hard work that it takes to do well in school and there are
to do well in school and there are
to do well in school and there are actually a lot of studies that show how
actually a lot of studies that show how
actually a lot of studies that show how the arts can help improve grades for
the arts can help improve grades for
the arts can help improve grades for examples a series of studies on the arts
examples a series of studies on the arts
examples a series of studies on the arts and education revealed a consistent link
and education revealed a consistent link
and education revealed a consistent link between performing text in the classroom
between performing text in the classroom
between performing text in the classroom and the improvement of verbal skills
and the improvement of verbal skills
and the improvement of verbal skills including significant increases in story
including significant increases in story
including significant increases in story recall and understanding written
recall and understanding written
recall and understanding written material they also found that drama can
material they also found that drama can
material they also found that drama can help improve reading skills and
help improve reading skills and
help improve reading skills and comprehension better than other
comprehension better than other
comprehension better than other activities I know there’s a lot of
activities I know there’s a lot of
activities I know there’s a lot of information I just threw at you so don’t
information I just threw at you so don’t
information I just threw at you so don’t worry the rest of this is going to be
worry the rest of this is going to be
worry the rest of this is going to be pretty narrative because I personally
pretty narrative because I personally
pretty narrative because I personally definitely definitely learned a lot from
definitely definitely learned a lot from
definitely definitely learned a lot from theater like when I first got into
theater like when I first got into
theater like when I first got into lemurs Rob it’s still my all-time
lemurs Rob it’s still my all-time
lemurs Rob it’s still my all-time favorite musical and I’m obsessed with
favorite musical and I’m obsessed with
favorite musical and I’m obsessed with it it’s pretty famous you probably heard
it it’s pretty famous you probably heard
it it’s pretty famous you probably heard some songs from it like I dream dream on
some songs from it like I dream dream on
some songs from it like I dream dream on my own it’s really good stuff I read
my own it’s really good stuff I read
my own it’s really good stuff I read part of the book I researched the
part of the book I researched the
part of the book I researched the rebellion and just did you know whatever
rebellion and just did you know whatever
rebellion and just did you know whatever any normal person would do and I got
any normal person would do and I got
any normal person would do and I got really into it my English final freshman
really into it my English final freshman
really into it my English final freshman year was actually a presentation on lame
year was actually a presentation on lame
year was actually a presentation on lame is and it seems it was pretty much the
is and it seems it was pretty much the
is and it seems it was pretty much the first and only time I’ve ever been
first and only time I’ve ever been
first and only time I’ve ever been excited for a final I doubt that’ll
excited for a final I doubt that’ll
excited for a final I doubt that’ll happen in the future
happen in the future
happen in the future now this year I was also part of a
now this year I was also part of a
now this year I was also part of a musical called Joseph and the Amazing
musical called Joseph and the Amazing
musical called Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat you all probably
Technicolor Dreamcoat you all probably
Technicolor Dreamcoat you all probably haven’t heard of that one but you might
haven’t heard of that one but you might
haven’t heard of that one but you might have heard of the composer his name’s
have heard of the composer his name’s
have heard of the composer his name’s Andrew Lloyd Webber hero
Andrew Lloyd Webber hero
Andrew Lloyd Webber hero famous musicals such as Phantom of the
famous musicals such as Phantom of the
famous musicals such as Phantom of the Opera cats Sunset Boulevard which are
Opera cats Sunset Boulevard which are
Opera cats Sunset Boulevard which are all on Broadway right now by the way but
all on Broadway right now by the way but
all on Broadway right now by the way but this particular musical is based off a
this particular musical is based off a
this particular musical is based off a Bible story so after I heard about it I
Bible story so after I heard about it I
Bible story so after I heard about it I decided to read the story and research
decided to read the story and research
decided to read the story and research it just so I knew a little bit about
it just so I knew a little bit about
it just so I knew a little bit about what’s going on which was a great
what’s going on which was a great
what’s going on which was a great learning experience but the whole
learning experience but the whole
learning experience but the whole musical gave me a way to interact with
musical gave me a way to interact with
musical gave me a way to interact with the community and helped me meet more
the community and helped me meet more
the community and helped me meet more people including some people who I call
people including some people who I call
people including some people who I call my closest friends so the arts and
my closest friends so the arts and
my closest friends so the arts and theatre are so important because they
theatre are so important because they
theatre are so important because they can help student self-esteem and just
can help student self-esteem and just
can help student self-esteem and just give them a place where they feel like
give them a place where they feel like
give them a place where they feel like they belong now I want to do more
they belong now I want to do more
they belong now I want to do more placing musicals because my personal
placing musicals because my personal
placing musicals because my personal experience doing theater was so much fun
experience doing theater was so much fun
experience doing theater was so much fun and actually gave me a reason to want to
and actually gave me a reason to want to
and actually gave me a reason to want to be at school so naturally students who
be at school so naturally students who
be at school so naturally students who participate in the arts are three times
participate in the arts are three times
participate in the arts are three times more likely to win an award for
more likely to win an award for
more likely to win an award for attendance than those who don’t
attendance than those who don’t
attendance than those who don’t so instead of just focusing on math and
so instead of just focusing on math and
so instead of just focusing on math and science and grades schools should focus
science and grades schools should focus
science and grades schools should focus on giving students a sense of purpose
on giving students a sense of purpose
on giving students a sense of purpose and helping them feel like they belong
and helping them feel like they belong
and helping them feel like they belong it’s great the schools really focus on
it’s great the schools really focus on
it’s great the schools really focus on this with sports but by cutting the arts
this with sports but by cutting the arts
this with sports but by cutting the arts budgets they’re taking this opportunity
budgets they’re taking this opportunity
budgets they’re taking this opportunity away from their students so next year go
away from their students so next year go
away from their students so next year go out and start playing an instrument join
out and start playing an instrument join
out and start playing an instrument join a drama class take dance classes just do
a drama class take dance classes just do
a drama class take dance classes just do whatever you’ve been wanting to do that
whatever you’ve been wanting to do that
whatever you’ve been wanting to do that you think will make you happy let me
you think will make you happy let me
you think will make you happy let me tell you now that you won’t regret it
tell you now that you won’t regret it
tell you now that you won’t regret it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment