Thanking the Thespians
I want to start off by thanking every professor here. You have all taught me so much and taken such good care of me. You’re all getting lengthy heartfelt letters from me, so I’d like to take the time to thank several students specifically. I’d like to thank John Marshall, Jess, and Saul for teaching me to work my ass off. Aldrin, Tyler, and Johnny for reminding me to laugh and be silly. Cameron, Bella, and Trevor for being some of my favorite humans. Allison, Kim, and Jennifer for being the best partners to work with. Lizzy and Kal for being the most authentic, kind people, and Clea for being my partner in crime. Callie, Leah, Nora, Ana, Itzel, and anyone else who has stepped foot in the Wesley. Noelle and Edith for being the best officers and even better friends. And of course, Gavin, for being an incredible supporter and partner. I’d also like to thank each and every member of Flight 12, all of the BFA actors, most of the BAs, and a handful of the MTs.
Now, for some of my highly sought-after personal advice.
What I lack in raw talent I will always make up for in hard work and dedication. Be the most hard working person in the room and opportunities will follow.
Complain less and practice gratitude. It is an incredible privilege to be pursuing artistry and attending college in the first place.
Your life does not have to look like everyone else’s. Enjoy college now, there will always be outside shows to audition for, but school is temporary.
Find people, passions, and rest outside of the theatre world. You are not just an artist, you’re a complex human being.
Be extremely empathetic. When my life was falling apart and back into a new place, people like T’nyah and Claire constantly checked in on me and it made a massive difference.
Finally, I would like to present a call to action for the department. I believe our student organizations need more support and recognition, especially BTS. I admire every individual that is a part of their officers team. I would also love to see more representation for the women in this department, as well as aspiring directors. More student-run opportunities like Theatre For Change are extremely important to our students.
I have appreciated and valued my time here at UTA. I hope this program continues to grow and that this community of supportive, incredible people never ceases to spread love, joy, and advocacy. Faith Beene, out.
