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I was accepted to Boston University
as a vocal performance major,
so coming in my freshman year I
was really excited to be part of the School of Music.
When I did get here, it's a little tough though because you walk in
and there are 14 people and they're all gelling.
And when you don't necessarily fit in it's a little discouraging
and I was a little nervous that there was something wrong with me--
there felt like there was something different.
And I was very quick to discover that it was because,
while we were there to study classical music,
and that's what I really wanted,
there was still a huge part of me that loved
musical theater and acting and straight theater.
So, despite what I had planned out when I came here--
just being very concentrated in CFA--
the second week of my freshman year I auditioned for stage troupe.
That semester they were doing Disney's Beauty and the Beast for their Parent's Weekend musical
and they cast me as the opera singing wardrobe, Madam de la Grande Bouche.
And to this day it has probably been one of the most magical theater experiences of my
life.
The cast, that was made up mostly of juniors, made me feel so welcome.
And there was no age difference.
There was no 'you're a freshman, you need to earn your place;
we're juniors, we're seniors'--everyone was just equal.
That entire year they just kind of took me in and really became my second family.
They gave me the best freshman year that I could possibly ask for.
And ever since then, I've made it my purpose and my goal in college, not only to develop
as a singer in class,
but to give back to stage troupe as much as possible.
So my junior year I was the vice president and this year, my senior year, I was elected
the president of stage troupe.
And it's been my goal on the executive board to be that welcoming figure
that brings together the entire group,
and especially seeks out the freshmen
who I just want to have that experience that was given to me.
Nothing makes me feel better than when they come in and they look so nervous
and all they need is just a hug from an executive board member
and I feel like I can give that to them.
It is sad to leave stage troupe behind as a graduating senior,
but I'm lucky because once a troupie, always a troupie.
Even as an alum I'll continue on to be a part of this group.
It is a sad chapter to close,
but I'm excited to still be there in spirit in the audience.