Personal Statement

Sample Personal Statement
(EXCERPT)

I am suddenly reminded of one of my favorite childhood books, which almost certainly had a profound impact on how I view the world now: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney.  An extremely inspiring story, it is about Miss Rumphius as she lives her life by the philosophy that her grandfather taught her as a very little girl –  that she must do three things in her life: travel to far away places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful.  I intuitively loved the moral of this story, but never knew exactly what to make of it as a child.  However, now that I am older (and sometimes experience and growth is the only way to learn certain lessons) I am understanding better how to incorporate this philosophy into my own outlook on life.

Although I used to be overwhelmed at the prospect of choosing one path for myself, I have realized that being an actor in no way needs to limit my participation in the theater realm, and I am allowing myself to explore the other opportunities I have, and really evaluate what I want from life and what inspires me.  I may want to be a performer, but I also want to be an educator.  I also want to be a scholar.  I want to cultivate the most comprehensive knowledge of performance through time, culture, and medium.  I want to support others who share my goals.  I want to offer others the opportunities to experience the beauty that I have.  I want to bridge cultures.