#22: Dreams Don’t Die

Tuesday 7/30/24

I tend to not really care about sports - I’m far too emotional to watch people lose constantly. It genuinely makes me sad (i know, big cancer energy). But I’ll watch some of the Olympic events. Preferably the ones where they get scores and not games if that makes sense. Games you watch dreams die right in front of your eyes lol. 

Watching these events at night and coaching college auditions during the day is a crazy experience. I’m dealing with students and parents every day as the season picks up and it is emotional, stressful, and generally wild at this time.

Something that I love… absolutely LOVE… is the little clips of backstory we get. Stories about injuries, loss of parents, moving countries and not speaking the language… they get me every time. It makes me think about how so much of what motivates people to greatness is their “WHY”. 

Don’t worry, i’m not about to make a comparison to being an Olympian to auditioning for musical theatre college. That is not coming lol. I promise. 

But, WHY is a question I find myself asking my students and parents all the time. WHY this school? WHY is this character speaking? WHY didnt you do this (haha)? WHY this song? WHY is so powerful because it is curious. I truly believe that great actors are great observers. Observers seek out information because they are curious. They want to understand the human spirit. They want to understand why people do what they do (notice how i said DO and not FEEL). 

When we really understand WHY we can get to the result. Why determines how which determines what. Why I want to be an actor can’t be “because I want to be an actor” - being an actor is a result. My why, what gets me out of bed in the morning is because I believe that I have the ability to help create a more empathetic world. I do that by helping to shape young minds in the arts. I help shape those young minds through teaching acting and voice. I don’t view my job as teaching acting/college prep. I see my job as helping to create a more empathetic world. 

I also watch these Olympics and love watching the parents. Parents out there - watch them. I guarantee you that these parents have supported their kids passions/skills/gifts with that kind of enthusiasm at every level. Those bad dance recitals, the questionable high school musicals, the living room performances of Les Miz… every step in someones journey is worthy of praise… high praise… and also respect. 

Dreams Don’t Die

Julie