Throughout my life, I have spent a considerable ammount of time lurking in dark, forgotten corners of America's social society, biding my time and waiting quietly for my chance to fit in. I was always the wierd, reclusive kid that hung out with stoners and had a generally disfunctional family, but still managed to read eight-hndred page books in less than a week. I even tried to be "popular", but I could never manage to talk to people without sticking my foot in my mouth. One of my problems was my blatant honesty. If people asked me what I thought, I just told them, and they would look at me strangely and back away. I also had an inferiority complex, which still occasionally gets in the way, but I've beaten it pretty much to death.

Finally, at the ripe old age of sixteen, I have found someting that makes me happy. I am enthusiastic on this subject and will talk about it for hours if no one tells me to stop. This is something that I can do for the rest of my life, either as a hobby or as a proffession. It always changes, and I work with a variety of different people depending on where and when I am working.

At the beginning of my Junior year in high school, I took a technical theatre class. Within the first ten minutes, I was hooked. I immediately started asking my teacher what I could do for the upcoming production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. He suggested that I talk to the Stage Manager, and I ended up timidly accepting the position of Assistant Stage Manager. I was terrified. I didn't know if people would accept me, what I would have to do, what would happen to me if I messed up, etc. Within the first three days, I was confident and happy in my work, doing all that I was supposed to do, and even learning other little technical tidbits along the way. I had found something that I loved, something that I was good at besides playing the guitar and reading. I had found my place.

I'm currently involved in a production of Beau Jest at St. George Musical Theater. It is the first show I have worked on outside of school, and I was worried when I first started working there that I wouldn't have anything to do and that everyone would hate me (there's that inferiority complex again), but it's wonderful. I'm working with some wonderful people, some of them very accomplished actors and technicians, and I'm loving every moment of it.

This is where I belong.