AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

I got a lot of support from family and friends.Suport from My family and friends

This decision was important, and I got a lot of help from my family and friends.

They didn't need to stay up late at night with me, losing sleep over a choice this big. They just needed to be there for me in the morning and throughout the day to help.

And I knew they would support me no matter which way I would decide go. They didn't force me to do one thing or another.

My mom, dad, and older sister give me great ideas to help me make what felt like a terrifying decision. They're the ones who told me to make a pro/con list for both softball and theater. It was the most useful tool of all in making my decision.

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Pros and Cons: Theater

Pros:

• It is easier to keep my friends from theater throughout the school year, because we produce two events every year.
• You get to travel to other schools for One Act competitions.
• Thinking about my future, I plan to be involved with theater throughout and after college.
• My heart is more into acting. I enjoy it more.

Two Events

We produce two events every year:

• "One Act" in the fall, which is a competitive event involving just a one act play
• "A Musical or Play" in the spring

 There is only a short break of time between these two events so we're all hanging out together after school for most of the school year.

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Cons:

• Rehearsals are every day of the week.
• It's nerve-racking trying to learn your lines and then perform them on the stage.
• I'll have to figure out how to incorporate exercise into my lifestyle to remain healthy.
• There are only one or two performances vs. many softball games.

That last bullet point from the theater "pros" list gets to the crux of my decision.

I Love Theater

My family came out to support me

Now that I've written down everything I feel about softball and theater, guess what?

I decide to audition for the play. My friends are happy I've chosen theater. Now I can spend more time with them, because the majority of them are in the play.

My Family

Right to left: My sister Nichole, me, and her boyfriend Thomas

My family members are supportive because they know I put a lot of thought into it.

CloseLuckily, my choice had a positive outcome. I didn't get a large part in the play, but I did have a role with a name and I'm thrilled to have been in it at all. I made a lot of new friends that I wouldn't have even known.

I'm not as close with some of my friends from softball, but we remain friends. I still support them during softball season and even still throw the ball around sometimes! 

My Friends

My friends, both from softball and the play, have a higher respect for me because they know I had to go through a tough time making the decision.

Close I've also gained experience in the world of theater just from being in one play. World of Theater

I plan on continuing in theater as long as I can, I hope through high school and college.

Even if I don't continue to be a performer in theater, I will always be involved in it; whether through helping the crew on set, doing makeup, or even just attending plays and musicals.

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The cast of the play!The Cast of the Play
This is the entire cast.

The play was called "Is He Dead?" and it's based on a painter who realizes the only way he can make money from selling his paintings is if he's dead.

He fakes his death and pretends to be his sister to reap the benefits of the fame. Chaos ensues as his lies become more complicated in this Mark Twain comedy.

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Postscript

Having to choose being two things I really love has helped me understand myself better. I recognize where I want to be in the future—involved in theater—and I'm more confident about making decisions.

I wouldn't have been able to make a good choice if my family and friends hadn't been there to help me through it. I am proud of the choice I made and am taking it one step at a time from here!

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