Finding Confidence and Community in Drama
Finding Confidence and Community in Drama
By Hayden Bogdanovich, 10th Grader
Before Drama, I didn’t do much. I wasn’t into sports or school activities, and as a result, I spent a lot of my life feeling closed off. I didn’t have many friends, and I wasn’t sure where I belonged. But when I joined Drama, everything started to change. Slowly but surely, I began coming out of my shell. I started talking to more people, making friends, and discovering things I actually liked to do.
Drama helped me figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. It also taught me how to navigate social interactions and handle everyday challenges, especially in school. I had never been interested in sports or thought I was particularly skilled at anything, so finding something I enjoyed and was good at was a huge relief. Joining Drama felt like I’d finally found my place.
It’s funny, though—I don’t even remember exactly how I got involved at first. My friends brought me into it, and for a while, I didn’t realize I was officially “in” Drama until one of them reminded me. By then, we were starting to work on a play. Ironically, if one of my friends hadn’t gotten Covid, I might not have given Drama a real chance. That twist of fate kept me involved, and looking back, I’m so grateful it did.
One of my favorite experiences was our Christmas play. We all played elves, and I got to be Harold, a clueless janitor. I had the time of my life performing as Harold and making people laugh. Then, in high school, I got to participate in a Drama Festival. My classmate and I performed a duo scene, and to my amazement, we won my very first award! That moment was huge for me—it felt like I’d truly earned something, and I couldn’t have been prouder of myself.
When our group started doing Folklorico, I wasn’t thrilled at first. I didn’t think I’d be any good at it, and initially, I wasn’t. But with encouragement from my friends, my family, and Ms. Monarrez, I kept at it. Over time, I started improving, and eventually, I grew to enjoy it.
Looking back, Drama and Folklorico have completely changed my life. They’ve given me confidence, skills, and a community I never had before. For anyone who feels unsure of where they belong, I’d encourage you to take a chance and try something new. You never know—it might just change your life like it did mine.
