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Arts Connect 2016 High School Senior Scholarship AwardStudents graduating from High School this year who had plans to continue onto college and pursue a career in The Arts were invited to submit a short (300-500 word) essay on the topic:
"What the Arts mean to me and their significance in my life". Submissions were judged anonymously by a panel of three and the vote was unanimous to award this year's Arts Connect High School Senior Scholarship Fund to Jarod Frank for his personal testimony. Congratulations Jarod! |
Jarod's winning essay: |
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"When I was younger, my speech therapist predicted I would never get over my constant slurring, stuttering, and general inability to form a sentence. In fact at age 3, and still not speaking more than a few barely understandable words, one therapist told my mother I may never speak.
Boy was she wrong; now people can’t get me to shut up! But medical issues aside, I may never have become the confident kid I am now without the Arts. I can attribute many of my best qualities to the lessons I learned at SCAPA and to the astonishing teachers and students there. I have learned to stop fearing being seen, and now actively and eagerly perform to massive crowds; making them laugh, and performing with various theatre programs in the community as well. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve discovered my love for the narrative process, which has led me truly to believe I can make a career out of storytelling. I will attend Ringling College of Art & Design in the Fall, studying character design for film and video games.
During my first few days at SCAPA I made an effort to blend in, to not be noticed as an individual, but just one in the crowd. I was afraid of what might happen if people got to know the real me, the one with the freaky laugh, the one who couldn’t tell you who Justin Bieber was, or anything about sports, but knew EVERYTHING about Spiderman; the one who debated whether Jean Valjean or Javert from Les Miserable was his favorite character.
This had become my expectation from previously attending a “normal” public school. But thankfully, a “weirdo” like me seemed to be the perfect fit for a place like SCAPA.
Throughout my fourth grade year I met many “wonderfully weird” students, teachers, and some of the most genuinely caring individuals I’ve ever had the good fortune of meeting. I met my “Drama Mama,” Miss Lab, and started doing musicals; loving being able to receive applause rather than ridicule for my enthusiastic performances. I joined the school’s legendarily successful speech team and found even more bright minds to pick. Ms. Randolph especially throughout the years served as a second mother of sorts, being at first my favorite teacher, then my favorite coach, and then a valued and respected principal; who also showed real affection and interest in my personal life and struggles.
Ms. Randolph, Miss Lab, and the rest of the souls I met at SCAPA gave me a real caring place to call my home away from home, and I spend many a night at the school rehearsing for plays or practicing for speech team. The Arts have helped me discover a whole other side of myself that I am now not afraid to show to anyone who will watch. I dread to think of the kind of school experience I would have had without this safe haven. Thank you SCAPA for giving me my childhood."
Boy was she wrong; now people can’t get me to shut up! But medical issues aside, I may never have become the confident kid I am now without the Arts. I can attribute many of my best qualities to the lessons I learned at SCAPA and to the astonishing teachers and students there. I have learned to stop fearing being seen, and now actively and eagerly perform to massive crowds; making them laugh, and performing with various theatre programs in the community as well. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve discovered my love for the narrative process, which has led me truly to believe I can make a career out of storytelling. I will attend Ringling College of Art & Design in the Fall, studying character design for film and video games.
During my first few days at SCAPA I made an effort to blend in, to not be noticed as an individual, but just one in the crowd. I was afraid of what might happen if people got to know the real me, the one with the freaky laugh, the one who couldn’t tell you who Justin Bieber was, or anything about sports, but knew EVERYTHING about Spiderman; the one who debated whether Jean Valjean or Javert from Les Miserable was his favorite character.
This had become my expectation from previously attending a “normal” public school. But thankfully, a “weirdo” like me seemed to be the perfect fit for a place like SCAPA.
Throughout my fourth grade year I met many “wonderfully weird” students, teachers, and some of the most genuinely caring individuals I’ve ever had the good fortune of meeting. I met my “Drama Mama,” Miss Lab, and started doing musicals; loving being able to receive applause rather than ridicule for my enthusiastic performances. I joined the school’s legendarily successful speech team and found even more bright minds to pick. Ms. Randolph especially throughout the years served as a second mother of sorts, being at first my favorite teacher, then my favorite coach, and then a valued and respected principal; who also showed real affection and interest in my personal life and struggles.
Ms. Randolph, Miss Lab, and the rest of the souls I met at SCAPA gave me a real caring place to call my home away from home, and I spend many a night at the school rehearsing for plays or practicing for speech team. The Arts have helped me discover a whole other side of myself that I am now not afraid to show to anyone who will watch. I dread to think of the kind of school experience I would have had without this safe haven. Thank you SCAPA for giving me my childhood."
