By: Mikayla Paul

I originally started in theatre with my high school. When our auditorium was being renovated in my sophomore year, I became curious of what was going on within its walls. By chance, I ran into the incoming auditorium manager and he gave me a tour of what was going to be in the auditorium. I was the only student at the school that was allowed on the construction site after that. I watched as our auditorium was torn down and rebuilt into what it is today. I then was asked by the manager if I wanted to help hang the lights and work with the rigging.

From that point on I was in the auditorium as much as I possibly could. Study halls, lunch, after school, and sometimes even during class when I was allowed.

During my junior and senior years, I became the right hand of the auditorium manager. Some even called me the Student Auditorium Manager. During those years I found a new home and I fell in love with theatre. I was apart of several different productions as well as meetings and different small events held in the auditorium. I would say my favorite production that I was a part of was in the fall of my senior year. It was Disney's "The Little Mermaid." I worked sound for the production. It was certainly a spectacle to behold.

Although my senior year was cut short because of Covid-19 I certainly miss being able to be in the auditorium. That brings us to where I am now. My auditorium manager was a mentor and a friend. He bought me a year membership to USITT as a graduation gift.

My next steps are going to college. I will be going to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to pursue a double major for music and theatre arts. Right now I plan on being a director or a pit conductor. I will decide that in the next few years while I am in college.

With the membership, I am learning while I am away from the theatres. That is certainly more than I expected from this summer.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If any fellow Gophers alumni read this, reach out! I could use all of the advice that I can get.