High school is a trying time for any teenager. Tests, expectations and plans for the future are all heavy burdens in their growing minds, and I was no exception to this rule. In high school, I began to crave constructive activities to fill my time. I was a part of the school's choir class from the very beginning (which in itself was a rewarding a fruitful experience), but I craved more after-school activity and further means of self expression. That is when I stumbled upon theater. Towards the end of my freshman year, I took the opportunity to perform in the school's musical; from then on I was hooked on theater like a drug. Later, I decided to take theater classes, and I discovered an entire new world of artistic expression through acting. In my time as a high school actor, I picked up many skills, and I learned a great deal of life lessons, too. This is what I learned from high school theater.

1. I learned to trust people.

In the theater, I learned that I must trust my fellow actors from the first day of rehearsals, to the first curtain call, and to the last bow. Putting my trust in my fellow cast members meant that I had faith in them, and that I could be certain that they will perform their best; not just for their sake, but for the whole show's sake.

2. I learned to think quickly.

Mishaps on the stage can always happen, and I know that I had my fair share of flukes myself. That's why I needed to learn how to make quick improvises. I took part in several exercises in theater classes that sharpened my mind, and helped with quick thinking. I learned to think on the go, and be ready for anything that happens on show night.

3. I learned how to get creative with my part.

I also developed a stronger creative mindset for my roles. I learned how to incorporate my ideas into my characters, and understand them on an analytical level. I was also lucky enough to be a part of a group where our director was always keen on involving our ideas into the show. So, I was always able to exercise creative thinking throughout all aspects of the show. The creative mindset I developed became a good asset to me not just in theater, but in other areas of life as well.

4. I learned to step out of my comfort zone.

Being under those lights and in front of the audience can be daunting. I had to practice my performance abilities and become more comfortable with people watching me perform. While I was used to performing in front of crowds in a choir, I was not used to having people watch me specifically while delivering a line. But, I did master acting in front of the crowds and communicating my lines to them properly. While it was scary at first, I did manage to get out of my comfort zone.

5. I learned how to properly speak.

I definitely had to improve my speaking abilities in order to deliver lines clearly. I learned to speak louder, and clearly pronounce words correctly. No longer would I mumble or have trouble speaking eloquent words. I can say without a doubt that acting gave me better speech, and also better delivery of said speech.

6. I learned better social skills.

I certainly met many people in my time in theater. Some still remain good friends of mine. In all that time, I certainly became more sociable around the diverse group of people I met in theater. I learned to become more comfortable with people, and work well with them in order to produce a good show.

7. I learned dedication.

It became clear to me that a good show was not going to come into place by mediocre efforts. If the show was to run smoothly and entertain the audience, we all had to put effort and long hours into our roles. Many times, this meant staying very late after school to run scenes continuously until they were perfect. It also meant coming in on the weekends to put effort in not only our acting, but in our set and costume. Producing a show takes so much work, and I learned to do my fair share and stick with it until the end. I truly learned what it meant to be dedicated to something, and make sure I did my best.

8. I learned that it is okay to make mistakes.

No matter how hard you may work at something, you will probably make a mistake here and there. I know that I have made several mistakes on stage (as previously mentioned in #2). While I learned to fix my mistakes on the go on during a scene, I also had to learn to accept those mistakes after I left the stage. Then, I had to learn from them to make sure I did better next time. No one is perfect at something every time they do it, and that's okay.

9. I learned to take criticism.

When you go up on the stage to act, you will certainly receive positive or negative criticism from both your director and fellow cast. Whether it is positive or negative, you have to accept it. I learned that criticism is beneficial. It will help you improve and keep you productive on your part.

10. I learned that hard work pays off.

Then, after all is said and done, and you give your last bow; you feel a sense of great accomplishment for the show you just performed. The sound of applause rings through your ears as sounds of victory, and it feels pretty great to have entertained an audience. All the hard work my cast and I put in our shows yielded us such great applause, and made all of the stress, tears, and hard work worth it. It is certainly a magical feeling, and it is one that I can still feel in my memories as a high school actor.

11. I learned to smile and laugh more.

I had a lot of fun between the rehearsals, backstage cues, and performances. And one thing that I certainly treasure from all that fun is all the laughter and happiness it gave me. I made some really good friends from theater, and I had many good times, Theater was my way of hanging out with many friends in school. So, because of that, I got the opportunity to loosen my personality up a bit and have fun and meet new people. I learned to laugh a lot more, and have fun whenever I can.

Theater was certainly an outlet for me in high school, and it helped make me the person I am today. But, the funny thing is, all of these things I learned in theater can be applied to real life. Yes, theater gave me real life skills that I will always carry with me. I am grateful to have had theater in my life, and I wish I could do it all over again.