I’ve been doing theater since the third grade and it really excites me every time. Over the years I have learnt about drama as a subject as well as theater to be specific, for instance what kind of theater art forms are performed, how many artforms are performed locally as well as globally etc. Arts special also helped me to figure out my career options in general and also universities for the same. Getting to know my potential better and my peers’ potential too in order for us to know what we can do better. Recently, we even went to Shimla to perform our play on a national platform in which we even got a first prize for the best experimental play. This experience was a very big opportunity for me to meet different actors, different directors and crew members who were more experienced in the field than we were. 

LO1- Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth 

Since I started performing I knew that my strength was acting in front of the audience and that I could take this forward as my passion as well. Moreover, I have played various roles and it helped me to become more observant and expressive in order to adapt to any role given to me. With the feedback and reviews I got from my audience, teachers, mentors, supervisors etc I was able to improve and develop my skills in certain areas, which resulted in better performance than the previous one. Having a proper reaction to every action that other actors are doing enhances the process of improvement. 

LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills 

In every term, we had a new script to perform at Kalakriti, Tarang and other events organized by the school. With different scripts came different challenges, in order to understand the context of the script, story, emotions, and most importantly the character given to me. In order to adapt to a certain character I had to research and observe my surroundings so that I could gauge the characteristics of my character. In early practices and rehearsals there were many difficulties I faced to perform the character because it was totally new for me. However, it took a good amount of time to finally play the character accurately so that it is pleasing for the audience and they are able to understand what the script is trying to convey. The following was demonstrated when we performed in front of the senior school teacher in the school, after the performance we got feedback as well as praise from the audience. That’s when I knew that I am successfully able to perform my character in front of the audience. 

LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience 

Since the beginning of this experience I was determined and committed to not only complete it but also achieve something out of it. Therefore, in between when I thought that I no longer want to continue AS at the back of my mind I was sure that I am going to achieve something out of it if I work harder. Hence, I kept putting efforts into my character development and understanding the script, taking all the feedback given to me positively and making changes accordingly. And hence, when we finally got the opportunity to perform our play on the national platform in Shimla, I was thrilled. And when we performed our play in Gaiti theater all our efforts and hardwork reflected, resulting in winning the first prize. 

All in all, I was very grateful for this experience overall and that all the persistence and dedication paid off. This experience checks the boxes of creativity and activity and provides me the platform to express my passion in front of the world.  

LO5 – Demonstrate skills and and benefits of working collaboratively

Skills that I demonstrated in this experience were communication skills, social skills, time management, being able to work collaboratively with my subordinates. At first, memorizing lines, mastering stage presence, and projecting my voice felt overwhelming. However, I tackled each aspect with determination, attending workshops, practicing relentlessly, and seeking feedback from peers and mentors. Over time, I learned to embody characters convincingly, use my voice and body expressively, and engage the audience with confidence. Each performance became a testament to the new skills I had developed, transforming initial insecurities into a passion for the art of storytelling.

Video of the play – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MID6iPMRZY