3.29.2012

Follow the yellow brick road... all the way Home.


"There's no place like home!  There's no place like home!"

I've always loved this classic scene from the Wizard of Oz.  I can't tell you how many times in my travels to Canada, Mexico, Ukraine, Spain, and the Dominican Republic that I've wished for a magical pair of Ruby Slippers that could whisk me home to my mama and daddy.  Even when I first moved away from my parents' house and registered as a frosh at Bethel, I just couldn't call Bethel home.  I was sick during orientation and I missed a lot of the team-building, ice-breaker activities that characterized early Block sessions.  Because of this, when I finally joined my block for classes, I didn't know people and they had no idea who I was!

This was a very lonely time for me.  Instead of reaching out to make friends, I pulled back and hid myself in my room on 2nd floor Shupe with the door closed.  Choir was the only time I felt like I had any friends besides my roommate, and even these friendships were relatively shallow because I was playing shy.  Then I got involved with Theatre and my freshman experience was transformed.

The theatre department quickly took up all of my extra time, but I didn't mind because the shoe fit.  These crazy people welcomed me into the department even though I wasn't a theatre student; they were my Ruby Slippers.  Many of the "theatre kids" and profs were sure that I would soon change my major to theatre, but I never did.  My Spanish major is perfect for me, but the Dept. of Modern Languages was not a home for me.  I found the family and comfort that I needed when I was in FA 150.

So if you ever need to find me, between Chapel Band, Choir, and Theatre, the Fine Arts building is a good place to start looking.  I wear my Ruby Slippers even more now than I did freshman year.  They are the little slice of home that I need to survive.  Just watch out for your Dept. home- it will get all of you that you can spare!  I'm no longer just an Actress/singer.  I'm a designer, house manager, and honorary member of the Theatre Department.

But you know what they say- if the shoe fits, wear it!