Dear One Act,

I remember the first time that I saw a performance done by York High School’s one act. I

immediately fell in love and at that moment I decided that I was going to do that and I would be

on that stage someday. I remember the very first time that I stood on that stage as a scared little

freshman who wanted to be nothing other than an ensemble member. I remember the joy that

came over me the first time that I saw the cast list and realized that I had a line. That was one of

the best moments. The show for that year was A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. It was

a more comedic show. I remember the laughs that filled the theater as we were practicing. I

remember getting so nervous before competitions thinking that I would forget my line. But,

surrounding me was a family and they helped me calm my nerves. I remember the suspense as

we were at our first competition waiting to see who won. When they announced that we had won

I remember the feeling of happiness that everyone around me was radiating it was incredible. I

remember getting the opportunity that first year as a little freshman and realizing that I not only

found a family but I also found a home. That’s when I knew that this was going to be my thing.

The next year I was a sophomore. The show for that year was Bonnie and Clyde. This show was

an incredible story and I think that it helped heal everyone in this show in different ways. This

show made people feel something. In this show, I was in the bank/shop ensemble. I had one line

and I was so happy with it. I want to thank you for giving me that role and giving me a new

perspective on how I live out my life after learning about her life. This show was so beautiful

and it will remain to this day to be my favorite show that I was in. When we won state the

suspense turned into immaculate joy and a sense of accomplishment came back to me. It truly is

one of the greatest feelings. The next year, my junior year. I am finally an upperclassman now.

The show that year was Bullets over Broadway. This show took a more comedic turn from the
seriousness of the previous year's show. I ended up with a bigger role that year as a cigarette girl.

I will never forget the feeling at one of our competitions where we went 3 seconds over the grace

period. That feeling was awful because by 3 seconds we got bumped down to 2nd place when we

knew that we had a great performance. We kept perfecting the show and all was going well. We

made it to state again that year but, this year was different. Instead of the feeling of immaculate

joy that I was searching for. We were greeted with a new feeling when we got runner-up. This

was a very sad day for the team but we were able to move forward. Now we are on to senior

year. This year the show is called Whispers in the Hollow. In the show, I am the character Lily. I

die in the first scene and my death tells the whole story of the feud between the witches and the

townspeople. This year is not turning the way that I thought that it would be but, it is okay. It is

causing me to step back and be stronger in other areas. I realize that if that is where I need to be

that is where I will be. As the years went on the shows changed and there were different and new

people everywhere. It was easy to get caught up in it all and freak out because sometimes it felt

like everything was changing and change was scary. But, when I looked at it from a different

angle from another perspective I realized that it isn't so scary and it actually is quite beautiful.

These changes helped bring new people, perspectives, ideas, and unexpected happiness into my

life. You helped me find myself and I will thank you forever for that. You helped me break out of

the shell that I had been hiding in for too long. You welcomed me with open arms and gave me

the strength to accept. You helped me learn to trust that I can do great things and to have

confidence backing me up, and you also helped me figure out that other people's opinions can’t

dictate my life. You taught me that it is incredibly important to be yourself and not to hide that

from others. Thank you for making me into the person that I am today. Although I am sad to see
you go, I know that it is time. As I go to take my last bow, I want you to know that I will always

have a place for you in my heart. As I hear the applause, I take a step and take my final bow.

Love Always,

Sam the Newsboy, Evelyn the scared girl at the bank, Margaret the Cigarette Girl, Lily

the Dead Little Girl, and Riley the girl who has to say goodbye.