I can feel my heart pounding, my hands trembling, and my voice wavering as I stand in the middle of the studio theatre, my feet locked on the floor as if they’re cemented.
I hate trying out for things.
Standing in front of authority figures and being the center of attention, and meanwhile being judged, tends to make me understandably uncomfortable. My fears of failure and embarrassment prevented me from auditioning for anything in high school that wasn’t designated as “everyone-makes-it”. Whether it was a musical, a play, you name it - I would rather be behind the scenes than in the spotlight.
It wasn’t until the end of Junior Year when I was able to fight my social anxiety and try out for my first show, Charlotte’s Web; although I do admit that I needed some convincing. Because of my organization and tendency to plan ahead, any event in which the outcome is unexpected leaves me very reluctant. Despite my anxieties, I practiced repeatedly, took all of the advice I could get, and nervously prepared to audition. …show more content…
Before I knew it, I make myself walk to center stage, clear my throat, and say shakily, “I’m Abigail Winter, and I’ll be reading for Charlotte”, before taking a deep breath and beginning to recite my monologue.
As I am progressing through my piece, I begin to feel more confident on stage. The rest of the room fades away, until it’s just me, a brick on the back wall, and the air around me. I reach the last line and exhale, and then walk mindlessly off of the