I took a deep breath as I walked into the doors of DeSoto Family Theatre. This third audition for Peter Pan was one I had been unknowingly preparing for so many years. The young Vera, who could never imagine that she would ever get the chance to audition for the namesake of the show, would have been so proud of me. As I walked into the audition room with my materials, the rest of the world faded away. I don’t remember much; all I know is that I fell into a place of true peace. I took a deep breath after hitting the final note, faced the panel, and watched as they wiped away their tears in response to my rendition of Neverland. Moments like these remind me why I love musical theatre. So once I got the call that they wanted me to play Peter Pan, I was beyond ecstatic. When we started rehearsals for the show, I was eager to start creating new experiences for myself. I was double-cast in the role of Peter Pan and had strong feelings of both excitement and worry. The farther we got into the rehearsal process, the more I started to doubt myself. I could not help but constantly compare myself to my counterpart. I was yearning for a sense of individuality that felt unattainable in this particular setting. This was my first show at this theatre after a long list of rejections, and that created a desire in me to present a version of myself that impressed everyone. As we arrived at crunch time, I was becoming so overwhelmed with the show and this need to impress that I decided I had to make a change. I took a moment to reassure myself that my worth is not determined by the amount of work I can do, and that is one of the greatest lessons this show taught me. I was able to take this experience and create a new mindset for myself that allowed me to overcome my insecurities. I finally could truly become Peter Pan. I burst through the doors of the theatre on opening night: my moment had come. As I took my opening place, a flight line hooked onto my harness and glitter in hand, I took a moment to breathe. I had come so far and I wanted to take it all in. So when my entrance music began, I let myself fall into the show. I was Peter Pan when I first flew onto the stage, and I was still Peter Pan until the final notes of the finale faded away. I was beaming with gratitude when I flew on to take my bow, this was the chance of a lifetime for me and I still find it hard to believe that I was playing a role I had dreamed about since 2016. Because of opportunities like this, I have realized how important it is for art in all of its different forms to be present in all of our lives. I have been able to grow in ways I never thought possible through the arts and will take these experiences like this with me for the rest of my life. Due to this impact the arts have had on me, I would love to use my undergraduate degree to bring the arts to under-appreciated neighborhoods in Memphis, TN through a non-profit organization. Memphis is such a diverse city where the arts are constantly flourishing, and I cannot wait to come back home to influence a younger generation.