As a kid, I came to theatre through dance and cheerleading. Neither of these were passions of mine, but I loved the team aspect, and I loved the element of performing. In high school, I tried out for the school play because ‘that's what my friends were doing.’ I guess I can say the direction of my life began with a humble production of Fiddler on the Roof. I learned so much about myself through my years in high school theatre. It may sound trivial or silly to say, but a pivotal lesson I learned was I have an ability to make people laugh, and I learned there was no greater feeling than making someone else feel good. Thus began my journey as a comedian and, ultimately, a teacher. And when I look back over my career, I can still say this, caring for others’ feelings and helping make others feel good has been my guiding principle. I try to teach acting through the lens of empathy; we must recognize the humanity and heart we all share; this is what unifies a performance and connects the audience to the characters and the imaginary world. As a teacher, I work to connect to my students and model empathy. I want to nurture each of their wonderfully unique views on the world and encourage them to make art that moves them and touches others. Being a part of KCACTF has been, and continues to be, an exciting part of my theatrical journey. I love watching artists find their voice within this art form and embarking on their own theatrical careers.