University of California - San Diego
A Sunny Day
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
When I found out I had been cast as Emile de Becque in the musical South Pacific, I was excited but confused, and even a little scared. Why had I been picked as the lead, even though I was a sophomore with no experience singing in the operatic style of Emile? How was I going to pull off a French accent? What did a French accent even sound like? Was I just going to make a fool of myself?
These questions agonized me. I seriously considered telling the drama teacher that I thought she had made a mistake, that someone else could do the job better than I could, and that I’d rather take a smaller role. But then I remembered why I enjoy drama so much. I love the pressure. I love how you have to face the audience, showing no fear, and become someone else for those few moments on stage. Most of all, I love the sense of accomplishment after a good show. I realized that, because this would be my most challenging role yet, it could end up being my most fulfilling one. So, after laughing at the insanity of what I was about to do, I set to work.
First, I tried to figure out how to speak with a French accent. I looked at old versions of the play, and tried to mimic the way Emile spoke. My drama teacher told me I sounded like Count Dracula, so...
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