Befriending the Bard Juliet Johnson

My mom loves to tell the story of when I was a baby, and I would pull the biggest book I could find off the shelf and into my lap, tracing my fingers over the words and pretending I knew what I was reading. Since the night I came home from the hospital, my dad has been reading to me, instilling a love for words, and awe at their ability to create new worlds, inside me. School allowed further development of this love. I spent many elementary school lunches in the library, taking in the quiet aura and subtle smell of books while I got lost in stories.

In 8th grade, I delved into a world of English with the help of my teacher, who motivated me to read and analyze thought-provoking, beautiful works, such as Night and To Kill A Mockingbird, that facilitated studious and personal growth. With this in mind, it's not surprising that literature inspires me academically. With encouragement from my mom, I learned that not only could I read these stories, but also could express them through performance. Though I loved my previous background in musical theater, something still felt off.

In 10th grade, the musicals shifted over to Shakespeare. "Why not give it a try?" I thought to myself as I auditioned. "I love literature. My name is Juliet...