Valerie Parry

Mrs.Parry has changed my life by leading us in putting on the school play "A Midsummer Night's Dream", which was a play written by Shakespeare. I had never tried to act before, but I was excited to try. I did not get the part I wanted for the play, and when I was sharing my feelings about the part I got with Mrs.Parry, she encouraged me to put my heart into it, because she thought I would be great for that role. Mrs.Parry had said, "What's wrong?", and I replied with "I did not get the part I wanted,". Mrs. Parry then tried to cheer me up by saying,"I think you will make a great Peter Quince". At the time I was too upset for her words to sink in, but as we rehearsed more and more, I was reminded of her words, and they started to sink in. One day when I was rehearsing, I was finally able to get my lines right without any mistakes. When it came to my big moment, I felt a huge rush of emotion as I said my final lines. I realized in that moment that I was truly meant for this role, and that Mrs.Parry was right. I did make a great Peter Quince. During the night of the performance, I was nervous but very excited, and I loved my costume - complete with a drawn on beard! My big moment came, and this time I put my whole soul into it. When I went behind the curtains after my big moment (and the other mechanicals moments) I had the biggest smile on my face, because I realized how attached I was to my role. Even months after the play, I am still truly considering a career in acting - after one play, put on by one amazing teacher - The One and Only Mrs.Parry.

Heidi Jacobs