We’re in the greenroom. People are running out of the dressing rooms, making sure they look exactly like the directors envisioned. Makeup of all shades and colors is being put on. Some people are reading their scripts one last time, making sure they’ll remember exactly, definitively what to say.  I’m sitting in a loose doctor’s costume, together with my co-actor; a nurse, running lines for the last time and making fake dialogue up in case everything goes wrong on stage. It’s organised chaos, although organized is already stretching it.

Participating in the One Acts wasn’t always something I was sure I wanted to do. I didn’t know if I had what it takes to be cast in a play or if I’d be able to stand on a stage in front of an audience without freaking out. But, on the day of the auditions, after having a great time being cast in the Sound of Music and realising I don’t have stage fright that bad, the choice was more obvious. Of course I would audition!

So now, as I’m standing backstage, waiting for my queue to be said, my heart’s beating faster and faster as I’m getting more and more nervous. But acting is just like diving. Jumping in head first is always scary, but as soon as you’re in the water, or up on stage, it’s all just fun. We run our play and, like clockwork, it all goes together, despite our cast having been doubtful earlier in the greenroom.

I didn’t think I’d be cast in two One Acts after my audition. I’m not sure why. Maybe it was about me being an exchange student and all, not being able to enunciate properly. Maybe I just didn’t believe in myself. But I did, which would mean having to balance two scripts, two directors, and two casts. But it all worked out. I alternated practices and got my parts down in both plays.

So it’s into the dressing room to quickly take off the doctors costume and become “Yann;” the exchange student from finland living in Lola’s house in the One Act “That’s not how I remember it.” I’m wearing a big sweater and huge Nike’s, clutching onto a history book wrapped in a brown paper bag; This is the 80’s! We have been practicing this play for two months, especially the bathroom scene, so I know it like the back of my hand.

Fast forward to when I’m backstage again. I am not laughing at what is happening on stage even though it’s hilarious; my mic is on. I hear my queue, and I dive in. My role in this One Act is supposed to be really funny, but you never know how a crowd will react. Luckily, people laughed and I didn’t make a fool of myself.

As I’m standing there, pretending to try to defend Lola with my “Finnish fighting techniques,” I realise that this is where I belong. I know it sounds cheesy, but in high school, all you want is to belong somewhere, especially if you just came from a country thousands of miles away knowing no one at all. I’m so happy to get the opportunity to do what I love, to have fun inside of the walls of school. I’m so happy that I’m doing it with people, now my friends, who love doing the same thing.