How I Faced Fear

From Shrubbery Actress, with no lines, to Director (The concise version - 3 min read)

Directing a play at 14

When I was fourteen, I directed a play. My only other acting experience was as a flower bush when I was four. How did I become a director?

Saying Yes

The same semester that I directed the play, I had read the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey. The first habit that Mr. Covey discussed is being proactive. It led me to decide that whenever an opportunity for growth was given to me, I would accept.

So, when I was offered the opportunity to direct a play, I accepted. It was a huge growth opportunity and I learned many lessons from it.

1. You Don’t Have to be an Expert

I was able to learned from being the director, and I am grateful for how it helped me to grow.

I didn’t know a lot about acting, but I knew how to learn. This unlocked unlimited possibilities for me. Every time that I was stumped or confused it would force me to go home and research.

If I had let my lack of qualifications hold me back, I never would have gained the knowledge that I did. If you always wait until you feel ready to do something, you will miss out on some of the best opportunities that life gives you.

2. The Importance of Collaboration

I applied what I was learning and that made the play good, but the improvements of others made it great.

Without others helping, the play never would have been as successful as it was. The importance of having a team is valued by many business men and women. True genius does not come from having “the smarts,” but from surrounding yourself with smart people.

Learning Through Teaching

Some people fear public speaking more than death. While it might not have been that drastic for my actors, they did have stage fright. What I didn’t tell them was that I was afraid of public speaking as well. How was I supposed to teach them to be comfortable on the stage when I myself I was scared?

One exercise that helped was a game where each kid would walk up to the front of the stage and do something silly. It helped them get over their fear of messing up, and to dispell the idea that they had to be perfect on stage. Teaching them this helped me get over my own stage fright.

When 14 year old me to introduce the play in front of 70-100 people, I was not perfect, but I was ready.

Key Takeaways

I believe that my willingness to say yes greatly influenced my life. It is amazing how many opportunities life will give you. All you have to do is accept them.

Never let a lack of qualifications stop you.

Always realize that there is someone out there that is better than you. Find them. Learn from them.

Always keep an open mind. You never know what you will learn in the most unlikely places.