Dramatic Disclosure by Greta

Dramatic Disclosure by Greta - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

During the summer of 2023, I volunteered as a counselor for a week-long summer junior drama camp. The campers rehearsed a short script and produced a play at the end of the week. On Friday, the day of the first production, the director scheduled a break of a few hours for all campers and counselors between the morning’s preparation and the performance. Just before this intermission, the director fell and broke her hip. I had planned to spend my break at the library; I am a bookworm and love to browse for hours on end, but after the director’s fall, I decided to stay at the theater to help prepare for the play. She was determined, if possible, to see that night’s performance through, but she could not move from her chair; so she sat still and prepared what she could with her hands while her husband and I worked to get the theater ready. I cleared surfaces, fetched things from the upstairs supply rooms, decorated the stage, and arranged props and setting according to her directions. I took photos so she could see the completed stage setup to make sure it was to her satisfaction. The play was indeed performed that night, and afterwards the director was moved to the hospital.
That opportunity to assist affords me opportunity for introspection. I learned that work was all the easier for me when I volunteered, instead of being contracted or directed to do it. The ease increased when the type of work was connected to something I loved with a passion, in this case, theater. I also learned over again that my vanity is enormous; I was proud of myself for my good deed and basked in the compliments and gratitude I received for my willingness to help. I gave much less credit and glory to God than I should. I was proud just now as I wrote those preceding words. Romans 3:10b-11 certainly applies to me: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” May God sanctify me so that I lay up treasure in heaven, instead of seeking man’s approval.