“YVC has made me more confident in life and more self-assured in what I'm doing and how I'm impacting others.”
Degree/Certificate & Anticipated Class Year
Associate in Arts – DTA, ‘27
Hometown
Yakima
Major
Drama
How did you decide on this major?
I was waiting in line for the financial aid office and I saw an ad for auditions for
YVC’s production of “Do You Feel Anger?” I went to them on a whim, enjoyed it, and four
months later, I am involved in every theater in the city of Yakima. My high school didn’t really have the means for drama and arts programming outside
of band and choir. Coming to YVC has really given me the opportunity to open up and
explore new possibilities.
What do you find most interesting about this major?
What has captivated me about this kind of major and theater is the community. Everyone
has been so nice and welcoming to me. I know that I can have lifelong friends with
everyone. And I know that once I graduate, I'm still going to be in contact with [drama
instructors] Ray Pritchard and Alicia Bickley. I just feel so grateful for the open
arms.
Growing up I went to a couple children’s plays. One that really stands out to me was, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." I remember going to that one in the fourth or third grade and just being amazed by what they were doing on stage, with it being live theater and all the effects they were able to do. This is when I first started becoming interested in theatre.
Did you know what academic pathway you wanted to pursue when you started at YVC?
When I first applied here, I was planning to major in American Sign Language, then
later switched to a business with plans to pursue marketing. This quarter I switched
to drama DTA. Before this quarter, I didn't realize how stable careers in theater were.
What made you interested in studying at YVC?
It was close to home. And, going to a two-year [college] and then a four-year was
a lot cheaper than going straight to a four-year institution. I didn't have all the
prerequisites that I needed to go straight to a four-year, so coming to a two-year college first made
sense.
Extracurriculars (e.g., clubs, YVC sports teams)
YVC Playmasters, YVC Improv Group
What three words would you use to describe YVC?
Welcome, Homey, Creative
What’s your favorite class? Why? How has it expanded your knowledge?
My favorite class so far has been Theatre Stagecraft [Drama 189] taught by Ray Pritchard. It's helped
me understand a lot more about different aspects of theater. My goal is to eventually
go on tours with theater productions and having a well-rounded education in all aspects of
theatre will be helpful, because it’s theatre and, let’s face it, everything goes
wrong at some point. If I have that knowledge, then I can help more with my potential
team. It's also helped me learn more skills for life, like, if something breaks at
our house, I now have more experience crafting and fixing things.
Is there a particular instructor, staff member, or experience in a class during your
time at YVC that has made a big impact on you?
Both Alicia Bickley and Ray Pritchard have greatly impacted my life here. Alicia has given me the chance to be on stage,
during “Do You Feel Anger.” I am very grateful for the opportunity to do that, and that kickstarted me into
my career path. And Ray Pritchard helps me out with all the technical stuff that I
want to learn. My two main focuses I want to pursue are costume and lighting design. I'm very
grateful for him giving me an opportunity to do both.
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
Kendall Hall and the Black Box Theatre. I have a lot of fond memories in both of those
locations, whether it’s working on building sets or performing improv every Tuesday
night.
Were there any barriers you overcame to be successful at YVC?
My confidence with public speaking and overall getting out of my comfort zone. Before
I came here, I was very self-conscious and I didn't like to be touched. Both Liam and Matt,
who both played the role of Howie during the fall production of “Do You Feel Anger,” helped me overcome that with a scene where they had their arms around Eva, the character
I played in the show. They helped put me at ease by doing this silly finger walking thing, that
I would try not to laugh at every night. It really helped me get over my uncomfortableness
with intimacy and physical touch.
How has 鶹Ƶ changed you?
It's made me more confident in life and more self-assured in what I'm doing and how I'm impacting others.
About four years ago, I was very depressed. Coming here and joining theater really
got me over that last hurdle that I needed to get over. And I'm very grateful to be
a part of this.
Do you have a job? How do you work that into your schedule?
I work at the Capitol Theater as an usher and backstage hand.
What do you view as your biggest achievement at YVC?
Being able to go to Phoenix, Arizona and compete at the for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. I got to travel to a place I’ve never been to before, which was really fun. I got
to compete for the Orion Scholarship with [fellow student] Delilah Nelson. Sadly,
we didn't win, but I'm so grateful for the experience. And then being able to compete
with my costume design for “The Play That Goes Wrong” was amazing. Seeing all the
other designs and seeing how much I can improve as a designer really put into perspective
for me how much I can improve and how much more growth I have in theater. Honestly, it's a
constant learning experience here. I realized I will forever be a student, whether I'm getting
paid for it or paying for it. I love to constantly learn and theater has given me
the opportunity to do that.
Are there any support services or resources that you have taken advantage of? (e.g. tutoring,
academic advising, library) How have you found these beneficial?
I do take advantage of the computers in the library, especially for printing. I also
take advantage of the study space in the HUB.
Did you receive any financial aid or scholarship funding to attend YVC? If so, please
describe how this helped you on your journey.
I have received both and talent grant scholarships from YVC for all my work with the Drama program. It's made
it a lot easier for me to attend. I can do full-time college instead of only taking
one class a quarter, which I am very grateful for.
How do you find a sense of belonging at YVC (for example, activities or clubs that
help you connect with students who share your interests or background)?
YVC Playmasters
What are your educational or career goals after YVC? What are your dreams?
Transfer to Central Washington University or Eastern Washinton University and finish
up my bachelor’s degree in drama. I’d ultimately like to get into traveling theater because
I love traveling and theater. I just will do them both at the same time and get paid
for it.
What advice would you have for a friend considering whether to pursue college?
Go for it. Tuition is cheaper than most [other schools]. If you don't like it, then,
oh well, do something different. That's my outlook on life in general. Like, I'll try
this and if I don't like it, I won't do that again.
How many drama productions have you been involved in? What were your roles?
- “Do You Feel Anger?” YVC Fall 2024, Cast member Eva
- “The Hobbit,” Warehouse Theatre Company, backstage crew
- “The Play That Goes Wrong,” YVC Fall 2024, stage manager, costume designer
- “Festival of New Works,” YVC Winter 2025, director, playwright and actor
- “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” YVC Spring 2025, assistant lighting designer and set building