LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY. DO WITH INTENTION. BE WITH INTENTION.

In 1786, Thomas Reid once said something along the lines of, "We are only as strong as our weakest link." This is an important lesson I've kept in the back of my head throughout my years as a performing arts student, and never did I think it would be so relevant to today's generation of adolescents who work as leaders, educators, mediators, and game changers during a period of global crises. My theatre director screamed and praised these words at the top of her lungs right before our opening nights, although it never m ade sense to me when I first heard it as a sophomore, Seussical the Musical . I never truly understood the importance of unity, especially during a time where outdated beliefs and ideals still roam and wear ignorance as a mask to hide other underlying pandemics, until I first experienced the job of a leader. As a child, my social anxiety always kept me shy and hidden away from so many opportunities, and I was never confident I would be what one would call a "role model."

Growing up, I always integrated myself into the fine arts, and I've always considered myself a multidisciplinary student. I first learned how to sing, draw, paint, and write when I was really young and inspired by the influences of art in my Filipino family and my neighborhood. Then, I taught myself certain skills in media arts, such as video editing, animation, photography, and graphic designing. However, music was my primary form of expression and the source of

	Rein Kristine

 my knowledge in performing arts, and as I grew older, theatre became my rock, two-thirds of my daily routine, and something I genuinely loved that kept me going through life. It helped me to build up my authority and my awareness of my surroundings.

For the past two years, I've been a part of 16th Street IMPACT at 16th Street Theater, and this past year, I had the wonderful opportunity of leading the program, and it has played a huge role in my performing career, from getting accepted to my dream college, to earning a theatre scholarship from my sister school. From being a Who, a hunter, and a Hunch, to a director, a playwright, and a teaching artist. Through that transition, I gradually learned how to be unapologetically myself and my confidence in performing grew as I surrounded myself with people who pushed me past my limits and helped me to realize where my potential really lies. Not only did theatre become the largest aspect of my growth, but it also highlighted and showcased the true meaning of unity to me with the extraordinary experiences I've had to work with people of all ages, races, gender identities, sexualities, and more in the industry who take on different jobs and responsibilities. I will always appreciate the welcoming and diverse environment of the stage, and I will forever acknowledge the difficult process of piecing a production together because as artists, that's what keeps us wanting to learn more and work persistently, and that's what keeps our collaborations and bonds vigorous. And, statistically, enrollment in art classes and programs helps students to improve their skills in critical thinking, open mindedness, creativity, and collaboration. Art literally promotes unity within a community, and to me, it's such a beautiful thing.

Being a high school senior who graduated in the Class of 2020, you'd figure that I'm outraged and outpouring with anger over the remainder of my youth being taken away from me. Over the moments I've been waiting to witness and experience for eighteen years. Over the once in a lifetime opportunities an eighteen year old can dream about and can now only continue to see in movies. It is difficult, and it is saddening to watch the plans of my graduation, my prom, and my last few high school productions being thrown away. But even through the isolation and the countless what-ifs, I was fortunate enough to live in a school environment and  exist in a generation where we make the best out of every situation. Although I cannot speak for my entire class, the idea of memories and making them has always been important to our adolescence, and it is what drives us to come together and support each other in every possible way, as it should be throughout our entire lives.  High school was another important factor of my knowledge in unity, as divided as the environment of my high school was, I knew our class was truly special for we still persist. No pandemic can puncture our bonds and our need for emotional connections.

Obviously at this point, we're expected to distance ourselves from others and keep ourselves in self-isolation, but as the events continue to unfold and different opinions continue to separate people, now is the time to unite. In a production, one event cannot happen and the storyline cannot progress without an important action of one or more actors, and that concept applies to real world problems. Throughout my life, division slowed the progression of my growth as a person and my relationships with those close to me, as it has for many people. Over the years, division between people has proven interruptions in innovation and change. However, now is not the time for that. Now is the time to educate, take accountability, and thoroughly understand where certain morals apply in our lives. Now is the time to support, love, and acknowledge each other's differences and complexities and learn how we can use that to improve ourselves. Love unconditionally. Do with intention. Be with intention. Our generation is so powerful. With the versatility and the strong loud vocals we have, we are so aware of where our potential lies. We are the generation of change. The sooner we wield those tools, the sooner we can understand the importance of unity and implement the change we need today.

Many performing artists have been questioning what the future has in store for us and where we're able to showcase our creativity. With the many restrictions we've had to follow, the stage will face the audience differently, and performers will continue to search for suitable platforms. Rehearsal processes will run differently, but communication will strengthen. Just as my high school class persisted in keeping us together regardless of the circumstances, artists will too as nothing can diminish our flamboyant spirits. No pandemic or racial war can reverse our energy and stamina we showcase on a stage, and our love and passion to express ourselves with our minds and bodies. Regardless of where and how we perform, nothing can take away our true intentions as artists and how we decide to show that. Whether six feet or six inches apart, nothing can break the community of creative souls and what we decide to share with those who question our art. We have to keep them questioning. We have to keep them curious. We have to keep them a part of the beautiful chaos that can change.