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"What do you want to do? Not what job do you want to have? What is your purpose in life?"

This question was posed to me during the first day of my college. People in my group wanted to make money, have power, discover something to change the world. I wanted to make art accessible to everyone. Not just financially or geographically but emotionally and mentally. To remove the barriers between the everyday modern human of the 21st century and the almost archaic forms of art that had brought me joy in my young life, most importantly: Ballet. At the time I wanted to accomplish this through choreography. I was going to bring stories to life through the ballet medium and it would serve as a gateway to the classics and the abstract ballets of history. My ballets were going to be the Rosetta stone of the art form and unlock a world of new experiences to people who had never dreamt they would enjoy a classical ballet performance. This was my purpose.

As is the case with many who have lofty aspirations in their college years, this dream did not come to fruition. I became a Stage Manager and a dance teacher and used my skills and talents to pass along my passion through those professions. I then wanted more, as the ambitious do, and wanted to not only teach the steps, but to decide what steps should be taught. To not only call the show but decide what shows should be called. This is how I would fulfill my purpose. I transitioned into Arts Management and soon found there was a whole new world I had never seen beyond the backstage that made everything on stage possible. I started my graduate studies in Arts Management and Program Development. I learned about Arts Marketing, Strategic Planning, Development, Event Planning, Data Analysis, and more. This is how I would fulfill my purpose. I would work from a higher post to provide access not only mentally and emotionally but geographically, and financially. Arts for Everyone! Whether they want it or not.