Personal Statement - Caroline Bates

We start with stars in our eyes. - Dear Evan Hansen

I often joke that I didn’t have a normal childhood, and in many ways, that’s true. When most five-year-olds declare, “I want to be on Broadway!” the notion is laughed off. For me, the declaration led to the world of twelve-hour rehearsal days, New York private auditions, and years of performances. My dream was coming true.

My first role was Gretel Von Trapp in the large-scale production of The Sound of Music at the Red Mountain Theater Company. As a five-year-old, I loved being with my older castmates who adopted me as a little sister, passing me around their laps and fighting over who got to braid my hair. However, under the bright lights of the stage, I was expected to act like an adult: professional, open to direction, and responsible for my lines, blocking, and choreography. 

For the next six years, my life revolved around agents, managers, workshops, year-long conservatory programs, and weekly voice, acting, and dance lessons. Over time, I learned the rules of this world, eventually perfecting the ability to balance my outgoing, bubbly personality offstage with the seriousness and focus required onstage. The feelings of pride from nailing a solo or chill-bump-inducing harmony, and the gratifying joy of a standing ovation made every second of hard work worth it.

 I need space and fresh air. - Newsies

I don’t know when it changed. I can’t pinpoint a specific moment that led to my departure from theater at age eleven. Years of reflection, however, have led to this conclusion: I loved theater too much to make it a job. Despite the joy this life brought me, it took mental and physical tolls. Years of overusing my voice produced pre-nodules on my vocal cords, which did not fully heal until my junior year of high school. Perhaps my burnout was foreseeable, and the number of hours I spent each week in rehearsals was too much for a child. Maybe I was too young to be held to such high expectations. However, I see how this experience contributed to my early maturity, independence, and self-confidence, as demonstrated by my decision to leave, take care of myself, and grow in new ways. While my experience with musical theater may have been a lot for one little girl to handle, it laid the foundation for who I am today. 

So much of me is made from what I learned from you. - Wicked

I still love to perform. I have been on competitive dance teams, learned the guitar, ukulele, and piano, and participate in my school’s choirs, student concerts, and contemporary music programs. The years of lyric and line learning have surely aided in my school work by strengthening my memory and organizational skills. More notably, the theater’s inclusive environment pushed me to develop leadership skills and instilled my core values of building close relationships, embracing diversity, and remaining authentic. These values motivated me to leave my public school in 10th grade and transfer to Indian Springs School, where I saw more opportunities for learning and personal growth. 

Most importantly, theater taught me that I love to help others. When I am performing, I can make someone smile no matter what may be going on in their life. I have found that the same is true working alongside people with special needs at the Exceptional Foundation or with children at the Amistad Orphanage in Bolivia and Camp Skyline Ranch. Even the smallest investment in someone’s life may mean the world to them and it enriches me. While I am undecided about my major and career, I know I want to be a positive force in the lives of the people around me. I may not know the specifics of my future, but as Elphaba says in Wicked’s “Defying Gravity”:

“It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes, and leap.”