"What's wrong with who I am" "Dad I'm home! (Pause) What are you talking about? I told you I had drama rehearsal after school today. (Pause) You know… you could at least try to hide your disapproval. (Pause) For your information I auditioned for the fall production, this year it's Romeo &Juliet. (Pause) Well... No... But the director says every part is just as important as the lead. And anyways why does it bother you so much that I'm in drama? (Pause) What are you talking about? My assistant director is a guy. And half the actors are males. (Pause) Football? Football! Football dad really? I can't play football dad, I tried, I also tried baseball, basketball and even… golf. Golf, dad the most boring sport in the entire world. 18 holes of agonizing torture. And do you know why I did all those sports? Why I let myself be the laughing stalk of the entire school? (Pause) no dad it was to get you to be proud of me. So that you would pat me on the back and say "good job son" but I know deep down that that'll never happen because I'm not the manly son you want. (Pause) Dad I'm not a freak. I may be different but that's who I am. What is wrong with who I am? Why can't you love me like mom did before she died? (Pause) There's nothing wrong with me, no dad, there's something wrong with you. You and everyone else who thinks being weird is a disease and something to be ashamed of. I love you dad and I'm sorry you can't return the favor.

Drama: What It Is Over the past weeks we have been talking about what drama is. We have talked about acting, and being an ensemble. What we haven't talked about is what drama is to us individually. So without further ado I present what drama is to me. I come from a culture where you are one of to things: a nerd or an athlete. But what happens if your neither? Then your an outcast, a freak, a mistake. That's where I fall in. I'm not super athletic nor am I exceptionally smart so a freak it is and I freak I was. My family didn't accept me nor does it now. I felt so alone, so misguided, so depressed until I discovered drama. When I first stepped on the stage I was scared, I was afraid. I was afraid of being judged like I had been all my #life. But the students and members of drama accepted me and embraced me. Which was scary as hell because I was so new to the feeling of belonging. Through drama I grew. Not only as an actor but also as a person. I no longer was afraid of what others thought of me. No longer did I walk on pins and needles to try to impress the people not watching. No longer, did I feel like an outcast.

Girl Troubles Mike and Jennifer (Jen) have been best friends and lived in the same neighborhood since they were little kids. They did everything together, and could talk about anything with each other. They've been in high school now for about one or two years and the relationship seems to have become a little more complicated, at least as far as Jen was concerned. Mike is sitting on his front step looking deep in thought. Jen is coming over, see's him, and is a little concerned. Mike: Hi Jen, what's up? Say, you don't happen to know this girl named Lydia that goes to our school, do you? She's in our World History class. She sits in the back...You know... the girl with the light brown hair and the big beautiful smile. (beat) Yeah, that's the one. What do you think of her? I totally want to go out with her, but I don't even think she notices me. You got any ideas? (beat) Well, I've tried a couple of times to ask her out, but whenever I seem to get close to her, it's like she see's right through me, like I don't even exist. It's like I could stand in between her and the girl she's talking too, and I would even be interrupting them. (beat) What are you talking about, I don't want to ask anybody else. I want to go out with her. I feel like she's everything I want in a girlfriend. (beat) How would I know if we have anything in common, I can't seem to get close enough to find out. (beat) What?...I know I don't NEED a girlfriend, but I want one. (pauses/gets a bad feeling) Hey, wait a minute, what are you trying to do here? Jinx it!...You're supposed to be helping me out, what's got into you!? I've never seen you like this before. (beat) Like what?...You know what! (pauses for a second/ light bulb goes off in his head!) Oh my Gosh!...Jen!...Oh my Gosh! I am so sorry...I get it now. (giggles in disbelief) Jen, oh no...I'm not laughing at you, I guess I never thought of you that way. You just caught me by surprise. (beat) I DO like you! (beat) You ARE beautiful! (beat) I don't know, I guess I never knew, but to be real honest with you Jen, I like our relationship the way it is. Jen!?...Please!...Where are you going?...Why are you so mad!?...Jen, COME BACK! I know we can work this out...(to himself) Okay great! Now I've done it. (reflects) Yep, I think it's time to rethink this.