Every year the Starlight Theater Company puts on multiple shows including fall and spring shows, a musical, and senior-directed productions, but the students who participate in theater do more than just rehearse. Students participate in programs and clubs in and outside of school that teach them skills and allow them to express themselves in an exciting way. One of these special programs available to all students that participate in the after-school production classes is the theater mentor program.
The theater mentor program connects underclassmen to a junior or senior in the zero-hour theater production class. All underclassmen will have the opportunity to fill out a Google Doc application requesting to be in the program. The program was started to help underclassmen adjust to the new environment while also having a built-in best friend.
“The Starlight Theater Company (STC) mentor program matches freshmen and sophomores who are newer to our company with upperclassmen, usually officers,” junior and secretary of the Starlight Theater Company Ellie Nowlin said. “They mentor them, give them support, and help throughout the year. I have four mentees: Zoe Rich, Liliana Garza, Elena Barron, and Emma Exter.”
The theater mentor program has multiple events and team-building activities that both mentors and mentees participate in throughout the school year. The first event of the year is a breakfast where mentees receive gifts from and meet their mentor for the year.
“This year we had a mentee Friendsgiving, where each mentor/mentee group chose and prepared a dish together and all the mentors and mentees had potluck dinner together,” Nowlin said. “We’re hoping to plan a few spring events this year like a mentor/mentee picnic similar to the Friendsgiving.”
Mentors act as a friendly guide for underclassmen when navigating the STC. Freshman Klaus Kuhlmann is one of the underclassmen who participate in the program.
“The theatre mentor program has helped me in a large variety of ways,” Kuhlmann said. “It has provided me with a trustworthy resource for when I have any questions about the Starlight Theatre company and has made me feel comfortable knowing I have a reliable friend who knows their way around things.”
Kuhlmann believes his mentor, junior, and board member of the STC, Dylan-Shahid Russell has been extremely supportive and helpful to his high school career.
“Dylan has given me many insights on what to expect from shows or events. He answers all my questions with detail and encouragement,” Kuhlmann said. “ His help hasn’t stopped at the theatre department, however. He has aided me in navigating my first year in high school, and has been a huge contributor to making my first year of high school a good one.”
Mentors and mentees also do “get to know me” hangouts and events with their mentees outside of school. Although the program initiates the relationship, mentors, and mentees oftentimes continue to build their relationship outside of school.
“My mentees are sophomore Alice Goss as well as freshmen Blake Dallman and McClain Matens,” Davidson said. “When I first got my mentees at the beginning of the year, we made a group chat of the four of us and went out to lunch together to get to know each other and talk about the upcoming year. On holidays and their birthdays, I like to give them gifts to let them know that they are always appreciated.”
Both Nowlin and Davidson are advocates of the program’s cause, but believe if it received some help such as creating more events and being slightly more organized the program could flourish.
“I would definitely recommend this program for both mentors and mentees,” Nowlin said “When I was a mentee my freshman and sophomore years, I felt like it really helped me find my place in the company and at Bowie in general. Being a mentor this year has been so amazing and rewarding and I’m so glad to have gotten close with my mentees I definitely think students in theatre who like to help others should consider this program.”
Davidson and Nowlin will become mentors again next year, and create new relationships with members of the company. The theater mentor program leaves a lasting impact on both mentors and mentees and will continue to inspire students in the future of Bowie’s theater department.
“I am definitely planning on mentoring again next year,” Davidson said. “I loved meeting underclassmen this year and I am beyond excited to meet the incoming freshman next year. When I was a freshman, I had the best experience with my mentor because she made me feel so welcome and loved- I hope that I embody that for my current and future mentees.”
