Students have faced many challenges and have also achieved much during these past three weeks. Think of the challenges and achievements you’ve faced recently. What are you most proud of? ShenCoTRUTH: Reflections By Shenandoah Conservatory Students

These past three weeks I have been able to get closer to family, been able to develop new skills like writing scripts, meditate, cook, build my acting website, build my fitness training website, and learn how to become better at my craft (learn how to self tape).

I am most proud of rising above the negative emotions that cycle through the day to day. It has been wonderful to find joy in every day things. For example, my daughter loves April Fool’s Day. Here you can see we woke up to her stuffed animal friends plotting world domination. JOYFUL!

During these past three weeks, I have been involved with my church’s food pantry. I have been helping/working the food pantry for eight years already and we are beginning to run into problems due to COVID-19. My mom and her friend (who is elderly) run the pantry, prepare our shelves and get the food from the local food bank. This week between classes, I helped call the locals who come regularly as well as people who have not shown up recently and our church members to see if they are in need of food, personal items, etc. Friday, I will be going to the church with my mom and organizing bags with the items people requested. On Saturday morning, I will be directing the traffic in my church’s parking lot for the people in line to get food. Everyone is struggling in their own way, and some more than others. I am so proud that I am able to be home to give back during this time, and to help my mom’s friend. I am looking forward to Saturday!

At the beginning of this transition, I had an interview to become an Orientation Leader over the summer. I was extremely anxious, not only because of the interview but because of everything changing at that time. Nonetheless, I did my interview and I got the job! I’m really proud that I was able to achieve this goal while going through this difficult transition.