Before coming to Harvard, I had always been interested in the performing arts, but I never imagined how many opportunities there would be to get involved in musical theater. 

In my Junior fall semester, I was able to be involved with Merrily We Roll Along with the publicity team. Merrily We Roll Along was the largest student-run production of the Fall 2025 semester, which was performed in the Loeb Proscenium at the American Repertory Theater. Working on the publicity team gave me a completely new perspective on theater. Instead of only seeing the final performances, I was able to see everything that happened behind the scenes, from the rehearsals and marketing to opening night. I was captivated by the whole process, which made me continue being part of the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club (HRDC) family. 

During my Junior Spring semester, I continued to contribute as a Publicity Producer in an original HRDC play called Asian Women I Know, which was performed at the Agassiz Theatre. I was also introduced to the world of directing and took part in a play in The Loeb EX called Yellow Face. I was with an incredible group of performers and staff members who taught me the beauty of directing. Rehearsals were all throughout the semester, as the residency period was towards the end of the semester and performance dates were during reading period. It was so exciting to see the show come together from auditions to rehearsals to costumes, props, stage design, etc. I have met such wonderful people who share my passions, and I am glad I was able to be involved in the theater community on campus.
I believe the Harvard community is always so welcoming to newcomers, and if you have dreams and passions, there is no limit to what you can do! 

Looking back, theater at Harvard for me became more than just an extracurricular activity. It taught me the value of teamwork, collaboration, trust, and creativity in ways I have never experienced before. Whether trying to think of TikTok ideas for the cast members, discussing ticket sales and poster designs, or helping bring the characters on the page to life, every role taught me something new about the arts. 

It was the little moments that stayed with me, such as watching a scene evolve during weeks of rehearsals, hearing creative discussions about set design and costumes, and celebrating together after an intense week of performances. I came to appreciate how every person contributes to bringing a story to life and to the wider Harvard community. The friendships I have built and the incredible mentors who taught me how to direct through HRDC made the experience so much more meaningful. 

Even though I did not join until my junior year, I immediately felt like I belonged; HRDC has a wide range of members from experienced directors to first-time cast and crew members. Everyone was eager to support one another and create something special together! 

Although I first joined HRDC to reconnect with my passion for the performing arts, it actually became one of the most rewarding and memorable parts of my Harvard experience. Through HRDC, I found not only opportunities to grow creatively as both through directing and a producer, but more importantly, I became a part of a community that continues to challenge, inspire, and support me today.