Thank-you Redo

I have been looking forward to the thank you letter assignment all year. There are many people that I owe gratitude to because so many people have been a part of my theater journey. From voice teachers to directors to mentors, I have been blessed with people who are willing to teach me and encourage me to continue in the arts. However, no one is more deserving than my middle school music teacher Mr. Diekmann.

When I first entered the arts, I was convinced I would be an actress, and I was willing to put in the work. I would sing and dance to my heart’s content, but I always needed more than that; I needed a production. As I started auditioning and taking theatre classes, I sadly noticed a pattern, while others were getting complimented on their talents, I was getting complimented on my preparedness and preparation. Although this got me some roles, it worked less and less as I got older, and eventually, teachers placed my talents elsewhere. My preparedness was excellent for stage management, my good ear but subpar voice was great for sound design, my focus was great for running spots, etc. My love of performing eventually took a backseat to everything else, but it wasn’t my choice at first. I love technical theater now, but in the beginning, it was teachers, staff members, and friends forcing these positions on me because they had no one else to fill them. I got to play a lead in my high school musical my senior year, but I couldn’t focus on it because I was also doing stage management, sound, and props. I am thankful to everyone who put me in these positions because I learned so much, but they all did it by force and their choice, not mine. However, one mentor never did. One mentor allowed me to perform and not worry about the rest of the show: Mr. Diekmann.

When I was in sixth grade, Mr. Diekmann asked me what my dream role was, and in eighth grade, I played Adelaide in Guys and Dolls completing that dream. Mr. Diekmann would let me come to him every tenth period just to sing through music books while he played. He let me go through all the closets in his room and play dress up with the costumes I found. Mr. Diekmann never asked anything of me. Unlike everyone else, who always wanted me to take on more, he just encouraged whatever I did. He always tried to come to my performances and even came to my grad party. He was always there for me, and I am eternally grateful. I attempted to tell him how grateful I was. In my high school, for graduation, you can nominate a teacher who made a difference in your life (K-12), and I chose him; however, he couldn’t come to the ceremony because of his wife’s breast cancer. This thank you note is the chance I never got to truly thank him for supporting me and never asking anything from me other than my love of theater.