Mental health is a hot topic at the start of every school year. Adjusting to the stress of a new year is hard for every grade, especially for juniors. However, many hobbies and activities, such as theater, may ease this stressful transition.

Jared White is a junior in his second year in theater. White has seen first-hand the effect theater can have on mental health. 

“Overall, it’s kind of a turning point,” White said. “I feel more excited around people.” 

White is not alone in this. In a survey of 40 theatre students, over 72 percent said their mental health improved quite a bit or a great amount after joining theater. 

This improvement has many possible explanations.

“My mental health improved when I started to meet new people in theater,” White said. “They lifted me up and kind of gave me a place to be.” 

White added that inclusivity and encouragement from peers and theater teacher, Alisha Morris allowed him to be himself. 

“You have people who can be whatever they want to be and no one’s gonna judge. It’s given me the opportunity to express myself more on stage and also find out other things about myself,” White said. 

The majority of the survey participants agreed. 85 percent said theater felt like an inclusive place, and over 87 percent said that theater made them want to try new things or come out of their shells.

Although White is in his junior year–the “hardest year” of high school–when asked how it is affecting him, he said it’s less stressful than he thought.

“Not really [affecting me] that much. With theater and everything, school kind of feels like a second. It’s kind of keeping my mind off things and I’m not really stressed about it.” 

However, White isn’t the only junior who feels this way; over 76 percent of the surveyors in their junior year say their mental health has improved quite a bit or a great amount since joining theater.

Morris has also personally seen this improvement. “I’ve definitely seen a lot of kids turn things around when they joined theater,” Morris said. 

Theater is not a stress-free zone though; it’s hard work, but it is rewarding. Adeline Davis is a junior and has done theater since she was in third grade. She has personally felt this stress but also the fulfillment of a finished show. 

“Even though you have those moments of pressure, you also have those moments of reassurance and satisfaction,” Davis said. 

Although theater can feel stressful it helps students learn how to handle a healthy amount of anxiety. 

“Yes definitely, [theater has] helped me manage it. You can do everything, you just gotta take a breath,” Davis said.

Theater has a place for everyone, not only role-wise, but everyone of every gender, sexuality, and race are welcome. 

“The inclusivity in theater is amazing, you’re always going to have a very diverse group of people. Especially with the LGBTQIA+ [community], it’s a very safe place for people in the Queer community,” David said. 

The theater not only has diversity in people but also diversity in roles. 

“There are so many aspects to theater, it’s not just singing and acting and dancing. There is also the tech side and the directing side and I have gotten to do so much from theater,” Davis said. 

Theater can open up opportunities in students’ lives, Davis recently assistant directed Beauty and the Beast Junior at Holy Spirit Middle School. 

In theater you can just be yourself, it is a judgment-free zone. Morris has made this an important aspect of her classes. 

“I do a lot of work with my cast members talking about how when we work together it needs to be a safe space,” Morris said. 

Davis has noticed this difference compared to her other classes. 

“I’m so much more myself when I’m in theater. I don’t feel like I have to put on this persona, besides when I’m putting on a character,” Davis joked.