You're not one dimensional.
You're a very busy person with many, many interests.
You love sports, and you also love theater.
You're a drama queen, and a champion on the court.
Sports and theater.
They're really, really different.
You can't possibly do both, or can you?
Let's find out on How to Middle School: Balancing Sports and Theater.
So, you've been playing soccer your whole life—practicing on the weekends,
traveling around the state, competing.
But then you hear a little voice, hey you,
don't you wanna get up on stage and sing, and dance?
They're doing Hamilton this season.
And you know you'd make the best Eliza.
But it seems crazy because you've got this other voice saying you're a sports kid.
You love this, you're the best midfielder in school and
you have to crush Sunnydale next week because they need to just get lost.
Besides, your parents have made all this investment, your friends play sports.
And I mean, aren't the theater kids weird?
Or maybe you're the opposite.
You've always been a theater kid, your BFFs are in theater.
Your parents have been taking you to all these weekend acting classes,
you dream of your Broadway debut.
But you want to try something active and competitive, like basketball.
But basketball is full of jocks and you might not be good enough, and
what if they don't want you on the team because you're a theater kid?
In middle school, people tend to get grouped into one particular type,
you're a theater kid or a jock, and you can't possibly be both, right?
So totally wrong.
Humans are complex creatures who don't fit into one single box.
Sure, you might be passionate about one thing over another.
But there is no rule that says you can't experiment and discover new passions and
identities along the way.
Ben Franklin didn't just pick up a kite one day, put in some lightning and
become a legend.
He was a writer, printer, philosopher, politician, postmaster,
scientist, inventor, humorous, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.
The kite was just one little thing that people obsessed over for some reason.
Not saying you have to be all those things, but
you don't just have to pick one thing to be a successful human being.
Besides, if you think about it, you're already a lot of things.
You're a friend sometimes, and a brother or sister to others.
Sometimes you study, and sometimes you party.
Balancing sports and theater isn't really that different.
It's about embracing the many sides of you, and
exploring your many interests and talents.
Now, you do have to think about the boring parts here, meaning scheduling.
Some sports are in the fall.
Some musicals are in the spring.
Some plays have weekend all day rehearsals when it's close to curtain time.
Some sports teams will take you on cool overnight field trips that you don't want
to miss.
And the truth is, you can't be two places at once.
So maybe you do sports one season, theater the next.
Or maybe you take weekend or
summer classes outside of school to scratch the itch.
Sit down with your calendar and maybe your parents, and maybe even your coaches or
directors and work it out so that you can physically do both.
Don't just go for it and
see where it lands because that can lead to some real conflict later.
And bonus, if you show your parents that you're serious about this,
they should help you get there.
I know what you're thinking, but what about your friends?
You can hear them now, you're abandoning us.
You think you're too cool for theater?
You're a jock now.
You're a theater dork, are you even relevant?
I guess you don't wanna come to my big softball kickoff party at the end of
the year, pity.
Wait, I didn't know you could sing.
Yes, transitions are hard, and to be honest, you may get some push-back.
Your friends might tease you a little,
some of them might even be a little shocked or upset.
But if you let that stop you from pursuing your dreams, you're going to regret it.
This is your life, not theirs.
Once you're settled in your new routine, invite your friends to your shows, or
to your game.
It will make them feel included in your life and they can support you and
your new talent.
If they're still being mean about it,
maybe it's time to hang with your supportive friends instead.
Finally, you might feel scared or
intimidated by the idea of trying out for theater or sports.
You're already comfortable where you are.
Why put yourself through a fresh new hell?
Auditions are notoriously terrifying.
What if you make a total fool of yourself on stage?
And trying out for a new sport when everyone has their positions already and
everyone has their own friends and allegiances.
And it's totally normal to have jitters, but
middle school is all about trying new things and exploring your identity.
Listen to your gut and don't let fear stop you from trying.
Also, it's okay to be a beginner.
Nobody ever got great at anything without a lot of practice, go easy on yourself.
If you're brave enough to balance sports and theater,
you're resilient enough to master them both.
Thanks for watching How to Middle School.
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See you next time!
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