My Senior Year of the United States (2024-2025)

I just can’t wait to graduate from the United States of America so I can apply everything I’ve learned to the Real World Out There!

My Senior Year of the United States is a DIY senior year—complete with lessons, exams, field trips, and graduation (as long as senioritis doesn’t tank my GPA).​ The concept of a senior year is a social experience that is shared by many people in the United States. Classes, exams, homecoming, extracurriculars, and college or job applications are common denominators for exchanging our unique stories and histories with each other. By DIYing my own senior year as a 28-year-old, I am creating opportunities for connection with generations both older and younger than my own. There's truly no rush, because it's never too late to end one chapter of your life and begin another!​

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As for me, I am trying to practice what I preach. When I reflect on my previous senior years, I am tempted to judge my younger selves too harshly—but I did what I could at the time, and the major life decisions I made have brought me invaluable wisdom since. My Senior Year of the United States is also a personal journey of discovering how I am both different and exactly the same at 28, and taking opportunities to write myself new when they come my way.​

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They say out of good grades, a social life, and sleep, you can only pick two. My sleep habits could use some work...here are some of the activities I completed this year as part of MSYUSA:

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• 6 applications for capstone, including grants and residencies both in the US and abroad

• Homecoming at Charlotte Street's annual Gala and prom at the Kansas City Ballet's annual Barre KC Soiree

• Served as a poll booth worker on Election Day and participated in Arts Advocacy Day at the Missouri State Capitol

• Field trips to Marceline, MO; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Omaha, NE; Humboldt, KS; and Atlanta, GA (forthcoming)

• Series of art projects:​​

  • my theaterstudio: Turn your phone 90 degrees to the right and scroll to watch my current short film "now showing" on my Spotify profile alongside selected playlists on view from "the vault". The exhibition changes quarterly.​

  • continuum: Guess those pronouns! Tap each Pinterest pin to reveal the answer.

  • ​Art for Instagram 1st anniversary: A temporary installation at my cubicle in the office, with a Pinterest board recap.

  • stay torn: a painting and a poem, which you can see very soon...

 

I am hosting a graduation open house at my apartment (which used to be a classroom, btw) on May 10, 2025 starting at 5pm. You either know where it is or you don't—but remember you can always ask me for the address. Or meet us afterward at Tom's Town for Queer Bar Takeover!

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