Last weekend, I came home from the New Jersey state conference, and I had the time of my life! I drove up to Robbinsville High School Friday evening and arrived at my hotel, where I met up with the fabulous Doug Berlon, our EdTA Deputy Executive Director of Education and Content, who I have been to four different events with now! After checking in and getting ourselves all prepped for tomorrow, we said good night and woke up the following morning, bright and early and ready to go. Once we arrived at Robbinsville High School, we immediately set ourselves to work, Doug helping at registration and me helping with the STOs at their table. At the STO table, fundraising efforts for NJ Thespians and BC/EFA were all going on through different creative merchandise, such as raffles, selling ducks, and signing a magical mushroom!
I was introduced to Ms. Caroline Little, the lovely Chapter Director for New Jersey, who continued to help with introductions for me and the STOs. The New Jersey STOs were some of the most fantastic people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. They were extremely diligent, very organized, and of course a lot of fun to hang out with! They even had time to sneak me into their opening ceremonies scene, which revolved around the Fairytale theme of their conference. After opening ceremonies, throughout the day I worked with the STOs to run the table, as well as popped in on different IE sessions, where I saw the incredible talent that New Jersey had to offer to Thespian Festival. Also on Saturday, I go to teach two workshops, my leadership workshop and the N.A.P.S. advocacy workshop, and I had some of the most enthusiastic students attend both times! They certainly learned how to take some N.A.P.S. and follow their leadership M.A.P. in both of the sessions, and I was so grateful to have had such wonderful students participating!
Saturday came to a close with a colorful dance, and Doug and I headed out. That night, though, I was very happily joined by two of Ms. Caroline Little’s students in my hotel room! They invited me down to have pizza with their troupe and even participate in their troupe traditions, and they let me in on some very intense rounds of card games before everyone headed back up to their hotel rooms. The students from Ms. Little’s troupe were incredibly welcoming, and I was so grateful to have met such kind, loving people.
Sunday morning, Doug and I were up early and ready to go with our bags packed, knowing that we would not come back the hotel again. The morning began with lots of nerves and excitement, as everybody knew that after today, everyone would know who would be proceeding on to the national level for their IEs and one-acts. There were even more stunning performances on Sunday, and I had the absolute pleasure to sit in on a few one-acts! Throughout the day, the STOs upped their fundraising efforts, as they made an effort to sell the last few ducks at their table and to fundraise by having people pie their favorite STOs in the face!
I then got to watch as the Trash Costume Contest unfolded, where designers decked out their models in recyclable items to fit the Fairytale theme in only 45 minutes! It was remarkable to see what these crafty students could come up with in such a short time, and later that day the STOs and I awarded the winner a trash-castle trophy!
Towards the end of the day, we also held the Minute To Give It fundraiser for the Send-A-Troupe grant, and New Jersey Thespians, in one minute, raised $500! All that they were able to give in such a short amount of time blew me away, and Doug and I were so grateful to have experienced that conference. I slipped out just as they were ending closing ceremonies by recognizing all of the performers and technicians that weekend, and was sad to have to leave such an amazing conference. Thank you New Jersey Thespians, I hope I get to join you all again next year!