Personal Narrative: My Discourse Community

Upstage is back, downstage is front, right is left, left is right, out is up, break a leg but don't really, wings have nothing to do with birds, the catwalk doesn’t involve cats, and when the stage manager says move it means move. The theatre vocabulary is very confusing for the outside world, but for me it is my second language. More specifically, I have developed a passion for the technical elements of theatre over the years. The joy of being the “people in black” that can make amazing sets and produce incredible plays which goes unnoticed.. Although this discourse is much small yet complex it has helped me find out who I am but also in my academic skills through learning how to work in teams, solve problems independently but also how to be

For example, because my discourse is more of a family than a community it has taught me that: even though you will come across people that you don’t like or get along with you still need to treat them with respect. Also, that you will come across classes where you will have to work together, just like in stage crew and there is more than one way to get your work done. Secondly, when in groups or having to deal with other individuals, they are human beings and will be different from you. But you cannot let other students walk all over you; and if you need to talk to a teacher it has taught me how to be assertive in my needs and wants. Without this skill, school would be much more difficult because without communication skills, you will fail. Finally although i was never professionally an actor, I have learned that my discourse community has taught how to channel my emotions not only in my work and on the stage but in my writing. It has taught me how to use the vocabulary needed to express my ideas and feelings on paper. My discourse community has taught me so many lessons that I will use throughout life, I’m sure I would have no learned them