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Going to college forces students to leave lots of things behind–friends, family, pets, teachers, and childhood homes alike. But when Alex Johnson, a 20-year-old UNC Chapel Hill student, left home, she left another crucial facet of her life behind: her lifelong passion, musical theater. Though she decided to sacrifice musical theater in hopes that she could transition into college without distraction, little did she know her hiatus from theater would be short-lived. This page will tell you all about Alex’s story, her journey of re-discovering her love for theater, and the way that hobbies can play a crucial role in a student’s well-being.
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Why this story?
Alex Johnson and I have known each other for two years, and this past year I had the privilege of being her roommate and getting to know her musical theater story. I was with her the weekend she decided she needed to continue pursuing musical theater in college, and as her roommate I have gotten to watch her grow as an actress, a singer, and a student. She has practiced all of her songs and monologues for me, and after months of rehearsal, I finally got to see her perform in the UNC Pauper Player’s rendition of Rent the musical. Alex’s constant pursuit of musical theater never fails to inspire me, and she taught me the importance of never giving up your passions even when life gets busy.
Meet Alex
Alex Johnson is a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, currently pursuing a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and Media while minoring in Musical Theater. Originally from Greenville, North Carolina, Alex moved to Wilmington when she was eight years old, leaving her childhood friends behind. In search of a new community and a way to express her passion for singing and dancing, her mother enrolled her in the Performance Club Kids, a local musical theater group. It was during her first performance as Pinkalicious that Alex fell in love with the stage, sparking a lifelong passion for theater. Outside of her studies, Alex loves the beach, her family, her four dogs, and, given that she is a quarter Japanese, Asian cuisine. As a member of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, she is on a path to pursue a career in the industry while still making time for her love of theater.
Quitting her #1 hobby
Alex attended a very theater-oriented middle school and high school, in which she partook in at least three shows every school year. But when Alex was a junior in high school, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and changed life–and musical theater–as she knew it. The theater program switched to strictly online, causing many students to lose interest in it. Her senior year, the school was allowed to hold some in-person theater rehearsals–which were masked and social-distanced–but most remained online. The week before her senior musical, the show was canceled. Though the musical was shown online, Alex said that this change had an impact on her and caused her to lose the thrill that theater once gave her. After this, Alex decided that she was going to quit theater when she went to college.
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Covid-19
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COVID-19’s effect on hobbies
The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on students, leading to a loss of interest in hobbies and studies. With widespread school closures and the shift to online learning, students were forced to adapt to new routines and learning environments, which can be challenging and stressful. The pandemic has also resulted in social isolation and limited opportunities for extracurricular activities, leading to a loss of motivation and engagement in hobbies and studies.
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The importance of Hobbies
Having hobbies is essential for a well-rounded and fulfilling life, both in general and especially in college. Hobbies allow individuals to engage in activities they enjoy and find pleasure in, outside of their academic or work responsibilities. Engaging in hobbies can help individuals reduce stress and anxiety, improve mental health, and increase overall happiness and satisfaction with life. In college, having hobbies can also help students manage their time effectively, avoid burnout, and make new friends who share similar interests. Hobbies can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment outside of academic achievements, which can help individuals maintain a healthy work-life balance. Overall, having hobbies is crucial for personal growth, self-care, and overall well-being.
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A Future in the Spotlight
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Towards the end of Alex’s first semester at UNC-Chapel Hill, she realized she could not live without musical theater any longer. She decided that she needed to change her minor to dramatic art so that it would remain a part of her life for the rest of college. She began taking drama classes and eventually re-enrolled in voice lessons, which she does online with her high school vocal lessons. Sophomore year, Alex joined a student-led organization called the Pauper Players, and she began auditioning for as many shows as possible.
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Finally, she was cast in the musical Rent and even earned a solo. The rehearsals were 4 hours, 5 days a week, but Alex said it hardly felt like work at all since she enjoyed it so much. Alex met so many new friends in the Rent cast that are different from her–in a good way. She explained that her theater friend group is more diverse, regarding personality, gender, and race, than her Greek life circle, a quality that she missed about her high school community. Alex knew that after Rent, she would continue auditioning for shows for the rest of her college years and beyond.
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Alex’s interview
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