A word from Lan.
Lan is my first Intern who has come to work with Quest during her summer break. Lan is currently studying psychology and Drama at Washington State University. Here is what she has to say about her time with Quest :
Over the past year, I have learned how aspects of theatre spaces can be ruthless, especially in a field that is interlinked with emotion. Nonetheless, theatre and the arts are important and everyone should have access to them. It was so enlightening to see how Mercedes draws mental health into her practice, combining it with drama. She has created something that fulfils a need in the community. It’s been interesting to see how her classes benefit people in differing ways.
This experience was fulfilling because it helped me learn how to work with adults. I have primarily worked with children, so it was interesting to compare the two. A lot of the same exercises can be done but the context and feeling in the room are going to be different. In class, I had more hesitancy in proposing exercises due to my doubts about them seeming childish than the other people in the room participating in them.
A while ago Mercedes had a conversation about how to build momentum when creating a new program. When planning an event or activity, if a few people come the first time more people will show up the next time. If you as the organizer decide to cut something out because of lack of attendance, you may get backlash or feel burdened.
It’s been fascinating to see how one idea can be expanded into multiple projects such as taking the Connections Cafe into care homes. We had also discussed the idea of work-life balance, trying to be accommodating for those in her classes but also trying to set boundaries, and figuring out the lines between being a friend and being professional. It can be hard to set boundaries when you want to create a space where everyone is on equal ground. I learned a lot from this experience, that there are plenty of opportunities to work with the community directly and it’s important to reach out to and collaborate with the people around you.
