Flexibility and adaptability have been the name of the game for Paula Rolph throughout her college career.听听听
That adaptability came into play as Rolph, a second-generation KWU student, considered what to do after her May 15 graduation. She thought she鈥檇听go听on to perform in music theatre听and transition into teaching, however, the COVID-19 pandemic caused her to re-evaluate her plans.听听听
鈥淚n the fall of 2020,听professional听theatre wasn鈥檛 much听of a thing,” she said, referring to the shuttering of Broadway. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥業听need another plan.鈥欌�澨�听
During her time in Salina, she performed on stage at both 黑料网 and the Salina Community Theatre.听At KWU, she was in 鈥淭he听Spitfire Grill,鈥澨�淎lice in Wonderland,鈥澨�淐yrano,鈥� 鈥淭he Dining Room,鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚听A听Wonderful听Life: A Live Radio Play鈥� and most recently 鈥淟ittle Shop of Horrors.鈥� At the SCT,听her credits included听鈥淭uck Everlasting,鈥� 鈥淭he Music Man鈥� and 鈥淎听Gentlemen鈥檚 Guide to Love and Murder.鈥澨�听
Throughout her time at KWU, she was a member of the听Philharmonic Choir and played trumpet in the Wind Ensemble.听As听Rolph approached her senior year, the idea of music therapy swam around in her mind for听awhile, but 鈥渋t wasn鈥檛 quite clicking,鈥� she said.听听听听
One day,听she was waiting for class to begin听and thought, 鈥淢usic therapy isn鈥檛 quite right for me, but I wonder if there is such a thing as drama therapy?鈥� She began researching and learned听that听黑料网 State University in Manhattan听offered a master鈥檚 program.听听听
鈥淚 researched what drama therapy was and it clicked,鈥澨齊olph听said. 鈥淚 still want to do something with theatre. For me, drama therapy filled in where music therapy was lacking. I could use something that was 鈥榤y thing鈥� to help people.听听
鈥淒rama therapy is in the same school of thought as music therapy. It is similar in a lot of ways.听It can be used to help people who have gone through trauma, to help them take control of a situation they ultimately didn鈥檛 have control over. You can help kids with behavioral issues learn the consequences听of actions. They can see possible consequences of doing something without it directly affecting them. It鈥檚 only limited by your imagination.鈥澨�听
She works with youth at an after-school program at a local grade school, and also teaches musical theatre class at the Center for Theatre Arts at the Salina Community Theatre.听听听听
鈥淚 see a lot of good kids听who are听good at heart,听but听lose听their temper. This can help give me better skills to help these kids,鈥� Rolph said.听鈥淚 can take听(my drama therapy degree)听and use it to bring听further听awareness to the arts听鈥斕齜ut also help a听child听who is having behavioral issues.鈥澨�听
A native of Delphos who graduated from听Miltonvale听High School, Rolph said KWU was the perfect fit for her undergraduate experience.听听听听
鈥淪alina was close enough, but听not too large,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I had gone to听KU or听K-State after high school, it would have been overwhelming. I was familiar with Salina听because both of my parents and my aunt听attended KWU.听This has been a great stepping stone in figuring out being an adult.鈥澨�听
Rolph said her undergraduate degree was about branching out from her small-town roots.听听听听
鈥淚’ve听definitely grown a lot; I feel like that鈥檚 the nature of college,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檝e built a really good support system of friends and professors听while at KWU. I can call and ask听them听if I have questions or trouble. I think the best thing to come out of college is a good network and support system.鈥�
