The Man Behind the Mask:  One High School Senior’s Unexpected Experience With the Arts or This Is Why We Do What We Do. 

The following theme was submitted as part of a college application by Brady Sumner, a senior at Newnan High School.  Since he submitted the paper, Brady was named the 2007 Valedictorian for the Newnan High School Class of 2007.

The theme  is a testament of the value of arts education in our schools.  He truly “gets it”! 

Many high school students wear a mask.  Some students wear a mask to hide their identity; others to creatively express themselves.  I have had the opportunity to wear two very different masks during each of my four years at Newnan High School - the face mask on my football helmet and the theatrical mask on stage.  These two masks “reveal the actor in the essence of his role,” each teaching me about the person I am becoming.

The first time I played organized football was in the seventh grade.  What I remember best from my middle school football experience is each coach’s dedication to making every individual a better person. The coaches taught us the fundamentals of the game to prepare us for high school football, but in doing so also taught us valuable life lessons. In every practice I was taught to push myself to new limits, both physically and mentally, and to never give up. While I did not immediately understand the coaches’ purpose in the extreme conditioning drills required at the end of each practice, I now understand how these exercises built character. The drills taught me to push myself beyond what I thought I could endure. I am now the starting center on our high school team. During our workouts and practices, our coaches emphasize “practice perfect.” My effort for perfection on the field has carried over to other aspects of my life, particularly the classroom. Every day I attempt to reach perfection in at least one task. The discipline and determination I learned on the playing field serve me well.

Beginning my freshman year, as the seasons changed, so did my mask. At the end of a successful freshman football season, a senior offensive lineman asked if I would be willing to portray a football player in our school’s annual musical. As a courtesy to this football mentor, I agreed to attend at least the first rehearsal.  I never again viewed theater with the same perception. Until I became a cast member, I did not understand the time, effort, and commitment required for a successful production. My junior year, I was cast as the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I immediately knew this would be a tremendous challenge, particularly since I had not sung in a chorus since the sixth grade. I had to learn some new fundamentals. I had to “practice perfect” and strive to improve at every rehearsal. With encouragement from friends and family and lots of work with my voice “coaches” before and after rehearsals, I became a convincing Beast.  I even mastered my two solos.

The masks I have worn on the football field and the stage have been a major part of my educational experience these last four years.  As I reach the closing scenes of my high school football and theatrical careers, I have learned that whether it is athletics, theatre, or life, there is no substitute for hard work, proper conditioning, and determination.  These disciplines create a reassuring confidence for me that when the lights come on, I can perform at my best.