“Whenever people ask me what my major is, I simply hold my head up with humble confidence and say, “I am a Theatre major.” – Essence Simon’e

August of 2018: I started my freshman year at The University of Central Arkansas. I made my mind up in the ninth grade that I was gonna major in Biology and minor in Theatre. All my life, I heard that you are only able to succeed in life if you were to get a “realistic” major and push your dreams to the side as a hobby. So, I decided that I was gonna do that. However, after my first two months in college, I noticed that I wasn’t happy with where I was. I felt like my heart yearned for something else. Something that only God knew about and that’s why I brought it to him. I looked around and I thought to myself, “Essence, is Biology really something that you want to do?”

God constantly put my dreams on my heart and it seemed as if he even knew that I wasn’t happy. He was right. I wasn’t happy. So, I became a person with an undecided major and for a whole month, I felt like I was confused and off track. When it comes to being still in Gods presence and having to wait on him? Well, It wont be an easy road. Some days I asked God, “When are you gonna give me a sign?” I felt like I didn’t know what I was gonna do with my life because so many people around me knew what major they were gonna continue on with. Then, there was me. I knew I wasn’t the only undecided major on campus but I didn’t have patience with God. However, he came through for me. I knew he would because he has and will NEVER let me down.

God brought it to me through many signs that theatre was meant for me. Not only did he bring it to me but he also gave me peace about it. I had peace and I knew that if I didn’t have peace about it? Well, that meant that it wasn’t the right idea. However, he gave it to me.

So, after God gave me my answer, I went straight to my adviser and changed it. I was scared because I didn’t know how I was gonna get through this. I didn’t know how I was gonna be successful but God then told me, “I’ll take care of you. I am here for you. You will succeed!” Am I the only one who hears God whenever I need guidance? Come one now! He is very much alive!

Anyways, after I changed my major, I felt so much happiness come upon me and my life.

“God knows what he’s doing!” -David Stewart (One of the best phone calls I’ve ever had in my life lol)

The thing is, God will lead us in the direction we have to go in because we all have a purpose. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with this degree but I do know that I am an active dreamer. I’ve always been an active dreamer.

From writing my own plays at the age of 7 years old and performing them in front of my family with the biggest excitement ever. Looking back, I was always passionate about performing those plays in front of hem too. Back then and still today- a switch came on. A switch that turned off shy Essence and turned on Essence the actress. I can’t believe that it took years for me to look back and notice that acting has always been apart of me. It’s amazing what God can do in your life and it’s amazing that he already has everything set up for us. We might not know what’s coming up next but if we did, what’s the point of having faith in God?

Finally, after I changed my major- God had to teach me how to be proud of the journey that he was taking me on. Usually, I would lowly say, “I am a theatre major” whenever people would ask me what major I chose. I would be afraid because many people aren’t very supportive of such a major that doesn’t guarantee jobs. However, I know that this is gonna bring me to pulling a lot of faith out of myself and putting it into God. Many people don’t understand that God brought me here. I also don’t have to explain myself to anybody because this is ME. God’s got me. Many people don’t believe in me but does that even matter? No. As long as I believe in myself, then that’s the only thing that matters. Whew, but let me tell you something! This isn’t an easy route for me. It requires a lot of faith, patience and trust in God. I’ll admit, I do get scared sometimes because honestly, after my next three years of college, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. Then again, it all comes back to trusting and having faith in God. He didn’t put this passion on the inside of me for absolutely no reason and for that, I am blessed. He will never let me down and as a human, we all must encourage ourselves with God’s word.

In addition to my college major story, well, one day in my Journey to Success class at UCA, we all had to go around and tell each other our major. So, everyone started saying their major’s one by one. All I heard was someone either wanting to become a doctor, lawyer, nurse or an OB/GYN. However, once it was my turn to say my major- I turned out to be the only Theatre or shall we say ARTS major in the entire classroom. It was only me. At the end, I was like…”Dang…really?” lol. Many people choose realistic majors but my question for them is, “Will you be happy doing that for the rest of your life?”

I’m sure that many would say, “Yes, because I’ll be making money”. Well, yeah you’ll be making money but money doesn’t bring you happiness all the time. However, I understand their reasons but I feel like the society should encourage students to find their passions. Yet, the world wants you to choose money over passion. With me? I choose passion over money. Let me give you this scripture, okay? Here it is:

ROMANS 8: 28- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

No matter what route you take and no matter what happens- God will take care of you. Everything will work our for MY good and YOUR good. We are winners, yo! We won’t lose because he is our Father. Me being his baby girl, I know that he loves me enough to take care of me. No matter what happens. He loves me and guess what? The person whose reading this, well- he loves you too. He always will.

ROMANS 8: 38-39- And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Everything in life God pieces those situations together for us. Our life is already planned out because God already knows what’s gonna happen before it even occurs. Therefore, why worry?

I’m so blessed that God will never leave nor forsake us. He will always be by our side and he’s there during every breath we take. We’re all special in his eyes.

If you leave this blog with nothing at least remember this one thing; God loves you.

Peace and blessings.

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