What makes a good story?

Is it the content? Is it the characters, or the plot? Is it the style as to how it's told?

I believe it's a little bit of all of this- and I believe that the stories we tell have power for change in our world.

My name is Sarah, I'm a university graduate from WWU where I studied Theatre Performance and English Literature. I spent my four years discovering and discussing stories and what makes them so impactful.

In the fall of September 2025, I will be attending Queen Mary University of London in attendance of their Master's in Theatre and Performance, and moving across the pond with my cat, Juniper. To pay for it, currently, I am working a full-time and part time job (65+ hours a week), while living at home (to reduce costs) to save money.

In order to be accepted into the UK for a student visa, I need an upfront proof that I can pay the $30,000 tuition and $17,000 living expenses needed, as well as around $2000 to apply for this visa. This fundraiser is to help cover the costs not covered by my employment, so that I'll be able to have the savings needed to be accepted into a student visa and attend my MA in the fall.

For my B.A., my senior thesis was a self-produced, self-written, and co-directed solo performance on my life growing up in the Mormon church and discovering my queer identity after leaving it. I found release, self-forgiveness, and understanding for my past through these therapeutic reflections. Themes of the play revolved around grief in leaving a community behind, letting go of familial expectations, and discovering my authentic self. The play challenged the question, “What happens when everything you want to be is beyond what you’ve been told you are?” while using the art of shadow work, puppetry, and audience engagement.

It was in those moments of joking with the audience members about my childhood trauma, that I found peace. After the post-show discussion, audience members came up to me. They told me their own stories of dealing with unhealthy parents, or toxic religious communities. By showing my most vulnerable self, I created a space where others felt allowed to show their own selves.

In the fall, I hope is to research the following:

1. Solo-performance as an art, and the therapeutic process of writing and performing such a piece.

2. Audience and Performer interaction and:

3. How do the stories we share impact the social-political landscape, and how can the stories we tell make a difference on an activist level.

Your contribution will help make this research a reality and will be investing into future artistic endeavors of important storytellers.