Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/1531278
42 / TREVOR MAGAZINE FALL 2024–25 alumni feel about their Upper School arts experiences. The survey's qualitative results revealed some common threads: teachers as role models and positive influences on the development of the artist, as well as the "whole" person; openness toward personal inquiry and expression; and fostering curiosity about learning and the desire to explore beyond the classroom and beyond the arts as a field. For example, Cheri Morvain '96 states, "Dance always tells a story and forces you to look deeper to understand the connections. I use this in my everyday life. I am very analytical and logical and often like to explore and peel the layers back to [more fully] understand before making decisions. I still attend dance shows to keep that part of my brain active." The careers and studies of respondents range from traditional arts disciplines, such as stage management, design, and music; to more consumer service– centric paths like healthcare, education, and law; to research- based fields, such as library science and museum curation; to more traditional business-focused areas, like entrepreneurial projects, project management, and virtual reality. The top criteria for how alumni determine the way that the arts played a role in their development involves the impact teachers have made on them, making connections beyond the classroom, and discovering unexpected understandings about themselves in the process. Rachel Tavel '01, faculty '06–'10 observes, "The arts at faculty Trevor are on another level. Students at TDS can be creative and express themselves without any judgment or required accolades. It is free self- expression without having to qualify to do it, and I think that provided us with the most interesting and creative way of connecting, seeing different perspectives, and being open to whatever others had to share. Empathy and perspective come with Preparing for performances helps to develop collaboration skills and an understanding of how to incorporate feedback into the creative process. Students in all theatre arts and drama classes write, direct, and produce a variety of scene work in their class projects. In Theatre Design and Production, radio dramas serve as an entry point for design and environment explorations.