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She Speaks Through Me - How Theatre Helped Me Find My Voice
June 18, 2026
What started as a theatre honors project became one of the most meaningful experiences of my college journey.
This year, I created She Speaks Through Me: Black Womanhood on Stage, a research and performance project that explored how Black women playwrights use monologues to tell stories about identity, love, resilience, survival, and lived experience. Through research, performance, and original writing, I studied the works of Lorraine Hansberry, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Lynn Nottage to better understand how Black women’s voices are represented on stage.
One of the most exciting parts of the project was writing my first original monologue, Legacy of Love. Inspired by the women who raised me, the piece explored the idea that love can be a form of power and that the stories we inherit can shape who we become. As both a researcher and theatre artist, I had the opportunity to connect academic research with live performance in a way that felt personal and meaningful.
The project opened doors I never imagined. Because of this work, I was selected as a 2026 Student Research Advisory Board (SRAB) Fellow and presented at the SRAB Student Scholars Conference. I was also accepted by the CUNY Office of Research to present at the 2026 CUNY Celebration of Undergraduate Research, where I received the Best Oral Presentation Award.
I am incredibly grateful to the Lehman College Theatre Department, Monica Duncan, my faculty mentors, cast members, and family for their support throughout this journey. Their encouragement helped me grow as a researcher, writer, director, and performer.
As I prepare to begin graduate school and pursue an MFA in Theatre, I leave Lehman with gratitude, confidence, and excitement for what comes next. Most importantly, I leave knowing that my voice and the voices of those who came before me matter.