(6 points) · Evidence of engaged participation in academic honors society: 6 points

During the Fall 2025 semester, I was inducted into Alpha Psi Omega Theater Honor Society. I wrote this reflection on LinkedIn:

As I approach my first month as an inaugural member of the Alpha Kappa Gamma Chapter of Alpha Psi Omega (A Theater Honor Society), I would like to reflect on the role Theater and Performing Arts has had during my time at Spelman College thus far, from the perspective as a STEM student.

Entering college, I promised myself that to make up for ignoring my desire to perform in High School, I would find a way to do so in college. While I ended up unable to commit to a minor in Theater, Dance, or Music (trust me, I kept my Music Minor for as long as a I could), I still sought out opportunities in and outside the classroom.

The performing arts community taught me the importance of humility, and persistence my freshman year. I went from being the strongest female athlete on my sports team to one of the weakest dancers in my classes during my first semester. Additionally, I had to accept that performing in choir in high school put my behind my peers who had been studying music theory and vocal technique since they could read. In both spaces, I had to be kind to myself, and accept that it was okay to need more practice. So I practice, every single day. I found time to sing, and to dance. While I never surpassed the soloists, I surpassed myself, every single day. I learned that that was something worth celebrating.

My sophomore year, I became a member of Spriggs Burroughs Drama and Dance Ensemble with the intention of singing. Things did not end up going as I planned, so I ended up a poet, despite having never written poetry before. Despite my initially apprehension, I was embraced by the people surrounding me, and was inspired to use my voice to tell my story. I learned that if there is not a way paved for me, I need to pave it myself. Wrapping up my third semester in Spriggs Burroughs, I am amazed at how much space I've been given to take up, and how I have not only grown more confident as a performer, but as a human being.

Entering my second semester of my Junior year, I will be taking a break from time-consuming performances to focus on my setting myself up for post-graduate opportunities (strengthening my grades, studying for the MCAT, resting, etc.). Still I intend on remaining engaged in Theater Arts at Spelman and within the AUC as a whole, even if my largest contribution is as an audience members. If it is one thing that the past two and a half years has taught me, its that I am facilitated, and that taking time to focus on one thing that matters to me does not mean I am neglecting the other. If there were two things, it's that it is important to rest. I cannot do everything I want to do at the same time, but I can budget my time to make sure everything I can do is done well.

What senior year has in store for me is a mystery, but what I do know is that I am grateful that the performing artists in the AUC have curated spaces inclusive enough for non-performing art students who need an outlet for self-expression.

- Catherine Omeh