fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

The show must go on

by HV1 Staff
April 14, 2016
in Letters
1

With the news of the latest budget cuts to the fall drama and other extra-curricular activities, I’ve returned to write on the subject of the first article I wrote for the The Herald over a decade ago: the future of the performing arts at New Paltz High School.
The multitude of extra-curricular activities I did in high school have had a profound effect on my life and my career. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in computer science, so at first glance, the number of plays I did may seem irrelevant. However, my time in the theatre proved to be quite useful. I study human-robot interaction, drawing inspiration from theatre, essentially trying to teach robots how to “act” better. One of the keys to my work has been my inter-disciplinary knowledge of both the theatrical and the computational, which is just continuing the education that started many years ago. (This is to say nothing of some of my best friends from high school who now pursue the performing arts as a career.) Keep in mind that I never took the dramatic presentation class; all of my theatrical education in high school came on the stage of Otto F. Grassel auditorium. The point is, you never know where these things will lead. Being a well-rounded student doesn’t just help you get into college, it helps you see things from new perspectives and helps you in surprising ways that you never would have expected.
Furthermore, there is inherent value in these extra-curricular activities, even if it doesn’t explicitly become relevant to one’s career. I have found theatre a welcome diversion from my academics, which reduces my stress and gives me the opportunity to create truly fun art with like-minded individuals, traits that are valuable regardless of education level. That is why to this day I still participate in “extra-curricular” activities, including directing and/or conducting four musicals at the med school here.
These cuts are indicative of the continuing decline of education as one of our national priorities. Perhaps we as “adults” cannot solve all of the problems facing the world right now, but unless we prioritize education, we will ensure that the next generation definitely can’t. I’m unable to point to something else that I would cut instead, but I would consider it extremely unfortunate if the next generation of students was not afforded the same experiences I had. My deepest gratitude goes out to those who keep the art drum beating in New Paltz. If the budget cannot support the fall drama, then I look to the community to support the arts, either with dollars or with time. I’ll be first in line to donate to a campaign through DonorsChoose or Kickstarter. The show must go on.
David Lu!!
St. Louis, MO
P.S. Let’s go Mets!

Tags: budget cutsDrama ClubNew Paltz High School
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

HV1 Staff

Related Posts

Citizens want Woodstock to become sanctuary town
Letters

Letters to the editor: July 2, 2025 (The town we lost, Fighting back, Graceful Aging and more)

July 1, 2025
Lower Esopus Creek,  recent elections, Central Hudson and more letters from our readers
Letters

Letters to the editor: June 25, 2025 (George Washington Elementary, Winston Farm, unjust war and more)

June 24, 2025
Local rallies draw large crowds
Letters

Letters to the editor: June 18, 2025 (local elections and more)

June 17, 2025
Peace, love and pride (photos)
Letters

Letters to the editor: June 11, 2025 (local elections and more)

June 10, 2025
Thousands take to streets for 20th annual New Paltz pride march and festival (photos)
Letters

Letters to the editor: June 4, 2025 (Central Hudson, Big, Beautiful Bill, graceful aging and more)

June 3, 2025
Memorial Day Parade returns in Woodstock
Letters

Letters to the editor: May 28, 2025 (Amanda Gotto, Anula Courtis, Tim Rogers and more)

May 27, 2025
Next Post

Sparkle Park installation in Bearsville to raise awareness of human trafficking

Please login to join discussion

Weather

Kingston, NY
61°
Clear
5:25 am8:35 pm EDT
Feels like: 61°F
Wind: 0mph SE
Humidity: 88%
Pressure: 30.14"Hg
UV index: 0
SunMonTue
91°F / 70°F
90°F / 70°F
86°F / 66°F
powered by Weather Atlas

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing