How One Teenager Changes the Culture at School: Ask the Question, Be the First to Jump

This is the Dearing Acting Studio Podcast, where we discuss the connection between life and acting. Hello, everybody. This is Brian here with you guys. I am here with Isabel and Truman. Hey. We are so excited to just be here today. Okay, this is our very first teen acting podcast. I'm excited. Can't wait. So, how are you guys doing today? I'm doing good. We're doing great. A little tired, but I'm awake now.

You're awake now? So, we're good. Who could have positively woken you up? He was at my house, actually. Well, yeah, that's true. So, I stayed up really late with Wyatt because we were taking weird photos. And then we started watching YouTube, and the next thing you knew was like 5 o'clock in the morning. And we're just like, oh. And then we went to sleep. And then I got up early because my sister was going to take me home.

You got up early, but did you get like a phone call at like 7.30? Or were you actually already awake? No, no. You, yeah, you woke me up. Yeah, you woke me up. And I just happened to see my sister's text later. But I get a call from Brian, and he's like, I'm just like, I'm just like, and he's clearly asleep. Like, by the way, just clearly like, hello.

You know, one of those voices. He's just like, did I just wake you up? I'm like, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm like, dude, I woke you up. Like, it's fine. Like, come on. I woke you up. It's okay. It's 7.58. Like, yeah, it's fine that I woke you up. And he's like, maybe you did. And then he was like, yeah, do you want to do a podcast?

I'm like, hell yeah. So I did that, and now I'm here, and I'm excited. That's awesome, dude. I'm waiting for that. Yeah, yeah, that's cool. And the whole thing sort of for you stemmed from this idea of just asking questions, right? So it's so important that we are willing to ask questions when we have them, because that's a bravery thing, right? We have to step out and make a decision that we're going to ask those kind of questions with the full possibility that we might get a no, or someone might be too busy, and that can be scary.

And so you did that, Truman. You came over, and you asked a little bit about the podcast, right? So what drove you to do that? So I've always, like, the past year, I've become, like, I watch more podcasts, and I enjoy, I think it's, like, a really cool way of, like, entertainment and, like, learning new things, because there's so many different kinds of podcasts. Because there's, like, ones that you can, like, learn stuff.

There's, like, funny ones, which I prefer the funny ones, just because it's comedy. And then when I learned you guys were doing a podcast, I'm like, oh, that's really cool. And then now I'm on the internship, and I'm like, I want to help with this as much as possible, because it's, like, one of the, like, a cool way I enjoy entertainment. Yeah, definitely. And you both are interns here, which is super cool.

Yeah. So tell me a little bit about that, Isabel. Interning, we started, how long did we start? Like a month ago. Yeah, a little over a month ago, yeah. Yeah, we, I think it started when, well, we were talking about this, the, at one of the chaos shows, Joey, I was there watching, because I was in the teen chaos, and Joey was like, do you want to help film for the, on the monopod?

And I was like, yeah, heck yeah, and I, like, had no clue what I was doing, but I just went up, did it, and then, you know, it was, it was fun helping out, and I think that kind of sparked a little something, and so now we're here helping a lot. Well, I'll tell you, it sparked something for me, because that's one of those, again, same idea with what Truman did with the podcast, it's, it's being brave enough to say yes, even though it's scary.

Yeah. And you didn't have a plan, right? It wasn't like, oh, I was planning on doing this. You were just in the teen show, and Joey just happened to be like, hey, would you stay for the adult? I don't think you were even planning on staying for the adults that night, which is one of those things you could have very easily been like, no, like, you know, I'm going to go home, it's been a long day, or whatever, and you made a decision to say yes, and through that, some really cool things happened, and it was from there that we got excited about you.

We got excited about the idea of bringing you on and interning you, and from there, that's sort of sparked into Truman and the others, and like, and building on that. Yeah. So it just, it came from willingness to do that, and I know for me, guys, that can be super scary. I don't know about you guys, like, I'm a planner a lot of the times in my brain.

Oh, I'm a big planner. Yeah? I write everything down. See, I'm like a… Like, everything. I'm a planner, but I don't actually write it out. I just, like, have it all planned in my head, and it doesn't always go well, but I, like, always think ahead of what's going to happen and, like, how it's going to happen in the worst and best case scenario. You know, we talked about this even in church today, they talked about this.

It's super challenging when you have that idea and this plan, and, like, it doesn't go perfect to what you wanted. Yeah. That's been huge for me, and I had a recent discovery of feeling that and going, okay, I need to release that fear and be present. Like, be present and make a choice to just go with things and know that things are never going to go as planned.

Yeah. Yeah, most likely. We need to plan. You need to look ahead and have ideas and think through best case, worst case scenarios, but then once you're in it, you need to live in it. Mm-hmm. You know? Yeah. So it's just exciting. Like, when you start to live that way. Yeah. It's been a lot of fun interning. It's been, like, I don't know, just, it's a good place to be at during.

Every single time we come in here, I think you can say the same in all the other interns. It's just, like, you forget about all the stress. School comes, like, that comes with school and, like, outside friends and stuff like that, and just, like, be present. And be happy. Like, I come into this, like, place every day, like, as much as possible, not every day, sadly. And it's, like, no matter what happened earlier in that day, I'm now happy because I'm here, and it's amazing.

I love it. And it's, like, teaching me so many skills that I don't think I would have been able to learn as well anywhere else, so. So, you guys are both in the program and have been for a while. Yeah. Like, for me, one of the things I would love to talk about today is I feel like right now, and I've done a lot through, like, youth ministry, and I have a deep passion for youth that you guys know, specifically teenagers.

Yeah. And there's this, and it's been around forever. I mean, it's in your generation a lot because of social media as well. It's just sort of changed the game. But it's always been there, this idea of self-image and the struggle behind that, especially in high school, especially, like, walking into high school and everybody's sort of comparing and going through that. And so, would you guys mind sharing for you, like, what that's been like?

How has acting helped with that? How has acting helped you become more confident in you at school and in your journey as a teenager, honestly? Yeah. I think self-image is, like, a big problem. A lot of teens in high school have that problem with self-image and, like, not being confident. I know, personally, I've struggled with confidence a lot. But when I started coming to Dearing and, like, even acting in general, it's a good place to, when you do improv, to, like, use what you're struggling with and put it on stage and just, like, deal with it.

It's a good place to, like, exhale all the challenges and struggles and to be more confident. It's helped a lot with confidence. Yeah, it has. Like, things I don't love personally about myself, being here has, I've been able to learn to turn those things into something funny or happy. So, I now love that about me. So, like, my smile, not my favorite, but I've made it into, like, my own thing and it's funny.

I got a new haircut. It wasn't my favorite, but now I'm into beanies. So, I'm like, I'm… Now I'm into beanies. Yeah. So, I'm like… You need to find something to be positive. Yeah. I'm learning to, like, find the positive thing no matter what happens, which is really good for me and my friends as well, so… Yeah, because, and again, going back to exactly what we were talking about, like, you go in with a plan, right?

You had a haircut. You told them how to do it. And it just didn't happen. It just didn't happen. Like, it didn't happen. Did you tell them what you wanted and they didn't… So, I showed him a photo of this thing. Can we see it? Can we, like, see a little, you know, pull it down real quick? My hair, yeah. Yeah. And he used to have just, like, long hair.

Like, just like one of those, like… Yeah, you gotta get it on. Yeah, like slow motion, by the beach, ocean, like, hair, you know? So, the haircut I wanted was still shorter than what I normally go with, but it was definitely longer than this and it was, like, backwards and I loved it. I showed him a photo. I'm like, this is what I want and I've always trusted him.

I go to him almost every single time and he's never let me down and I show him it and it's done and I'm just like, thank you. Because, like, you can't say anything else to a barber. You can't be like, oh, I hate it. Because, like, he's an amazing guy. I love that place. They're all nice and it just feels awkward. So, I just left and I'm just like, okay, does anybody have a beanie?

It's okay. You rock it, Truman. Yeah. I made it work. So, it's going to grow back. So, it's fine. Absolutely, man. And it's just about going like, okay, I'm going to make this work and be confident within it, you know? And I told you, cool, you found a beanie. That's your way to do that. That's awesome. You don't even need that, honestly. Like, there's, it's all about what you think of yourself.

Yeah. Like, the people who are the most, like, attractive to be around as far as energy-wise are the ones who, who don't let that affect them. And, and I'm speaking from a perspective of, I struggle with it too, man. Like, and we literally in, we're, we're doing some, some filming of some of our stuff when we do meetings. And, and it was pointed out that I have, like, a bald spot, which I don't actually have, by the way.

Like, there's not a bald spot. But if I put a beanie on, it messes with my hair. And then it turns into this weird side swivelly thing that's like, oh, man. And it's, and the back is, it does kind of look like that. And my dad's bald. Like, he's got a bald spot. And I'm like, I'm like, I would not be bald, you know? Yeah, I get that.

And then the whole, then I'm going in the mirror and like, what is it, who else is looking at this, you know? And it's hard. It's super hard to not, not think about that, you know? That's another thing that like acting with what we've been talking about, the self-image thing, it, all the lessons that you take from even being at Dearing, you take into real life, I've noticed.

Yeah, like listening is a huge thing that, uh, is being taught here. And I've learned to listen to like my friends and they've, because of that, like, appreciate me more and it's able to make, make more friends because of my ability to listen to them and understand what they're going through. And it means a lot to me because I can try my best to make them happier, even if it doesn't work all the time.

But it's not only helped me become mentally better, but it's helped other people, which is really cool. Acting is amazing. Yeah. And dealing with that idea, like it's contagious. So when you, when you start listening and being honest and connecting to people, like they want to be around you. And you have the ability, and this is for everybody, this is for everybody listening. You have the ability to literally shift a culture.

It takes one person. It takes one person going, no, I'm not going to do that to slowly start infecting more people who start going, oh, they're not going to do that. Cool. I'm not going to do that either. Like, oh yeah, it's, it's so infectious. It's hard to do because it's so hard to be that one. But when you do, like you literally, and you guys have the ability to change your schools and, and change the whole culture of, of what's happening right now.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, thing was like standing out and like not doing what everybody else is doing. I've had teachers in the past, like, like I've had teachers who don't like me. I've had teachers who do, and the ones who do is they always say like, I stand out because I don't do what everybody else does. And I'm, I am my own self. And plus I ask a lot of questions because I like to learn.

Um, but it's always like cool. Cause I'm able to stay away from like bad stuff. Luckily I've stayed away from like drugs and drinking and all that. And it's contagious to my friends. Cause they see like, Hey, I'm doing good because of this. Maybe I should try this and they stop it. And then it spreads from there to there. And it's amazing. Like seeing that effect on people.

Cause like if someone's ever about to do something, they know they shouldn't, they come to me and like, Hey, talk me out of this. And I can talk to my friends out of it. I was thinking about that in church today too. Cause like even worship when everyone's at the stage, you, everyone can be together ready to worship. But if like, like that one person doesn't choose to go full out or jump when it's the jumping song, no one else is going to jump.

So each week is like a different week at church. Like one week, everyone's jumping and really excited. And the band like can feel the, the connection with the audience. And it's all that one person that like starts the jumping and having fun. Have you been the jumper before? Oh yes. I'm always telling my friends to jump today. I was like, we are going to jump at the first song.

I 100%. And I saw, I saw the jumpers over there and it's terrifying though, to be the first jumper to the very first jumper. So you've been the first, first one to jump. Oh yes. I love to do that. That's totally as well. Was there a point where that was hard for you? Where that was challenging? Tell me about that. I, when I started coming more to the high school ministry, I was not very like nervous about what other people think.

And it's a big deal in high school, not even just at church, but I, my friend, her name's Haley, um, I remember like worshiping and there's like a level of worshiping where you just like sing the songs, say the words, but she was like really getting into it. And I, she didn't have to, she was probably like nervous about how I thought of her, but I saw her and I was like, okay, you know, I'm going to not care what anyone else thinks and do what I want to do to worship God in the way that I can do that.

And that's helped. And that's so great. That's such an amazing idea of like, cause it's wherever, wherever you're at in life, wherever your faith is in these certain things, that, that idea of the jump is what's so important. It's this, cause we all feel it, your gut, your spirit will tell you to do things and it's terrifying in the moment to do them. It's terrifying to, to be the first one to jump when nobody else is, to be the first one to go, yeah, I'm not going to do that.

And then down the line, all of a sudden it pays off because people come and ask you, Hey, uh, to help me not do this. It pays off because the person next to you then goes, jump with me, you know, but it doesn't start that way. You have to be brave first. Yeah. And usually no one else cares what you think or like, no one's judging you.

It's nobody that's like making it hard for yourself. That's right. And the people who are, or it seems like they are, they really secretly want to, they really secretly deep down want to, everybody's got a story, everybody's got something going on. And that's the thing, wherever it is in life, whether it's at church or at school or at class or like wherever you are, we're all dealing with the same stuff and it's super hard.

But if we can take a moment to go, okay, like, let me assume the best in you. That's something Matt teaches here. And Matt's been my mentor for a long time and he's phenomenal. I mean, I literally, I would not be anywhere close to where I am without Matt. Um, and right now he's starting to help and we've been holding each other accountable on certain things, but he's helping me realize just all that, man, all the things he's done for me that I had no idea, just like no idea.

And I'm looking back and going, gosh, I wouldn't be even close to where I am. And through that, that was hard for him. Like there, cause I was fighting him on it. I was fighting him on it. And I'm sure like with you guys, when you're starting to do some of these things, like there'll be friends that fight you on some of the good. There'll be friends who like, don't want to give into that stuff.

And, and you say, you still have to follow your spirit and do the right thing, but it's not going to be easy. And honestly, you're going to be the way he described it, persecuted and crucified for it in a sense. Like they're going to, to, to just say no to it. And you're going to feel bad because you point out the things that you know are right, but they don't want to hear necessarily.

choose what is truly right for not only you, but everyone else around and on stage for like your partners and stuff like that. But in real life for your friends. And even if you're not friends, like people you could hate, you don't know what they're going through. That's right. And because of that, you have to be sympathetic for them too. Yeah, it goes right into, you don't know somebody else's story.

So we, it's so easy to make assumptions and it's so easy to let our feel cause, cause they will, like you will get angry. Like Matt and I were literally talking about this today because yesterday I, and I, I thought it was so cool what I did. And he was like, and he had felt that moment of me pushing back for a second. Cause I was like, basically what happened is Joey did something for me.

Right. And I'd already done all that. It's into the night and I'm like, Oh, I forgot my phone in my car. And so I asked him to go get it for me. And I realized there were like two dishes that he had left out from earlier in the day. And I was like, cool, I'm going to serve him. I'm going to do that. Right. So I go to do it and I like go down, just like hit my head so hard on the counter.

Like, like so hard. I mean, if there was a button for that, I'd push it like, ouch. Right. And so then immediately went for an ice pack and then like sort of held it there. And then he came back in and, um, I had him finished with the dish. Well, what I should have done is I should have continued to serve first. Honestly, like, cause selfishly. Yeah.

I want to put this ice. It's not going to hurt me for another 15 seconds to finish this thing, this service thing, and then put that on my head. But I was mad. And so because the mad came in, I let the anger win. And then I wasn't able to serve Joey the way that I had intended to. And it's such a silly example in a way, but like that's, it's that anger.

It's those things will rise up and it's hard. It's hard to make that choice. But like you said, when you do, it's infectious, it's contagious. And, and we literally have the power to change so many lives. Yeah. Yeah. We put others first, I think is a big thing that a lot of people forget about. Just be selfless. Do you feel like you see that a lot or no?

Yes, definitely. 100%. I don't know. I feel like the world these days, it's, it's not about other people. It's about what is good for me, which yes, you want to do what's good for you, but it like goes back to being the first jump. Like you don't want to do that, but it's like put others first and think about what other people are doing. Yeah. Well guys, that's, that's, that's awesome.

Just even some of the hearing your guys' story and how some of that has come about is, is so amazing. And I think down to the core of all of it, kind of getting to our wrap up here, it all comes with love. It all comes with the willingness to be love. And, and I feel that one of the biggest struggles right now with, with teenagers and with that is we're not, and with everybody really, we're not centering things in love and we're not allowing ourselves to be truthful.

Like a man's supposed to look this way or a girl's supposed to look this, like whatever. Like we have these images that we're supposed to create to try and make people see us a certain way. And the truth is no one is, no two people are the exact same. Oh yeah. Everyone's different. Everyone's got their own sort of identity. And, and when we can learn to just love people where they are and, and, and do that, then we do powerful things.

I mean, tying it back into acting and stuff for both of you guys are on the comedy troupe. Like this last rehearsal was one of my favorites because we all just sat in that circle and just talked and got real. And, uh, and, uh, you started crying. I mean, that's, it's a powerful thing. Like it literally, it affected everybody in the room and, and one of our players started crying and talking through some stuff.

And like we, as a, as a team got to start doing that. And like, it's powerful, it's powerful and contagious. When one person opens up and shows total truth, everybody else wants a piece of it. Everybody else wants a piece of it. Yeah. You have a jump. Yeah. The scene I did with the Dakota where I was just crying cause I had like a really hard like past month.

Um, I feel like that was one of like my favorite nights and all like seeing everybody else do scene because like everybody else wanted to do like an emotional or like at least open up in a way. And I feel like it was like a really cool night for that. It was really fun to watch. Absolutely. Cool being like the first scene and just opening up. And just to give context on that, um, you guys just walked out connected.

He felt the energy that you were putting off and he was brave again, going into bravery. Our spirit tells us what to do. Our gut tells us what to do. Call it whatever the heck you want, but it tells you exactly what to do. And it's our decision whether or not we're going to act on it. And it's never easy. It takes a moment of bravery, but I could tell you, and I'm sure it's the same with you guys.

I've never done it. And then afterwards been like, well, that was a bad choice. Like it, it almost always turns out to be one of those things where the, the, I was being guided in a certain way, even if they, they don't react a certain way. I know in my gut, yeah, I, I did that because I was supposed to, it felt right. And I was told to do it.

And, and the more you listen to that, the stronger you become and the more you're able to help other people. Because like you said, Truman, you see it and then you're able to go look at somebody and you see it in their eyes. You guys in rehearsal described me as like a mind reader. That's, that's all it is, is I just actually look in someone's eyes for a second.

And if you do that and you learn to do this, you can't not see it. You can't not. And it's a skill that can be learned. And that's mainly our program is all about that. It's about that personal development side, but it's about listening. And when you start to do it, you can't miss it. Yeah, definitely. Well, thank you guys. Thank you guys so much for being on here.

Thank you. This has been just an amazing podcast and I love you guys so very much. And I'm so grateful you guys came out today to, to do this with us. Thank you. Love you too. Woo. Woo. Yeah.