Senior Jadyn Steaffens reminisces on the four years of entertainment and stress, also known as high school
There is a magical kingdom in the land of PRHS called the theater where senior Jadyn Steaffens silently waits in the dark behind the red curtains of the stage to hear her cue. Emotions of excitement and fear overcome her as she thinks about performing for her friends and family or even possible mistakes that could be made. Yet all of those feelings become fictional as she glides from the dark into the stage lights.
“The second I step into the lights the story takes over and I just do what I have rehearsed without even thinking,” Steaffens said as she thought about her experience waiting to perform.
With a total of seven on-stage performances and four years as a part of the PRHS Drama Department, Steaffens considers her fellow class members and teacher Marcy Goodnow her second family.
“Everyone is so welcoming and it’s like I have a bunch of different families and homes I get to go to while also getting to do what I love,” Steaffens said.
Accompanying her on campus and in the theater is her father, known to most students as the AP Calculus teacher James Steaffens, but also proven to be the funny and outgoing actor in the spring musicals. He has portrayed Chef Louis from “The Little Mermaid”, the Nightingale from “Once Upon a Mattress” and many more.
Steaffens divuldged how proud his daughter has made him.
“Being on stage with Jadyn is amazing. She turns into an entirely different person. One of the proudest moments as a parent happened her freshman year when she performed her lip sync ‘The History of Musicals.’ I honestly could not believe that my quiet little daughter could evolve into the expressive magnetic presence on stage. It was amazing.”
As most teenagers would dread performing on a stage with their father, Steaffens finds the joy in the matter and looks forward to see a new and exciting side to him.
“It’s so fun honestly. It’s funny to see him in such weird situations especially when Mrs. Goodnow makes him do things like being a fat chef or some Elvis inspired repair guy. I never really get to interact with him on stage because of the characters I’ve played but he’s still backstage and it’s a lot of fun. And how many kids can say that their dad has borrowed their eyeliner? Because I can,” she laughed
Along with the rewarding feeling of performing on stage, Steaffens finds herself admiring the Beginning Drama class that she directs a “one act play” for. She loves seeing students branch out and have fun with new roles while hoping they will advance in the drama program.
“Every single one of the kids in my show has become so comfortable on stage and it makes me so happy to watch them fall in love with the program and performing, too.”
Steaffens is very familiar with multitasking as she finishes her high school career with a total of five AP classes, three honors classes, and two advanced classes while still maintaining straight A’s. She is a part of the Advanced Drama and dance, as well as the Link Crew on campus and varsity soccer. Her sophomore year, Steaffens also helped to coach an elementary school soccer team.
Her junior year, she received the Hispanic National Merit Scholar Award and is now a nominee for a California High School Musical Honor Award for supporting actress
Throughout high schools, Steaffens has begun to have a growing appreciation for drama, dance, friends and the overall high school experience as she looks back on the fastest 4 years of her life.
“You only get one shot at high school so it’s best to make it last instead of be scared and sit back. You will regret what you missed once you figure it out.”
