Ginny McGee, 10

“I really just like making stuff, and theater is a really great way for me to express that, and has definitely helped me channel my energy into something that I can use. I’ve probably gotten my inspiration for costuming from here and [my brother and I] from wanting to live in a fantasy world and wear costumes. I taught myself how to sew. I’ve sewn Halloween costumes for myself, my friends, and my brother, and all sorts of random objects. I’ve sewn clothing, costumes, plushies — all the good stuff! I am definitely a perfectionist. I will spend hours obsessing over one sentence in an essay, but sewing kind of tells you if it’s not perfect, it will fall apart. Then it’s not just me putting those standards on myself, which is nice. With the school production I definitely hold myself to a much higher standard. I will kind of get into my own head, and that really stops me from going forward. But just making fun 3D art, I love doing that so much that it can kind of push through that wall that I create for myself. [Winning at the International Thespian Festival for ’Costume Design’] has definitely boosted my confidence, and caused me to have more faith in myself and what I have created. I have started to be a little more risky in what I make and to be more confident in what I can create.”