9/16/13
COURSES: Courtney Barnes’ schedule contains four performing arts classes.
By Ashley Gore, Staff Writer
Imagine the typical Poly senior. She enjoys the luxury of a shortened schedule, customarily filled with undemanding courses. Her most challenging high school days lie behind her; her primary worries revolve around college applications and the future.
Courtney Barnes (12) shares these collegiate concerns, but she also shatters the archetypal expectations of senior year. Four of the six classes she has take place in Poly’s arts department.
Spending two-thirds of her day in the theater and choir room seems to be a no-brainer for Barnes, who says she has never been “academically high in life.” When asked why she decided to fill her schedule with the arts, she did not skip a beat. “I really enjoy the arts and I always have. It’s just been something that’s always been my passion,” Barnes said.
Her impressive schedule certainly backs up this claim: Barnes devotes her time in school to Chamber Singers, Theatre Tech, Advanced Theatre and Musical Theatre, her favorite. She cannot get enough of the arts. Not only does she take these classes, but she also manages to perform in both Poly shows and Riverside Youth Theatre productions. Nobody doubts her talent, but the road has not always been easy for Barnes.
Her extended family, while always supportive, occasionally questions her choice to fill her days with singing, dancing and acting. “[My extended family] comes to my shows and things, but sometimes I wonder if my mom’s side would want me to do higher things in life,” Barnes admitted. At the end of the day, however, she remains true to herself and her passion. “This is who I am. I have to do it,” Barnes said with the confident smile of a person who knows exactly who she is and will never claim to be someone else.
Barnes plans to attend Riverside Community College next fall to begin the pursuit of her dreams. In five years she hopes to be working with theatre groups at Cal State Fullerton or even performing on a Disney cruise. No matter what, Barnes knows in her heart that she will not feel complete without theatre in her life. “I need to be part of the arts. I need to be in a place where there’s some kind of art. I need to be part of a theatre,” Barnes stated.
With her commitment and passion, Barnes is well on her way to taking the world of performing arts by storm. Equipped with a strong foundation built right here at Poly, her skills in the arts will lead her in the direction of her dreams.
Her fellow Poly Bears cannot wait to see her own the stage someday. Whether on the Arthur Littleworth stage or on Broadway, Barnes’ performances and love of the arts inspire her fellow Bears to pursue their own passions.