Everyone has that activity that they do in high school that makes them them. For some, it’s sports. For some, rigorous academics. But for us, Makayla Palos Rodriguez and Gigi Coo, that activity is none other than Trinitas Arts Conservatory – Rosary and Servite’s joint theatre program.
From the moment we stepped into the Servite Theatre as wide-eyed freshmen to these final days as seasoned seniors, the theatre has been our second home. It’s a place where we found our voices, honed our crafts, and forged unbreakable bonds.
Theatre taught us to embrace vulnerability and courage. In those first years, we fumbled through lines and shook with nerves. Yet, under the gentle guidance of our directors and the unwavering support of our peers, we discovered our inner strength and became the confident and talented women that we are today.
Trinitas has also been a factory for lifelong friendships. The late-night rehearsals, the nervous electricity before opening night– these moments knit us together in ways that few other experiences could, and through it all, we’ve built a family. Our fellow thespians are not just friends; they are our closest confidants, our biggest cheerleaders, and our amazing partners in creativity.
One of our closest friendships and some of our favorite memories came from our 2023-2024 “family carpool.” Imagine this: a green-gray Audi Q3 driven by Gigi, with Makayla navigating in the passenger seat, Matilda Simmons ‘26 on AUX, along with Sami Dicrisi ‘26 and Maryjane Simmons ‘ 27 along for the ride in the two back seats. At first, this carpool was just a solution to get all of us to rehearsal at Servite after school, but now it is a tight-knit group of girls forever bonded by Starbucks runs and jamming sessions in the car.
In a similar way, we have also been able to bond with our Servite brothers. Doing shows and taking classes with these
boys allowed us not only to branch out and make new friends but also to make so many fun memories. One of our favorite memories was going to our senior lunch for our recent production of “Hello, Dolly!” Here, we got to reminisce and laugh with our Servite brothers as a final “hurrah” before the beginning of our final show on the Trinitas stage.
Further, our directors, Mr. Michael Betts and Ms. Nicole Rickard, also deserve special recognition. Their passion and unwavering dedication to nurturing our talents have inspired us beyond measure. They’ve pushed us to explore new things as both theatre actors and technicians. But their lessons extend far beyond the stage; they’ve instilled in us values of discipline, kindness, empathy, and resilience.
So, as our high school journey comes to a close, thank you, Trinitas Arts Conservatory, for being the heartbeat of our high school experience. As we stand on the threshold of new adventures off to Utah and New York City, we carry with us the lasting imprint of our experiences in this program. The confidence we’ve gained, the friendships we’ve formed, and the memories we’ve made will remain with us, guiding and comforting us in the coming years.
Thank you for the laughter, the tears, the lessons, and the love. As we take our final bow, know that we leave a part of our hearts behind, forever grateful for the stage that made us who we are.
With all our love and gratitude forever and ever,
Makayla & Gigi