December 16th, 2024, I, Gerielle Stewart interviewed Keelyn Mcnabb-Harbert at Burke High School. She was interviewed on a profile story about her life, and what she loves the most. Keely had interesting facts to tell about her life and how she got to where she is now.
Keely is a sophomore here at Burke high School. She pushes herself to do better in life and has family to help guide her along the way. In our interview, Keely shared an understanding of her love for theatre and her academic pursuits.
“My mom really enjoyed theatre, and she really wanted me to get into it too. She convinced me to start taking classes at the beginning of 7th grade,” Keely told me. “When I first started theatre, I joined the tech crew. We helped paint and set up the sets for the shows. But what I really love most is acting. The best part is being on stage and feeling the connection with the audience. It’s just the overwhelming thrill of it all.”
When I was interviewing Keely, I could tell how much theatre means to her. She has done a little bit of everything, from working behind the stage to performing on stage. I can see that acting is what she has the most passion for. The way she describes her love for it in detail, you can tell that theatre is a big part of who she is and where she is now.
But Keely is not just focused on theatre, she is also a dedicated student, taking on tough classes like AP U.S. History, and AP Human Geography. She is only a sophomore but still pushes herself to be in harder classes to soar within her education. Keely admits that keeping up with all her assignments can be a struggle. Between schoolwork and her theatre, she sometimes deals with lost of time to get her assignments done.
“I am in more difficult classes. Last year I was in APUSH, and this year I am in AP Human Geography. It is hard for me to keep up with everything. I usually remember my assignments the night before, and then I must do them all at once, but I always get them done. I always regret waiting until the last minute,” Keely admitted.
This is something a lot of high school students experience. Procrastination can get in the way of many things, but with a lot of effort and time assignments can still be turned in on time. Balancing between the two things she loves most in life can be very difficult, but she makes sure to make the most out of what she has.
As Keely looks back on her high school journey so far, it is clear that her love for theatre and her commitment to her education and grades will continue to help her move forward in life. Whether in theatre or in the classroom, Keely has a powerful desire to grow amongst herself. Her story inspires me to be on top of my assignments even if they are extremely hard, and to never give up. 
