World languages and business student at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, Zoe Reardon received a four-year scholarship known as the Second Century Scholar award to attend the institution. Before beginning her studies at SMU, Zoe Reardon taught theater skills to school children at the Alliance Theatre summer camp in Atlanta, Georgia.
Participating in a theater or drama program provides many benefits for young people, including enhancing their academic performance. One study showed that students engaged in dramatic performance coursework or extracurricular programs perform significantly better on the SAT standardized test, scoring an average of 65 points higher on the test’s verbal component compared with students who don’t participate in performing arts.
Also beneficial for overall reading comprehension skills, theater participation not only improves students’ understanding of the work they perform but also other forms of literature as well. Other research has found that drama activities are correlated with improved school attendance, increased school engagement, and reduced high school dropout rates.
Zoe Reardon 