 Moving
On - By Samantha Bell Most of you would know me from Camp Footloose,
firstly as a lazy camper and secondly as
a junior leader. If you don’t know
me then here’s a little story of
moving on for you.
Although my transition from what is classified
as childhood, being high school and everything
related, to the world of the adult is not
yet completed, I have experienced some
major mile stones and have achieved so
many things I’ve set out to achieve.
I’ve also come face to face with
barriers which stood between me and my
goals.
When I was growing up, all I wanted to
be was an actress and a singer. An entertainer
that would take the world be storm. Performing
in sold out venues with thousands of screaming
fans, all whilst my latest movies were
being promoted. Of course, dreams like
this never come easy, such dreams never
do. With my eye on this goal, taking steps
towards it started long before I finished
school.
In my senior years of high school, I was
involved with a musical society, earning
two leading roles. Whilst engaged with
this, I attended NIDA (National Institute
of Dramatic Arts) courses and was offered
a scholarship. Along with this education,
I was also trained vocally by two incredible
industry legends. All these were simply
steps towards my dream.
For so many years I had planned to go
to NIDA to study acting for a full 3 years,
after which time nothing could possibly
stand in my way of becoming a world class
actress. But there was something standing
in my way. Health.
Like you, I have Arthritis, and while
the pain is bearable for me, it still impacts
me and restricts the paths I choose to
take. I soon discovered that, physically
I would never be able to complete the required
study which is intensely movement oriented.
Further still, even if my health would
have allowed me, NIDA wouldn’t have.
Not only do I have JR Arthritis, I also
have a jaw structure issue. While it isn’t
noticeable to the uninformed eye, a professional
in the industry of beauty would quickly
notice it and my application would be thrown
out. Needless to say I was shattered.
My discovery came one afternoon in my
vocal coach’s studio in the early
part of my final year of high school and
as devastating blow as it was, I was so
relieved that I had time to reconsider
my plan of action.
I swiftly began making preparations to ‘break’ my
barriers. I began seeing a Oral and Maxillo-Facial
Surgeon who immediately began taking measures
to correct my structural fault. As for
the Arthritis, I joined the gym, I didn’t
do much there, however it did make me feel
healthier. I found that when I felt healthy
it helped my body battle the disease more
efficiently. With my body and health under
control I looked towards my education.
University quickly arose as the best option.
Abandoning my dream of becoming one of
NIDA’s perfect actors was difficult
and I resented uni for being my second
choice. Over time, priorities change and
the importance of different aspects in
your life shifts.
Someone once said to me, “If there
is one thing about you, it’s that
you don’t give up. You always find
a way to make things happen, that’s
just the way you are”. While not
everyone shares that opinion of me, it
is true. I began looking at my situation
and starting thinking, ‘how can I
achieve what I need to achieve?’ In
time, I discovered that being a world famous
actress was more about the fame than the
art, and I didn’t want to be a fame
driven ‘artist’. Suddenly,
university wasn’t a bad idea. One
of the huge attractions was that after
completing a degree at a reputable university,
a stable income is more likely than the
turbulent life that is show biz. On top
of that, I would be able to look at the
theatre and world of acting in a different,
yet just as valid way, opposed to how I
would approach it if I were a student of
NIDA. So after much research, a bachelor
of Arts emerged a clear path that I was
more than enthused to take.
Finishing school was a stressful, yet
relieving and highly rewarding time. Exams
went off well for me. I was pretty prepared,
so studying wasn’t a big stress.
I think that when you study regularly through
the year in small doses it takes a huge
weight off your final preparations. After
exams, we all looked forward to our formal
which was so great! Finding shoes that
didn’t hurt and make my knee sore
was a big deal. So for photos I wore a
pair of shoes that hurt like hell but were
good looking and bought highly comfortable
ball room dancing shoes that I wore inside
the venue all night. My feet were so happy.
Any girl who has a formal on this year,
get yourself some ball room dancing shoes
- expensive, but comfortable.
After school was over and the hype of
Schoolies spent with two other Arthritis
camp buddies, Ashlea and Aaron and my boyfriend,
Samuel, on board the Schoolies Cruise;
the quest for satisfying my ambitions continued.
I had applied through UAC for uni and when
first round offers came around I was so
nervous. I could barely sleep, I wasn’t
hungry, all I thought about was whether
or not I would get into uni. So you can
imagine my disappointment when I didn’t
receive an offer. I was devastated. I felt
like a failure. I had so many plans based
on getting into Uni. It was a hard blow.
But when I received my offer in the second
round for a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
at the University of Sydney, majoring in
Performance Studies, I fell into an immediate
state of fear and shock. After crying on
my partners shoulder I calmed down and
I realised I’d just completed a goal.
I had conquered a barrier and I had succeeded.
I had gained entry into one of the best
universities in the country and I had taken
a step towards the world of performance.
How did it feel?
Scary. I’ve never been more scared
in my life. But it is so exciting to know
that I set out to achieve something, and
I achieved it in a way which exceeded my
expectations. Having so many things stand
in my way and conquering them is a great
feeling of empowerment. NIDA may still
be in my future. But coming to terms with
the restrictions placed on me and finding
a way to compliment the Arthritis has proven
to be a much more satisfying experience.
It’s ok to be scared of moving on,
the main thing is taking that leap of faith.
What makes life easier? The people around
you. I have had so many people come and
go in my life. Few stay for the long haul.
I have my family and my boyfriend, who
have always believed in me. But I have
some other people too. People who I think
have picked me up time and time again,
and made me feel compelled to try harder,
be more patient and not give up. The friends
I made at Arthritis Camp six years ago
have stayed with me. Every camper and ever
leader have brightened my life in ways
that I will forever be grateful. Three
incredible people, who’s friendship
has extended so much further than the title
of Camp Footloose. Ashlea, Aaron and Mitch
have never let me down and have continued
to support me all these year. Us Arthritis
kids are a special breed, and not because
of our disability. I think having restrictions
on us drives us to be stronger willed and
empowers us to succeed against all odds.
That’s what we do. It’s in
our nature.
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