She woke up, ate breakfast, pulled on her uniform and climbed into the car with her mom and brothers. They arrived at a brick building that housed as many students in the whole school as KHS contains in one grade. St. Peter’s Catholic School was home to Sarah Morgan, senior, from preschool until eighth grade.

“At a Catholic school, you know everyone, how many siblings they have, who their parents are and weird stuff about them,” Sarah said. “It’s not that people were closer, it’s just that we had been together for so long that we knew about each other.”

Sarah said transitioning from a Catholic school to a public high school was challenging. She said that although most of her fears were irrational she was still terrified to leave the comfort of St. Peter’s behind.

“I was quiet and scared,” Sarah said. “All our classes [at St. Peter’s] were on one floor except for one or two. So coming here, I thought I was going to miss class and get stuck in a janitor’s closet and no one would ever find me.”

According to her mother, Kate Morgan, theater helped Sarah come out of her shell. From “Arabian Nights” freshman year to “The Exonerated,” “Once Upon a Mattress” and more, she pursued something that helped her find her identity.

“It’s hard to remember not knowing her,” Kelly Schnider, drama teacher, said. “She’s grown more confident. She’s a real leader, not bossy but not afraid to take charge. She’s grown into herself enough to know that she doesn’t have to be shy.”

According to Kate, KHS gave Sarah the opportunity to meet more people like herself. She could be who she was without having to worry that no one would share her interests. Junior year, she became an officer for KH Players and is now the president.

“She knows what she wants and how to get it,” Kate said. “Freshman year was overwhelming, but she knew she had to make her own path, her own friends, and figure it all out. She did that by joining theater.”

Sarah is not sure about the possibility of a career in theater but wants to double major in hopes of teaching theater someday. She said she never wants to stop doing theater because it is close to her heart and she loves the people she has met through it.

“If it weren’t for theater I’d just be this quiet kid who minds her own business and doesn’t go and try things,” Sarah said. “I was hooked after my first show, and it’s not even really about the show. It’s about the experience and the people. Just like high school.”