Mary Beth Black is a self-described old soul. She is ready to leave Kirkwood and, unlike many of her peers, she is completely sure about what she wants to do next.

“I’ve always known I wanted to be in the arts and do music and acting,” Mary Beth said. “It can be difficult sometimes but it’s so worth it. I just love connecting with people and being able to do that through the arts is really really good and fulfilling.”

Mary Beth got into music and acting at a young age because her uncle grew up in the business. Her career in the arts starts with majoring in musical theater, but her passion is not just for the stage.

“I’m to the point where I want to do a little bit of everything. I want to end up doing film; I want to have a music career. I’m more focused on being a more well-rounded artist than just focusing on stage,” Mary Beth said.

She is an artist first and foremost, and that drove her decision on college. She will most likely be attending Indiana University.

“Just knowing that the schools really support an individualized environment for an artistic person is really what I was looking for in a college,” Mary Beth said.

Although pursuing the arts has always been the clear choice, the road has not always been easy for Mary Beth. She has done shows that forced her to deal with directors that have pushed her limits, but she has also dealt with personal problems.

“My father kind of abandoned me, basically, in sixth grade. He stopped talking to me, so that is a struggle I’ve dealt with since then,” Mary Beth said. “It’s really helped me find who I am. It forced me to find the confidence in myself that I need to do the arts and deal with the criticism.”

Despite these bumps in the road, Mary Beth has clear goals for her career and life.

“What I want to do is to connect with people and make them think,” Mary Beth said. “I don’t want people to just see a show or movie or hear a song and think, ‘Oh, that was so cute’ or ‘Oh that was good.’ I want it to make them think intellectually, and I want to make them question their life.”