I want to be as versatile as possible. I don’t want to be single-minded and only good at one thing. I want to be talented and skilled in many things so I can live a fuller life, meet different kinds of people and become a more interesting and capable person.

Have you ever met someone really good at one thing, yet lacked skill in anything else? I see this with book-smart people; they can get good grades, but beyond that talent, their whole identity revolves around one strength. Sometimes, some people are so good at that one thing that they don’t feel the need to branch out; I’ve seen this with football players or performers who shine in their primary talent.

The importance to me comes out of fear, really. I’ve been only good at one thing: ballet. I was good enough to attend a summer dance intensive with American Ballet Theatre, but in everything else, I felt incomplete. I barely had friends, my grades were merely average and I felt empty. I feel bad for little Luca because I genuinely thought I would only amount to being a ballet dancer.

Then I quit ballet. I wanted to start high school off on a clean slate and didn’t think I would get back into performing. I joined the theatre program, but told myself I would only do stage crew — until I saw how much fun CET was for the cast. That year’s spring musical was “Cabaret,” and I auditioned. Getting a named role felt like there was finally more to me than dance. Somebody saw something in me despite my lack of theatre experience.

I stayed in CET my entire high school career and especially grew in comedy. I always played the comedic relief. I felt comfortable and good at it. But I thought about how professional actors conducted their careers. Some stayed in the same genre of acting, while others were versatile. I knew then that I wanted to be a versatile actor.

During high school, I joined The Communicator and later became a website editor-in-chief. I improved at writing and learned so much that I genuinely feel prepared for college when it comes to writing. I gained that trait along with being an actor. But then I wanted more.

I could be a singer and someone who can also dance. I could direct plays or films. I could act in plays or films. I could pick up new talents in college. I could do anything.

I plan to prioritize my personal growth and work on becoming the person I want to be. I hope to become creative, adaptable and constantly evolving. I’m tired of being average and being singular. I simply will never accept that.