But what is “childlike play”? There’s no set definition; it can be experienced differently by everyone. To our models, there was an overwhelming agreement that, to them, “childlike play” is a feeling. Shohan Thapa  (a sophomore Theatre Performance/SMAD double major with an Honors minor) compares the feeling of childlike play to that of nostalgia. Rather than looking back in sadness, Shohan feels that these memories are more fun and full of laughter; laughter is a big part of who he is. Shohan encourages others “[not to] be afraid to let your true inner child shine; it’s what makes us live.” Similarly, Dioma Ogwara (a senior Theatre Performance major with a Political Science minor) suggests that it’s an “essence” that we all have as children, but begin to lose as we grow up and change or conform to societal expectations. “I feel like every day I’m a kid in kindergarten, trying to make new friends and make people smile.” Dioma confesses. To him, keeping that essence alive is what makes life colorful.

It can be difficult for us to find and access this sense of childlike play without first being connected to our inner child. Once again, our models all agreed that it is incredibly important to stay connected to that younger version of ourselves. That specific connection allows us, as artists, to access a different, and arguably more authentic, perspective – and in turn, opens up more possibilities in the creation of our craft. Quincee Stamps (a senior Theatre Performance major) and Moira Benabaye (a sophomore Theatre Education/Performance major) open up about how they personally stay connected with their inner child. Quincee is a big dancer, and has been dancing since she was two. She believes that letting go of our inner child can cause us to lose sense of who we are. She suggests that we recall what we loved to do as children, and figure out how it can connect to us today. For example, “I don’t dance like I did when I was five, but I do still dance in a different way,” Quincee says, “And when I dance, I feel the same joy that I did when I was little.” Moira takes a similar stance. She believes there are a lot of feelings that come with growing up. “I’m nineteen as much as I am thirteen, and ten, and five; all of that still exists in me, and I want to honor that and honor who I was at those points in my life.” She chooses to honor those points by going on walks, doodling, doing crafts, and finding other ways to bring little moments of joy into her life.

At the end of the day, one thing is very clear: our younger selves, no matter who we are, would be incredibly proud of the people we have become. We have all overcome our own unique obstacles and struggles, and we have grown as both human beings and artists from them. Shohan has achieved his big dreams of acting, doing theatre, and taking advantage of the opportunities he’s had. Quincee has stuck with her dreams of becoming a performer, even if it’s not in the same way she’d originally dreamed it being. Ellie is still honoring the little part of her that can find and take hold of the things that bring her joy. Moira has pushed herself to take advantage of her potential, pushed through fear and insecurities, and has been resilient in stepping out of her comfort zones. Dioma has stuck his ground and never listened when he was told “you can’t”; he has his own authentic self that no one could take away from him: “Who I can be for sure is Dioma, and what I bring, no one else can bring,” he says.

Allowing ourselves to take hold of and express the dreams and aspirations of our younger selves can be incredibly intimidating. In a world that demands us to conform to the black-and-white, it is more important now than ever to find where we can express the color and joy of our inner child. Through our art, performance, and other means of self-expression, we can inspire both ourselves and others to embrace the nostalgia, wonder and whimsy that comes along with “childlike play”, and use it to inform what we decide to create in the future.

If you ever feel stuck in your art, stagnant in your growth, or anxious about the future, take a moment to connect to the inner child within. What is it that you bring: to your craft, your education, or your personal life? What would your younger self be proud of you for? And when you find them, give them a hug and thank them for their work; we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.