Hey guys! I’m Andrea Springer and one co-founder of HAS. I started doing improv as a terrified high-school freshman. I was dragged into the FM Improv Club by a good friend, and I’ve been going back ever since. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t love at first sight. It was mortifying near the beginning. I was certain I’d been inducted into a cult.

It didn’t take long, though, for me to warm up. (excuse the pun if you noticed it. XD) I had one successful scene and, bam, I was hooked. Being funny on stage, on my own accord, was and continues to be one of the most fun things basically ever. I was an active member starting my freshman year, and even more so during sophomore year. I then became vice president my junior year, and now as a senior I’m the president. It’s one of the most enriching satisfying things that I do, and even more than doing improv, I love teaching it.

Improv has given me so many things, ask my parents, teachers, friends, the change in me was really significant. As an 18 year old, I have a lot of confidence, quick wit, and flexibility that I would be seriously lacking had I not participated in improv. I learned how to trust. (more on that in a future essay) I learned how to communicate effectively, in a large group and also one on one. Although if you ask my theatre teacher, Scott Austin, the best thing it’s done is improve my posture.

So, for Here’sASuggestion, my goal, at least is to study improv theoretically, and especially to look at what it’s done for me and what it can do for you.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you check back later, the stuff will be a lot more intense and hopefully a little less gushy.