Full Name:
Jelisa “Jay” Robinson
Major/Year:
Sophomore, B.A. in Theatre and Dance (Acting Focus)
Favorite class in Theatre & Dance and why:
So far it's Acting One with Stephen Gerald and Helena Kayes our TA, because that's the first acting class I ever took at UT. This class showed me that in order to be an actress I have to take creative risks. Theatre is about imitating life. I have to be confident in my abilities. I've grown as an actor because I've learned that it's okay to be a little out there. It's okay to take risks and take your character to new emotional heights.
Favorite thing about Austin:
Austin is a unique city. I mean people don't wear those “Keep Austin Weird” shirts for nothing. In Austin, there's always some band playing, some play being shown, or an awesome event. There is so much diversity. I've met people from all walks of life. Different colors. Different religions. Different interests. Learning about different cultures has made me more proud of my own.
Favorite place to study:
In the Laundry room at Jester. I like the sound of washers and dryers. But I hate the fact that I have to get up so the light can turn back on every time the motion sensors forget I'm in there.
Brief biography (including projects, awards, accomplishments):
I’m from great city of Houston, but I consider Austin, TX my second home. I’ve been passionate about acting ever since I was four. I used to recite the entire Lion King Movie lines to my parents, and pretend I was Nila, Simba’s friend. I was really shy until high school. During that time, I acted in a few plays including Freedom is My Middle Name and A Doll’s House. I received All-Star Cast for both 2008, 2009 at UIL competitions. At UT, I’ve was cast in Once Upon a Weekend’s production of Pipe Dream directed Courtney Sale. I’ve been a part of the crew on The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later, An Epilogue, There’s a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom, and The Difficulty of Crossing the Field. I won first place the African American Student Association Talent Show, and I was accepted to participate in the Leadership Ethics and Progress (LEAP), the Texas Student Leadership Weekend, and The Change Institute. I also received Advanced Leadership Certification from the Leadership Series program.
Current projects/research/interests:
In addition to auditioning for everything I can, and keeping up with my classes, I've got a lot planned for next semester. I recently applied for a spot in the Lab Theatre for a play I wrote called Chocolate Vanilla Swirll. It's a cute little ditty about a Black actress, and a White director. I've recently been accepted to the Student Volunteer Board Project 2011 Public Relations Committee. Volunteering is something that I am very passionate about, and I can't wait to work on the event! I'm also going to do the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium where I will learn about graduate school possibilities with a graduate student mentor! Lastly, I've started a project that I have wanted to do for years, my scholarship fund. It's called The Great Eight Foundation, and it will help one student at North Forest High School in Houston, Texas.
