Monica Herrera is a senior majoring in communication studies, dance and theatre. She is a member of the Nova Dance Society and appeared in “Ruthless: the Musical,” “Dress Code: Respond If You Please,” “Sure Thing,” “Gypsy: the Musical” and “Dead Man Walking.” She also does technical work in NSU productions and studied at the New World School of Arts and the STAR Academy of Performing Arts at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School.
I’ve been singing and dancing since I learned to talk and walk. It was no surprise to anyone that I chose to major in theatre when I started college. I was especially motivated to follow my dreams of becoming a theater person because of the recent challenges I faced from my disease. A year before I started college, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system and can lead to paralysis.
The past four years have been a life-changing experience for me. I’ve set goals for myself, and everyday I become a little better at pursuing them. I’m learning more and more about myself as I face everyday challenges — challenges that include some major multitasking and time management. I guess you can say I’m ambitious.
Since freshman year, I’ve become a triple major in theatre, dance and communication studies. My schedule has been consistently packed with 18 credits per semester and lots of school-related activities, including an on-campus work schedule and rehearsal schedules.
This year I’ve taken on several side projects like choreographing quinceañeras, karaoke contests, stage managing, writing for an online travel magazine and doing public relations for music and art festivals and events in South Florida and Puerto Rico.
On top of all this, I’ve had to find a way to remain healthy and keep my multiple sclerosis in control by sneaking in a few workouts a week, resisting junk food, remembering to take my self-injected medications and finding the time to sleep while fighting the urge to snooze. Stress is a big concern for multiple sclerosis patients as it can lead to relapses, so learning to relax and finding convenient ways to de-stress is a must. Thank you, RecPlex yoga.
I’ve had to pencil in dates with my boyfriend to conserve our three-year relationship and find time to be a good daughter to my mother, my father and my stepfather, a sister to three siblings, an aunt to a newborn and a best friend to two fabulous femmes.
A girl’s gotta have some fun, right? As the daughter of a travel connoisseur, I’ve faithfully kept my routine of taking at least two vacations a year. Mom says it broadens my scope of the world. The major recent ones include Paris, St. John in the Virgin Islands and Costa Rica. I’m already planning the next ones.
I look at this text in awe. Have I really done all of this? When did all that happen? It all happened after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I decided I was not going to let something I couldn’t control control me. I decided to start moving forward before I can’t move at all.
Because of my many endeavors, I am frequently asked about my career plan and I always respond, I’ll go wherever life takes me. I keep reminding myself to live moment by moment because I have no control over anything but now. I don’t know how I’ll end up — whether I’ll be tap dancing on stage or dancing in a wheelchair on stage. But I know where I want to be. I’m in my fifth year of college now, finishing my studies in my many areas of interest. I’m what you call a “super senior,” but I’m in no rush. I’m having fun right now. My future is a little blurry, but I trust that wherever I go, I’ll be happy. Happiness is a choice after all.
