While You See a Chance Take It

David Getz, Prozdor Grade 8

In Steve Winwood’s hit song, While You See a Chance, he states, “While you see a chance take it, find romance fake it, because it's all on you.” I have found the lyrics to this song extremely inspiring. Before basketball games my dad and I listen to this song during the car ride there while discussing ways to improve by creating plays or speeding up the pace.

“While you see a chance take it…”

At the beginning of the school year last year, I was strolling down the hallway when I came upon a large sign with names scrabbled all over it. It was the sign up sheet for the school play, James and the Giant Peach.

That night I returned home thinking about the somewhat stimulating sign in the hall at school. I had never acted in a school play so the whole experience was very new to me. I asked my parents about it. My sister is a very talented actress, therefore acting as an inspiration. My parents had also acted in plays in their high school years so they helped me too. They mentioned how much fun it was meeting new people and performing in front of large audiences.

The next day I confidently signed my name on the try out sheet, while taking a sheet about the play that included important information about commitment. At home I worked with my dad to find a descriptive monologue that would give the director a sense of my acting ability. My Side of the Mountain, we realized, was the perfect monologue. I thought that it matched the part of James Henry Trotter perfectly.

The next week, I stepped boldly on the stage and recited the monologue that I had thoroughly memorized the night before. I projected my voice and acted as if I was the boy in my monologue, pretending to pick berries or bark, wiping fake sweat off of my forehead to pretend to act tired, and I added many facial expressions to the routine.
The week after that, I discovered that I was chosen to play the part of James!

“While you see a chance take it…”

About a year later, I found a similar sign that beckoned to me. The Wizard of Oz, it stated at the top. I signed my name hoping that I’d have as much luck as the time before. Although I later discovered that this show differed from the last. The directors would give me music to sing and a scene to perform instead of having me make up a monologue.

I once again consulted my family that night, and yet again was encouraged to try out.
I got up on stage with four other boys at the end of the week and sang, danced, and acted out scenes with other actors and actresses. I kept in mind that I should act like the character I was trying out for, therefore, I made sure to fall and act flimsy, like the Scarecrow.

Amazingly, I was chosen to play the part of the Scarecrow the week later.

“While you see a chance take it…”

I have found that taking risks can really make your life exhilarating, filling it with ups and occasionally downs, which only make the risk taking more fun. I know that would be a completely different person if it weren’t for the encouragement that I receive from my sisters and parents and the risks I’ve taken.