Rana Stevens (12) is not only a student at Crown Point High School, but also someone who finds ways to connect her love of theater with her growing interest in journalism. With a strong stage presence and quick wit, she’s learned how to balance creativity with professionalism. Her time in the Radio and TV program has given her a new space to perform and tell stories while still exploring her passion for the arts.
Stevens said her journey into Radio and TV started with a simple recommendation from her counselor.
“My freshman year, my counselor recommended it to me when I was writing out my schedule after I talked to him about my interest in theater and TV acting,” Stevens said.
Since then, the program has helped her discover how much teamwork matters in media. She enjoys how every student brings something different to the table, creating a collaborative environment.
“I feel like everyone in this program brings something different to the table in a very important way,” Stevens said. “We all pitch in on different stories and different work, and it comes together beautifully. I feel like it’s also how we grow as a person.”
The lessons she’s learning in Radio and TV have also carried over into her theater performances as she plays the Wicked Witch of the West in the high school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She explained that journalism has made her more confident, especially when it comes to handling mistakes and moving forward.
“It’s helping me to become more comfortable with making mistakes and letting things slide,” Stevens said. “It felt like the hard work I put into the theater community finally paid off.”
Still, taking on such a famous character hasn’t been easy. Stevens said it takes a lot of effort to live up to the iconic role.
“I feel like the challenging part is that since the character is so iconic, there’s no half-doing it,” Stevens said. “I have to always push myself to the highest ability I can be to play the Wicked Witch, or it’s not going to hit the same.”
Rana Stevens is a student who knows how to balance creativity with professionalism. Whether she’s telling stories through journalism or stepping into character on stage, she’s shaping a future built on confidence, talent, and passion for performance.
