12. Don Frederico - Highlight - "If you don't extend yourself you haven't lived." - Ruth Bair

You know, I thought about this a bit show and there were a couple moments in high school that I thought were pivotal for me and I thought might be worth talking about. And the first had to do with somebody you know, and I know Ruth Bair. So, for the people who don't know, Ruth Bair, we had a great theater program in high school, and you and I were both part of it. Ruth Bair was our drama director, and drama coach. And we also had Bill White, who was an incredible music director. And they both were so good at connecting with us young high school students. And I remember, the musicals were the highlight every year of the program. I always was kind of intrigued by that I liked musicals; they were very popular. In high school, the kids who were in them were had a great time and were also popular in a certain crowd. There was just a lot of attraction to being part of these excellent productions that the high school did. I was probably a little more in a shell, you know, I had never acted before and, and probably was a little bit on the shy side, although I also did perform with guitar and singing. And I also did have parts in in our choral productions, so I wasn't un-used to being on stage. But it took me a little bit to actually get up the nerve to try out for one of the productions. So, I just remember, I have this vivid memory of being in the auditorium when Ruth Bair was talking to the students and trying to encourage people to take the risk and try out for a production. And I remember one line, she said, and it stuck with me my whole life, and it actually propelled me kind of pushed me forward to take some risks at different times in my life. She said, if you don't extend yourself, you haven't lived. And that line, I just never forgot it.