Lifelong Impact: Adult Perceptions of Their High School Speech and/or Theatre Participation

Abstract

This study sought first to determine in what ways participation in high school theatre/speech classes and/or related extracurricular activities may have positively influenced and affected adults after graduation, and secondly, it sought to identify and advocate the potentially beneficial and “lifelong” impacts that speech/theatre participation during adolescence can contribute to adulthood. A mixed-methods survey was purposively distributed to North American adults who participated in these activities; 234 responses were received and analyzed. The key assertion of this study is: Quality high school theatre and speech experiences can not only influence but even accelerate adolescent development and provide residual, positive, lifelong impacts throughout adulthood.

Acknowledgments

The coresearchers thank the 2011 American Alliance for Theatre and Education Research Awards Committee and Jurors for their support of this work. We also extend our thanks to the 234 “Lifelong Impact” survey respondents who shared their personal testimonies with us. The survey instrument e-mailed to participants included introductory text stating the purpose of the study and all necessary statements required by Arizona State University's Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (i.e., human subjects requirements) and was approved through the University of Arizona Institutional Review Board as a reciprocal agreement.