Humans of Harker: Mia Giammona develops confidence through performing arts

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Nicole Chen

“[Acting gives you] a chance to be not who you are. When you are a character, no one is looking at you the way they do in real life,” she said. “It’s cool to have an effect on the audience and to grow from that,” Mia Giammona (12) said.

by Natasha Maniar, Reporter

Mia Giammona (12) lives by the motto “Fortune favors the bold,” and believes that her self-confident nature has benefitted her performing arts career and mentoring activities as well as her willingness to step out of her comfort zone.

“Upon reflecting on it, nothing good has ever come of hiding in the background and shying away from something for me,” Mia said. “Every time I took a risk, it paid off in some way or another, so I think that is applicable to me.”

Since elementary school, Mia  participated in karaoke, and she discovered a liking towards singing. After joining Bucknall choir in the lower school and listening to her teacher, Jennifer Sandusky’s voice,  Mia decided to continue to pursue her passion for singing.

“When I heard her voice, I didn’t even know a person could sound like that,” Mia said. “From then on, my goal was to be trained [and] to be able to sing like that.”

Mia has actively participated in Harker’s performing arts department since middle school and often auditions for the school’s annual musicals and plays. She is an all-arounded performer having developed an interest in classical choral music. For Mia, acting is an outlet to express herself in a supportive environment.

“[Acting gives you] a chance to be not who you are. When you are a character, no one is looking at you the way they do in real life,” she said. “It’s cool to have an effect on the audience and to grow from that.”

In addition to singing and acting, community service has been a significant aspect of Mia’s life. She has volunteered at Lakewood Elementary School for two years by mentoring young children, and she hopes to continue in the future.

“It makes me try harder in everything I do because I do think about those kids who are working really hard to better themselves,” she said. “I think that’s a lesson we can all learn from them because they really are doing it for themselves, even though it’s not what someone wants to do on a Friday afternoon.”

Kailee Gifford (12), one of Mia’s close friends, describes how her self confidence has enabled her to believe in herself.

“Mia is someone who you can trust with anything, she’s kind of a maternal figure to our entire friend group, always inviting us over. I think she has found herself a lot more and her attitude and overall confidence since freshman year has definitely grown since she has explored herself and seen who she wants to be,” Kailee Gifford (12) said.

Additionally, her confidence has encouraged her to take risks and try new courses.
“I’m taking Science of Food this year, and I’m excited. I hated the structure of physics and chemistry, so I’m glad I get to study something that reflects me,” she said.