Caleb Crawford '20
When I first came, I didn’t have a lot of confidence, and now I can stand up straight and look someone in the eye.
Caleb Crawford found his confidence at Ohio University.
“The environment here takes you from A to Z. When I first came, I didn’t have a lot of confidence, and now I can stand up straight and look someone in the eye.”
Confidence is important, especially in Caleb’s chosen profession: acting. “I knew since I was 3 that I wanted to be an actor, but finding a good program was important to me.”
After being recommended to OHIO by his high school drama teacher, Caleb came on a visit and fell in love with the campus.
“I sat in on some classes, met some faculty who were doing wonderful things, and said this is home, a place for me to grow and to become a new person. I said I’m going to Ohio University to study acting, and here I am.”
As a senior, Caleb is proud of his journey and the growth he’s experienced in the theater program. Professors have become mentors, and fellow students have become family.
“The faculty teach you that change is important,” he said. “You meet all these people who want to enact the change and want to be a part of a family.”
And that family is trying to make the word a better place. One of the things Caleb likes most about the OHIO Theater program is the opportunity to be progressive.
“We are starting these discussions and having the hard conversations,” he said. “We started a diversity and inclusion committee last year, and it’s a wonderful experience. That’s one of the reasons I love my community. No one’s afraid to talk to each other about what’s going on in the world or on campus.”
By looking out into the world, Caleb has learned more about himself. “I’m finding new threads along the way of what I want to talk about with my art, what I want to bring up to the world, what I want to change in the world.”
To Caleb, part of that change is creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome.
“We get to have fun and be creative, we tell stories and show people all of the different types of people that exist in the world,” he said. “While we’re not perfect, we are trying to go down the rabbit hole. We’re trying to make a home for people here.”
Outside of theater, Caleb strives for positive difference as a resident assistant and an Admissions tour guide. His campus tours give prospective students great view of Bobcat life.
“We care about their education and health, and we give them people to talk to. We also help them see the world and the environment. I love telling people we care, because I know it’s true.
“I tell them the professors and their peers are here for you. The family aspect is what I love. People always say, ‘you gave a great tour and I can potentially see myself here.’ I tell them that even though we just met, you’re already a part of the family.”