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Nathan Simmons came to Dalhousie with a plan to study science, but he soon found that his life would follow a very different script.

Always curious about acting, but having little experience, Nathan chose as one of his first-year elective courses. That decision led the fourth-year student to discover a passion for performing, a new plan for his career and a sense of family among his fellow students in the Fountain School for Performing Arts.

But first, he had to get over his stage fright.

鈥淚 always wanted to (act), but I was nervous to audition and nervous to be in front of crowds,鈥� Nathan recalls. 鈥淚n Introduction to Acting when we did a scene for our classmates, that was the first time I really performed a character in front of a group of people. That鈥檚 when I broke through the stage-fright thing.鈥�

By the time he reached third year of study, Nathan realized that the stage had become a second home.

鈥淭he moment where I said to myself that I could see myself doing this for 20 years or more was in third year,鈥� says Nathan. 鈥淲e were doing The Oresteia and it was a show with a lot of lights and no props. I remember when I came out onto the staging area, I just felt like, 鈥樷�檞ow, this is where I need to be.鈥欌��

Despite his ever-growing confidence as a performer, a self-belief reinforced by professional gigs on television shows such as the CBC鈥檚 and stage productions such as The Colour of Courage 鈥� not to mention starring roles in Dalhousie鈥檚 mounting of A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream and the upcoming Coram Boy, Nathan is not content to rest on his laurels.

Becoming a role model

鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 a lot of influence of theatre and acting in my life and within the program I鈥檓 one of the people with the least experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 always trying to work that extra bit harder.鈥�

For Nathan, that hard work includes his effort to become the kind of acting role model he didn鈥檛 have while growing up in East Preston, N.S. On February 17-18, he鈥檒l be sharing his experiences in , a Halifax event featuring a variety of individuals from the African Nova Scotian community. He has also toured with Voices of Black Theatre, performing in .

鈥淰oices of Black Theatre does a bunch of performances and productions in the Black community and about the Black community. I feel like if I鈥檝e done a good job I can stir something in another Black youth to follow their dreams and be an actor.

鈥淔or me, this is about inspiring another young Black person to have the courage to say, 鈥榯his is me and this is something I can do.鈥欌��

After finding himself on the university stage, Nathan himself is certainly inspired to continue pursuing his own dreams.

鈥淚t鈥檚 where my passion is. If I can get up in the morning and do something that I love to do, that鈥檚 something I should focus on.鈥�