Tobias Lucas Class of 2017

Interview by Aneara Burns. Photo courtesy of Tobias Lucas.

Collegiate has always supported the fine arts and encouraged its students to participate in them. Alumni like Tobias Lucas have taken that encouragement and turned it into a career. I had the pleasure of talking to Lucas about his college experience, inspiration and career in the arts.

Aneara: What college did you attend and what was your major?  

Tobias: I attended Marshall University, and my major was creative writing with a minor in theater performance. 

Aneara: What was your college experience like? Did you have any struggles? 

Tobias: I went to school six hours away, in West Virginia, so I had to adapt to the culture. It was a big culture shock for me, but that didn't last too long. I think that was the biggest thing, just being with different ethnic groups.

Aneara: Can you tell me what inspired you to pursue your major?

Tobias: In high school I was in the Fine Arts Academy, and I pretty much did everything.

I did a lot of stuff in high school. I was in the jazz band, I was in a lot of the plays, I was in the dance concerts, I was a drum major at one point in time. So performing throughout my adolescence prepared me to want to take further steps on the stage. When I came to college I initially was a theater major. It wasn't until the end of my sophomore year, that I decided to change my major to English, specifically creative writing.

Aneara: What has been your career path since graduating?

Tobias: Right after college I went into event planning, and I figured out it wasn't my path at the time. To be honest, I just needed to make some money doing something. Then, I found what I wanted to do, and now I teach. 

Aneara: What subject do you teach? 

Tobias: I'm an assistant dance and theater teacher at the Friendship Armstrong campus. I work with two lead teachers and I basically bounce between the two, but I support the art staff with any production that they are doing. So let's say it's January and the art teacher is hosting an art show. I will be helping her get ready for that in any way that she may need. But because I have a dance and theater background, I primarily work with those teachers and their students daily. 

Aneara: What is a lesson Collegiate has taught you?

Tobias: Collegiate has taught me to be adaptable in any situation, and to be smarter. Whether you're getting a degree or whether you're getting your license just go get it. Level up.

Aneara: What advice would you give to students who want to pursue a career in the fine arts?

Tobias: Go see shows, go see bands, go see theater productions, go see high school plays,  get training, get in a drama club, audition for a play, go take a dance class. Push the envelope to see what you like, and if you like it, fuel it by practicing and by trying to perform and educate yourself.

Alumni Editor Aneara Burns is a junior at Arizona State University and a 2020 graduate of Friendship Collegiate Academy.