Everyone has story to tell. Whether simple of complex, profound or funny, MI Lake Life tells those stories and how the thread of LMC weaves through them.
“I want to perform professionally. It's my dream. Chicago, New York, Tennessee, cruise ships, anywhere I can do musical theater, theater, or music.
It started for me in 7th grade. My choir teacher said, ‘Hey, I'm doing The Little Mermaid Junior with at the high school. Do you want to do it?’ It sounded scary, but she encouraged me. So, I did. I absolutely fell in love with it.
From there, I performed in Children’s Music Workshop productions until I was 18, and I still perform in their Teen Stock program, which goes to age 20. As a high school senior, I participated as a community member in Lake Michigan College’s production of Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief. Then, as an LMC student, I had major roles in School of Rock: The Musical and Big Fish. I’ve also performed with Performing Arts Workshop, The Ghostlight, and Twin City Players.
I prefer performing, but being behind the scenes is also part of what I do. I've been a costume assistant, done makeup, assistant-directed CMW’s The Wizard of Oz, and now do their digital marketing. It takes a village to put the story together, and I like being part of the village.
After high school, I wanted to study musical theater. I chose LMC because I liked the smaller class sizes and one-on-one instruction. The performing arts community on campus was a big draw, too. And of course, the free tuition for two years.
LMC instructors prioritized our success and encouraged me to be well-rounded. I took piano, guitar, voice lessons, and recording class. I'm really proud of myself for trying something new by joining Vox LMC. I did choral music and theater through high school, but jazz is totally different. It’s a different vocal technique, like learning how to scat. It’s its own art form, and I loved every second of it.
I’ve had other experiences here that have helped me grow, too. One was becoming a campus tour guide. Coming out of high school, I was really quiet and didn't talk to many people, so this is something I never would have imagined for myself. I like being able to walk potential students and their parents through our campus, go through the facts, and also tell them about my personal experiences with the school, showing them how awesome this place really is.
This fall, I'm double majoring in musical theater and arts administration at Western Michigan University. In addition to performing, I would love to work in children's theater. Just working in a creative space is where I want to be.
If you told me in middle school that I was going to be a tour guide in college – going out there and talking to people I didn't know, performing in front of people I didn't know, trying things I didn't know anything about, I wouldn't have believed it. LMC has helped me grow, do a bit of self-discovery, and become a more confident version of myself. If I had jumped straight into a university, I don't think I'd be where I am today.”
Ella Harris
2026 LMC Graduate, Associate in Arts, Musical Theater, Highest Honors
Posted May 20, 2026