Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jasmine Renee’ Ellis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jasmine Renee’, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Mental Health in my family is still a kind of taboo. We know it exists in the bloodline, has been there for awhile, and we are seeing it surface in the next generation. I noticed in even the quietest and “safest” rooms I would feel overwhelmingly nervous, though at the time I did not know that I had anxiety. I was 10. I had a severe studder so I already wanted to avoid communicating and I was raised to not voice my opinions even if it was to express my feelings were hurt as it was seen as a sign of disrespect or even disregarded altogether. My father was absent most of the time and continued to be until his passing.
I remember hearing him preach for the first time and he opened up about being 18 years old with a loaded gun to his head by his own hand. He pulled the trigger but the gun jammed. After that he decided to join the military and served for 28 years. I didn’t know the mental implications of his story but just that I would not have existed had he succeeded.
I was diagnosed with Severe Depression and General Anxiety Disorder at the age of 16. I had started to do drugs and continued to disassociate at home. For years I had not been able to give language to what I was feeling or the thoughts that would come to my mind. I just knew I didn’t like being constantly at war with my self.
I was exposed to the arts at a young age. I attended a performing arts school from 3rd-7th grade, played in the band thru High school, and hit the stage for the first time as an actor as a rising Junior in HS. It wasn’t until I really understood what it meant to match a character that I was able to truly understand empathy. I could finally empathize with myself and take the time to process my own thoughts and feelings. Understanding my triggers was the biggest step. The gates (eyes, ears, mouth) of the human body are receptive to negative energy and if you don’t guard them, that negative energy will penetrate with no remorse or hesitation.
I loaded my gates with scripture, worship, and positive self expression, learning my craft, singing, dancing, and time in nature. I have not overcome but I do persist despite of. Everyday I have to make a choice to focus on the good, my faith, and the hope that fuels it. Medication did not work and was also a trigger so I covered myself in the arts and with the ultimate Creator- God. I am now the caregiver of a family member with bipolar disorder.
I choose to fight the good fight by helping kids and other young adults give voice to their thoughts and feelings through the arts. They can process and make informed decisions about how to navigate and maintain their mental health. I am an educator because as I teach I can also continue to learn how to make myself better and the world around me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, spending most of my days outside and on the family farm with my grandmother and cousins. I started singing in church when I was two and now at 30 I am an award-winning Atlanta-based performer. I have been with the Aurora Theatre,, a non-profit in Lawrenceville, Ga for nearly 9 years and became the Director of Education in 2022. In addition to performing, I teach, write, direct, and create for young performing artists to help them overcome negative self-image and gain confidence through character development and social impact. We focus on ALL aspects of theatre whether onstage or behind the scenes, even at the creative table.
The most rewarding aspect about being a Teaching Artist is that I am always in the classroom, whether literal of figurative while in a rehearsal or on stage to witness growth in the creatives of the future. We change lives by changing minds with each character and story we tell. When I perform I get to give a voice to voiceless, remove shame for the shame-filled, and restore hope to the hopeless.
Up next I will be starring as Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in Aurora Theatre’s 28th Season Production of Sister Act The Musical May 23rd-June 16th!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
In order to advocate for yourself, you have to know thy self. Know who and what you stand for so no one can persuade you to become someone else. Your craft is your own personal brand. Make sure you are leaving a legacy that will positively impact those who witnessed it.
Purpose is not a destination but a continuous journey. Your purpose can change depending on the season you are in. Stay connected to the Creator so you don’t mismanage a season because you may mismanage your purpose. Hone your craft so you don’t waste an opportunity when you arrive.
Comparison is your enemy. Stay in your lane (know thyself so you know which lane that is), trust your own process and you can avoid being delayed because you don’t believe your own uniqueness is enough to get you in the room. Take that class, learn that skill, get better no matter what because there is always someone working harder than you.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
The mind is a very powerful tool that can catapult you 10 steps forward or paralyze you for months. The faith I have to believe in what God has placed on the inside of me has helped me in every single room I was invited to. Believing in your skills, gifting, talents, to some may seem easy, but to those with mental health barriers, it can feel like climbing Mt Everest. I have taken more risks, and even said “no” more often if I felt it didn’t align with who I wanted to be as an artist, without fear that it would hurt me in the future. I have greatly improved in simply believing who I am as an artist and educator and what I have to offer based on what I know has been placed on the inside of me. The partnerships, collaborations, success and unforgettable experiences I had in 2023 was because I believed like I never believed before.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jasminereneeellis
- Facebook: Jasmine Renee’ Ellis
Image Credits
Jeff Watkins Casey Gardner Ford
