Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Tan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? 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.
I am diagnosed with depression which was a struggle to manage when we were all quarantined during Covid. But what has always helped me is having at least one person I can be fully open with who understands what I am going through whether that is a friend over the phone or my fiance. I have found comfort and peace in being open about my mental health. The more people I share it with the larger my support system grows. Those who I trust with the knowledge have become the ones I can lean upon when I’m not feeling so great. I also believe that by sharing my experience with others, I am educating those around me about how depression can show up differently in different people, and hopefully break some stereotypes around the issue. So I guess what I’m trying to get to is that being open has helped me overcome (or at least manage) my depression, alongside finding quiet time to reflect on what I have achieved in my life, and express myself through visual art.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am currently the Learning Programs Manager at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In my position, I have the pleasure of organizing theatre-based classes for young people and adults year-round. Another large part of my job is managing and booking a state-wide tour that we produce in house. In the course of 10 weeks, this tour reached about 24 000 junior and high school students across the state of Arkansas. The best thing about my job is meeting the young people and watching the eyes light up as they either experience theatre for the first time, or get a chance to jump back into it with a community of other like-minded young people. In addition to my job at TheatreSquared, I have continued to engage in the artistic side of theatre. In the past year, I directed a virtual performance piece called 60% with Collab 24 that examined the relationship between mental health and the perceptions of self; at the present moment, I am understudying for the role of Janet and Umma in Kim’s Convenience at TheatreSquared and will get to step into the role of Janet from Feb 21-26!
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?
Integrity, trust, and compassion. Each of these qualities related closely to each other but if I had to pick integrity in my self and own work would be the most important. When I was trying to figure out what my aesthetic was, I first started by imitating the work of a person I admired. In doing that, I found that I produced art that I deemed mediocre. I wasn’t able to mimic what I thought was profound nor did I feel like the piece I created was mine. It was in doing this that I started to really dive deep and think about my own opinions about storytelling and what made art powerful. I listened to those ideas, took a risk, and tried them out. Each time I did, I learned something new about myself and the art I wanted to make, which ties in to trust and compassion.
I firmly believe in never-ending personal growth. As I near my 30s, I often reflect upon the different moments in my life that made me the person I am today, and I rarely ever think that the lesson was a mistake – be it a positive or negative experience. I never think about throwing an experience away. Instead, I trust that I am on the path I need to be on in this moment, and dive deeper into the nuances of the lessons from my past. Life can be so challenging at times and if we don’t treat ourselves with trust and compassion, we are just fighting against who our body and soul need to become.
For those early in their journeys of discovery, I would encourage taking moments to pause and reflect on what makes you happy – what actions make you feel rejuvenated? Which people fill your soul up each time you spend time with them? These are the things and people that you need to hold close to you and continue to put your energy towards. Once you have found even an inkling of these, take the time to identify what about these things and people draw you in? Find a common thread and hold on to that. That will be the start to staying true to your own values and voice.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Thinking about your future can feel so overwhelming, especially when I personally think about Covid. I just end up getting frustrated at it as if those two years was to blame for where I am now and the plan I had for myself. In these moments, I try to focus on the good tings in my life now that came out of those difficult situations, like forming a closer bond with my dog, no longer feeling FOMO, and meeting my now fiance.
Other strategies I use relate more closely to my nervous system. One strategy is walking away. if I can, from the situation or task that is overwhelming me – whether it’s a 1 minute walk to the kitchen to make coffee or an hour walk outside with my dog. I have stopped punishing myself for needing brain breaks and moments of pause. I have chosen to listen to what my body is able to handle.
Another strategy that helps ground me (something I learned from Grey Box Collective) is taking a moment to just name what I see, hear, smell, and feel on my skin. These are literal statements like: “I see a blue mug”, “That wall is white”, “I hear shoes on the pavement”. This may seem small but in practicing this I find that my body starts to relax, and my breathing slow down. It’s an easy one to do without anyone noticing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahtanhy.com
- Instagram: @sarah.art.ed
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-tan9/
Image Credits
TheatreSquared Dog Ear Productions Lara Jo Hightower Sarah Tan
