The summer of 2022 completely changed the way I see things.

That year, I applied for an internship at the Apollo Theater not because I thought I had a real shot, but because I knew it’s always better to try than not. The program focused on the technical side of theater, like audio and production, and since I write songs, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about that world.

I didn’t expect anything to come from it, so when I got a call for an interview, I was already surprised. They mentioned that thousands of people had applied, which made it feel like an even bigger deal. I didn’t overthink it after that, but then, out of nowhere, I got in.

Walking in on my first day, I felt nervous but grateful. Tamika, who ran the program, introduced us to our mentor’s industry professionals with years of experience.

One of our first lessons was breaking down Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish and learning how the song was made from start to finish. It was fascinating to see the layers behind something I had only ever heard as a final product.

We explored the different departments’ projections, lighting, and production design. Most of it was completely new, but I picked things up along the way. One of our most significant projects was creating a complete production concept from scratch. If our pitch was approved, we were given a $30,000 budget to bring it to life.

Having that much responsibility as a group of teenagers was exciting but also a little overwhelming. We came up with Arcadian Rising, a story about a broken-down factory transforming into something full of life.

But what stuck with me the most wasn’t the technical side of things, it was just being in the Apollo, experiencing its history firsthand. We got to go behind the scenes at Amateur Night, and the energy in the room was unreal. The crowd wasn’t shy about their opinions, and watching people react to the performances made me realize how much history this place holds for the artists and the audience.

One day, we toured the dressing rooms where legends like Diana Ross, the Jacksons, and James Brown got ready. Everything looked untouched, like time had just stopped there. That feeling only strengthened when I was in the theater while The Psychedelic Furs were rehearsing. It was one of those moments that didn’t feel real, like I had accidentally stepped into someone else’s world.

Then, I rubbed the Tree of Hope. Right before I touched it, I had a flashback to being a kid, watching The Jacksons: An American Dream and seeing little Michael Jackson rub the tree alongside his brothers. I hadn’t thought about that scene in years, but suddenly, it hit me. I was standing in the same place I had seen on screen as a child. It was a strange, full-circle moment.

Beyond everything I learned, I also made friends. People who, like me, were just teenagers thrown into this experience that felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even though we all came from different backgrounds, we shared that same feeling of excitement and uncertainty, and we pushed through it together.