Wowing Rhythm and RISE: Hailee Augustus, Theater Activation

Hailee Augustus is a Theater student at Community College of Philadelphia and participating in Rhythm and RISE on June 9. She is excited to be a part of this event and showcase her own and her classmates’ talents.

“I'm a showoff, I really am, but I have to feel confident, I have to be in my element,” Hailee said about performing. "I love that feeling, and making people enjoy themselves and just be like, ‘Oh, that was so fun.’” She is looking forward to giving guests a positive experience they can take with them after the event is over. “And I think it just makes people feel more connected when they leave an event like that.”

When Quinn Eli, assistant professor of Theater, approached Hailee about being involved in Rhythm and RISE, it was a resounding yes for her. “So just know, especially having him see me perform finally and then having asked me, that was just really touching,” she said. “So, of course I have to say yes. I would jump at another opportunity after this as well.”

Hailee feels like she’s grown and gained valuable skills in her time here at CCP. “I mean, I've just evolved so much as a communicator, a storyteller and as a person,” she said. She also feels like the opportunities she’s received at CCP are unparalleled. “The opportunities I've had here from the community of just word of mouth or talking to people, getting along with people, people breaking me out of my shell, me breaking other people out of their shawl,” she said. “You have to pay it forward and you also have to give back and it just creates a beautiful circle.”

At Rhythm and RISE, Hailee is excited to work with her classmates again. “I'm looking forward to just people seeing what we can do,” she said. "There's just something really special about this batch in my class, and the people who have been there from the start...we just have really great chemistry. We're all talented. We all are hardworking, and we're all dedicated.”

CCP is proud to be able to highlight students and their hard work during this monumental event. If you are interested in attending, you can learn more about it and purchase a ticket  here. The event supports the Dr. Alycia Marshall Seventh President’s Fund.