Shanna Martin


Since I was only eleven I thought I was only going to get a small role, like one of the children in the orphanage, or a salesman. Instead, I was cast in a major role...

21st Century has helped me with my life. It's helped me learn to talk to people and not be shy about it, meet wonderful people, and discover my talent for acting.

I’ve been in the 21st Century Afterschool Program for four years now, and it has changed my attitude toward many things. 21st Century has given me something fun to do during the summer and helped me with my people skills.  Through the program I have met many wonderful people, learned how to help with kids, and overcome my shyness.

I first heard of 21st Century while I was in summer school. My friends at school were all talking about the play they were in through the summer theatre program. Since my mom worked a full time job and I was only ten, I needed something to do during the summer. So I joined the theatre group. That summer I played the role of Jack’s Mother in “Into The Woods, Jr.”  It was a wonderful experience for me. The next year I tried out for the production of “Annie, Jr.”  Since I was only eleven I thought I was only going to get a small role, like one of the children in the orphanage, or a salesman. Instead, I was cast in a major role – Miss Hannigan, the woman who runs the orphanage where Annie lives.  Playing one of the meaner characters was fun but also a huge challenge. In the end, I think that I did very well for an eleven-year-old.

In the summer of 2007, I played several roles, including Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, the narrator and Sleeping Beauty in “When You Wish upon a Star Summer Theatre.”  I met wonderful people like the interns, directors, and the talented child actors.

The summers I spent acting were some of the best summers of my life, even with all the work, sweat and tears. When I found out about the 21st Century Afterschool program, I decided to help out with that.  I’ve been in the program for three years, and because of the experience I’ve had with the mentoring program, I’m now receiving babysitting jobs.

21st Century has also helped me with my hobbies. My favorite hobby is drawing, and through the summer program, I had the chance to design costumes for some of my characters.  The theatre program has also helped me get the guts to join a speech class, and a reader’s theatre. Overall, 21st Century has helped me with my life. It’s helped me learn to talk to people and not be shy about it, meet wonderful people, and discover my talent for acting.  Participating in the 21st Century program has left me with great memories that I will have all my life.

America's Afterschool Storybook tells the stories of people and communities transformed by afterschool programs.


The Afterschool Alliance launched the Storybook to help commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the only federal initiative dedicated to supporting community afterschool programs.


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For more information, email info@afterschoolalliance.org


Press Contact:

Gretchen Wright
202.371.1999
gretchen@prsolutionsdc.com