Student Profile: Teresa Tompkins

1. What makes your family unique to other families you know?

I am the youngest of eight children, yet we are all very close to each other. I am an aunt of 17 nieces and nephews.

My siblings and I have studied and performed in piano, violin, ballet, opera, and/or musical theater.

2. What is an average homeschooling day with Seton like for you?

I get ready at 8:00 a.m. and say my morning prayers. I start school by 9:00 a.m. then around 12:00 p.m. I have lunch or I go to 12:15 mass.

If I don’t go to mass, i will say the rosary at 12:30 with my mom! Then around 1:00 I go back to school and usually finish by 3 or 4:00 and head out to dance, voice, and theater classes.

3. What’s something you have done that you really enjoyed doing?

Something I have done that I really enjoyed doing is being in musicals and concerts with people who are passionate and professional in the performing arts. I had great experiences with the Patel

Conservatory by being Ariel in the Little Mermaid Jr., Dream Laurey and Featured Dancer in Oklahoma, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Eponine in Les Miserables.

The Conservatory’s Les Miserables School Production was so popular that we did a flash mob at the International Mall in Tampa and sang One Day More.

I especially like working with children. Sometimes I sub in for my mom to teach ballet at our homeschool group. Last year I directed a theater skit “So Long, Farwell” from The Sound of Music for some talented homeschoolers!

I remember being so happy to share my joy and what I had learned with them! I felt so proud to watch them perform! I have been an assistant musical director for two years and vocalist for eight years for The Live Stations of the Cross devotion at St. Lawrence Catholic Church. I love to share my faith through music ministry to young children and teenagers.

4. What are your hobbies and interests?

My hobbies and interests are musical theater, classical singing as well as opera, Shakespeare, acting, ballet, photography, piano, and art.

5. What are some things you do as a family and on your own that you particularly enjoy?

Some things we do as a family that I like are the once a month family gatherings, resting in our backyard, swimming in the pool, seeing a national tour musical or an orchestra concert, going to the beach, Sunday Mass at my parish, or spur of the moment night adventures!

On my own, I enjoy stretch classes, reading, writing, piano, tanning outside, and working out. I also like to color and listen to music (both are good stress relievers haha).

6. What do you hope to do in the future?

I hope to be a part of national touring musicals, maybe even be in musicals on Broadway or in the West End, do concerts around the world, or be in a regional or repertory theater company. I also really hope to travel to England, France, and Germany.

I’m open to whatever God has in store for me, and I just want to be the best person I can be!