I remember this kid who came into an audition and froze up, just couldn’t speak. Competent reader and speaker but when people were watching she couldn’t do a thing.
We cast her anyway, in a chorus role. Offered her lots of support and encouragement and kindness and grace.
At the next audition she whispered. Anyone who had never seen her before would have thought she was the most nervous kid there. But the directing team was abuzz afterward. Did you see? She did it! Once or twice I could actually almost hear her! Amazing.
Got cast again, in a chorus role. She’d been making friends with the other kids, and they offered her encouragement too.
And the next audition we said wow I can hear her! She’s speaking! Let’s give her a handful of lines! She can do it!
Anyway as a mentor in the performing arts these things are huge wins for me. Some kids are competent and confident performers at 7 or 8 almost by nature. Others, even much older kids and adults, have to make progress by inches. But progress is exciting! The only place to go is up!