Throughout this master’s program, I have developed a strong appreciation for how systemic, structural, and cultural factors shape individual performers’ experiences. The two artifacts I have chosen to showcase this growth, the Sport Matters Cultural Plunge Project on Cirque du Soleil and Issues in Competitive Dance Presentation, reflect my ability to critically examine performance environments through a sociocultural lens. Together, they demonstrate how I have integrated sociological thinking, performer welfare considerations, and systems awareness into my evolving consulting identity.

The Sports Matters Cultural Plunge Project on Cirque du Soleil allowed me to immerse myself in a world that was new to me but deeply resonant with my professional background. It was an opportunity to move beyond personal admiration for artistic excellence and to critically analyze how Cirque fosters inclusion, manages performer identity, and navigates issues of social class and accessibility. I was particularly proud of my ability to frame Cirque’s organizational culture through the themes of socialization, race and ethnicity, and social mobility, all while maintaining a balanced view of its strengths and limitations. The feedback I received was affirming, highlighting the depth of my analysis and the applicability of my insights. As such, I chose to leave this artifact as originally submitted, confident that it accurately represents my growth in understanding the complex interplay between performance, business, and sociocultural forces.

In contrast, my Issues in Competitive Dance Presentation underwent a meaningful revision process. While the original presentation was praised for its structure, critical depth, and thought-provoking discussion questions, I had initially failed to include in-slide citations. This was an important oversight, as it unintentionally gave the impression that all the ideas presented were my own. Addressing this feedback, I revised the presentation to include consistent, properly formatted citations on each research-supported slide. This adjustment strengthened the academic integrity of the work and more accurately reflected the depth of research that underpinned the analysis. The experience reinforced the importance of not only engaging deeply with sources but also making that engagement visible to the audience—a lesson I will carry forward into future professional and academic work.

Both artifacts are especially meaningful to me because they are so closely tied to my current and future professional context. Living in Las Vegas, I am surrounded by the Cirque du Soleil community as well as a vibrant, hypercompetitive youth dance scene. These artifacts positioned me to think critically about how I might contribute locally, not just by offering individual mental skills training, but by advocating for performer safety, healthy cultural practices, and systemic change. They also sharpened my awareness that working with performers means working within systems, and that consulting effectively requires cultural fluency as much as technical expertise.

Together, these two artifacts illustrate a trajectory of growth: from learning to view performance environments through a sociological lens to understanding how to communicate research-based insights in a clear, ethical, and practical manner. They demonstrate how I have moved beyond an individualistic view of performance to adopt a more ecological perspective—one that acknowledges the complexity of performers’ experiences and seeks to support their flourishing within the systems they inhabit. As I move forward, I carry with me not just the content knowledge these artifacts represent, but the deeper habits of mind they helped cultivate: curiosity, critical thinking, cultural humility, and a commitment to honoring both excellence and humanity in the performers I serve.