Leen Mbarak
BA ‘24
I graduated from LAU this summer with a BA in English Creative Writing and a minor in Performance Arts with Honors. My experience at LAU has been one of self-discovery and growth that could not have happened had LAU not given me that chance. My journey started when I registered for an Art of Theater elective course in my first semester, not knowing how it would change my life. However, the discoveries I made about theater in that course stirred in me a desire to pursue more of the artistic scene at the university. An entire world unfolded when I visited the LAU theater and began watching student plays.
Now, after pursuing a minor in performing arts, I stand on the other end, having worked on more than 10 performances in all artistic genres. I took part in the LAU choir and the LAU Music Ensemble for two semesters. I have performed in LAU’s The Prophet centennial edition and stage managed, directed, and written different kinds of theatrical works. Merging the creative writing knowledge provided to me through my BA with the practical skills I earned in my minor, I was able to write and direct an original musical theater production in my final year titled Barefoot in NYC with my closest friends whom I met along the way, followed by yet another original play script titled Indebted to The Sun, the culmination of my academic journey after three captivating years.
The friends I found in the arts community at LAU became family, and the skills I honed have become second nature to me. I was able to find my calling within LAU. Inside its theaters, I was given a creative space that allowed and encouraged me to fully experiment and explore the ends of my ambitions and passion, for which I was rewarded generously with unforgettable experiences and incredible knowledge within my field. This journey has shaped my personality and solidified my resilience in pursuing my dream of becoming a scriptwriter and director, and now sends me off with a warm hug and all the tools I will need to succeed. It is not easy to leave one’s home, but I leave with only the best of memories that will forever fuel the lantern I carry in my walk toward fulfillment and provide me with warmth and guidance in my time of need; that is the essence of LAU.
I could not be prouder to be an LAU alumna, and I hope to one day give back to LAU the same kindness it offered me during my stay there.
