“Make thick my blood…”
When Etiwanda High School junior Vanessa Mejia delivered that line from Macbeth, the room fell silent. The intensity of her performance — drawn from one of Shakespeare’s most famous passages — was so powerful that even her drama teacher, Christian Kiley, was stunned.
“Vanessa is one of the most natural actors I’ve ever met,” Kiley said. “Whether she continues acting professionally or not, what she does on stage is remarkable. She’s fearless in the way she approaches a role.”
Now, Vanessa’s performance has earned her a place among the nation’s most promising young interpreters of Shakespeare.
After winning the English-Speaking Union regional Shakespeare competition, Vanessa has advanced to the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City on April 27, where she will represent Etiwanda High School and the Inland Empire/Desert Region on a national stage.
More than 15,000 students from over 750 schools in 40 regions nationwide competed in regional contests. At the Desert Branch competition, Vanessa’s fellow Etiwanda drama student Ariana Busito was a regional finalist. As regional champion, Vanessa earned an all-expense-paid trip to New York, where finalists will participate in workshops, tours, theater experiences and the national championship competition.
“Vanessa’s achievement reflects the power of education to help students discover their voice and their confidence,” said Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District. “We are incredibly proud to see her represent Etiwanda High School and the Chaffey District on a national stage.”
Vanessa’s journey to that stage is about far more than a single performance. For much of her childhood, she said, she struggled to feel understood. She believes part of that experience stemmed from adults not always understanding her ADHD, which made school and social situations difficult at times.
“People would tell me, ‘Don’t be stupid,’” Vanessa recalled. “I heard that a lot growing up, and it affected me. It gave me a lot of insecurities. I would feel very sad and very angry.”
What changed everything was discovering the drama program at Etiwanda High School.
“When I joined the drama department, it was like someone flipped a switch,” Vanessa said. “So many people accepted me for who I was. They were supportive and welcoming. It meant everything.”
On stage, she found something she had always imagined but never quite believed possible.
“Being on stage is the kind of thing that kid Vanessa used to dream about,” she said.
For Vanessa, acting is more than performance — it is a powerful form of self-expression.
“Drama is an art form where you can really express yourself,” she said. “Self-expression is important in every part of life. If you can’t express yourself, it’s like you’re trapped in a box.”
Her approach to Shakespeare is deeply immersive. While preparing her sonnet and monologue, she drew inspiration from an unexpected place: a visit to the Queen Mary in Long Beach. While exploring the ship’s reportedly haunted brig, Mejia felt the same eerie tension she wanted to convey in her performance.
“It was unsettling,” she said. “But I realized that feeling was exactly what I needed. When I went on stage, I imagined I was back in that room.”
When she performs, she commits fully: “I feel things a little differently than other people. When I’m performing, I get very tense. I get this tingle down my spine. When it’s over, I’m exhausted.”
She compares the process to opening a water valve.
“Like a knob — you can turn it slowly or all the way open,” she said. “When I perform, I turn it all the way open.”
Kiley said that level of emotional commitment is rare among young performers.
“She asks questions, she digs deeper, and she fully inhabits the character,” he said. “Her performances can be scary good.”
Vanessa’s creativity extends beyond Shakespeare. She once wrote a musical inspired by her relationship with her younger sister, Cassandra, now a freshman.
Despite her love of theater, Vanessa says she may pursue a different career path.
“I have two passions. I love animals and acting,” she said.
Whatever direction she ultimately chooses, the lessons she discovered on stage will remain with her.
“If you put me on a stage as a tree,” she said with a smile, “I’ll be the best tree I can be.”
For Kiley, that determination is exactly what makes Vanessa special.
“She discovered something important about herself,” he said. “And that’s the power of the arts — helping students realize their strengths and their voice.”
Later this month, Vanessa will bring that voice — and Shakespeare’s timeless words — to New York City.
“Vanessa has discovered a powerful gift for performance and storytelling,” said Etiwanda High School Principal Dr. Russell “Mac” Wolfe. “Watching her grow in confidence and share that talent on stage has been inspiring for our entire school community.”
