Meet a BA: Katrin Hosseini

From now until the end of the school year, we will be introducing and celebrating our graduating students, looking back on the work they've done during their time here, and sharing their reflections and wisdom as they head off into the world. Today, we meet graduating Drama major Katrin Hosseini. Originally from Tehran, Iran, Katrin moved to the U.S. in 2012. She is earning a double degree in Drama and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. In the theatre, Katrin is a chameleon whose interests include acting, directing, and playwriting. She's also added marketing and promotion to the mix and the Undergraduate Theatre Society's Social Media Coordinator and Webmaster. 

What do you know now that you didn’t know when you started here? 
I didn’t know that I want to be an artist. I decided to be a Drama major in my junior year when I was almost done with my Biology degree. I have learned so much about myself and what I really want to do in life. I have always wanted to influence the world and help people; that’s why I got interested in the health science field. Taking Drama classes in UW opened a whole new world to me. I started discovering a part of me that I never knew existed. I found out the way for me to be influential is using art as a tool.

Any plans for after graduation or dreams for the future that you can share ?
I’m planning to travel in the summer, spend time with my family, and just learn about things because I am interested in them, not because I'm being forced to [by a class]. I left Iran right after high school and I think I need to learn a lot about Persian art and history to be able to grow in my artistic journey. I want to tell the stories of the brave women that were never represented. This is my dream.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time here?
I have a couple, but this one is one of my favorites: It was Valentine's Day and I was in theatre history class. Andrea [Zaborac, fellow Drama major] threw a piece of paper to me. I picked it up and it was a cute handmade Valentine’s card. I don’t know why but it just took me to high school when I was eating oranges with my friends in the class. We couldn’t eat in class!

What advice do you have to people who might follow in your footsteps? 
I would say take advantage of BA slot or capstone and create your own collaborative project, because I learned a lot about myself as an artist writing and directing my capstone. Do not only depend on the education and opportunity you get through UW. There is a much bigger world out there, so try to explore it (if you have time). Read and study the things you know will be essential to your future career. Your life journey is unique so never compare your path with others' to measure your success.   

Why do we need theatre?
I was in the midst of figuring out what I really want to do with my life and I was asking the same question. Why should I do theatre? Why do we need theatre? I took Tim Bond’s Drama 365 and we studied about August Wilson’s American Century Cycle. What August Wilson did with his plays, that strong message hit me so hard. I was awakened, inspired and transformed. Theatre transforms and as much as it can sound cliché, it is magical.