It’s not always easy for people to recognize an opportunity and take it. It can be scary, downright terrifying in fact, to see a proposition that can make or break you. What if you take that chance and choke? What if you take that chance and it’s not what you expected? What if you don’t take that chance and someone else gets everything you have hoped for and dreamed of? It’s true what they say: Be careful what you wish for because sometimes your wish can come true.

Ashland University senior Geren Lewis can testify to this, because one of these terrifying, brilliant moments presented itself to her two weeks ago in the form of an audition. Lewis heard about an open casting call for anyone interested in singing, dancing, acting and modeling on the radio station 96.5 Kiss FM.

The open auditions were held at the Hilton Inn and Garden in Cleveland by the Applause Rising Talent Showcase or ARTS. The ARTS is an association of well-known modeling and talent educational centers from all over the United States that are connected with groups of agents, casting directors and personal managers involved in the fashion and entertainment industries, according to the ARTS website. Twice a year, ARTS holds competitions and auditions for young talent looking to make it big.

“My friend…and I decided to do it, just for the hell of it,” Lewis said.

Lewis has been singing since she was a young girl. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t singing. Lewis participated in children’s choir at church, talent shows, high school concert and jazz choir, and now sings in Ashland University Women’s Chorus.

One of the greater accomplishments Lewis achieved was being accepted into the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir two years in a row (‘06-‘07). AOSFYC is an intensive choir experience that lasts for about two weeks. The choir lives on the state fairgrounds, marches in groups to all of their concert sites and has vocal training at least twice a day.

According to the AOSFYC webpage, the 2009 statistics for the choir showed that they marched up to 10 miles a day around the 360-acre fairgrounds, and they memorized 65 songs which were performed in 104 concerts over the two-week span.

Another accomplishment Lewis is proud of is being a contestant last summer in the Wooster Quota Idol, which is a spinoff of American Idol for residents in Wooster.

“I made it to the top 16 and then lost my voice,” Lewis said, disappointed.

This audition was just another one of many for Lewis. She and her friend arrived two hours early to the auditions and signed in.

“Our audition was at two, but we wanted to be early, so we got there a little after twelve. That was a dumb idea.”

Lewis said that, even though she has auditioned for many things, she was very nervous. Right before they were called into the audition room, she went into the stairwell to belt out her song one last time. Kim Myers, a talent scout, had singers audition first, so Lewis had little time to worry, stress or prepare more than she already had.

The audition song had to be a cappella.

“After a few girls sang some awesome gospel stuff, I was next,” Lewis said. “I grabbed the mic, told them my name and asked for a second to breathe…I sang ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and felt pretty good about it.”

After her friend auditioned with the actors, they were told that they would receive an email if the scouts wanted to see them again. That night, Lewis checked her site and found a congratulatory email telling her she had made it into callbacks. Out of the 370 who auditioned, Lewis was one of the 40 called back. The moment was only made better when she found out her friend had been called back also.

Lewis had to go back the next day to discuss the next steps.

“Kim [Myers] explained that she handpicks talent to put in a showcase in Orlando Florida for agents,” Lewis said. “There is a 72 percent callback rate for those people, meaning 72 percent of them get jobs and sign with agents. I’m super excited.”

Myers has traveled across North America for over 18 years, helping many young men and women find their breaks as performers, according to the ARTS newsletter from October 2010. This newsletter stated: “We all have a ‘Doubting Thomas’ in our world! We must choose whether we listen to those negative words that will become an underlying navigation system on our personal journey of life or follow our heart’s passion.”

Lewis has obviously always followed her heart’s passion and it has lead to some great opportunities, this one being the greatest yet. Lewis will have to have even more passion to get herself to Orlando, because the trip will not be easy.

“In the months ahead, I will be raising money and going to workshops to work on my performances, public speaking, talking and signing with agents, and seeing a vocal coach,” Lewis said. “The trip and stay is pretty expensive, but my family is behind me 100 percent and I couldn’t imagine passing up this opportunity.”

Lewis would greatly appreciate any donations or sponsors to help her reach her goal. You can contact Lewis by emailing her at [email protected].

“The smallest amount would help,” Lewis said.