HHS senior learns about life on the stage and in the real world

Cade Mataya showing a prop from one of a play he worked on while in theater.

Volunteered at local nursing home since eighth grade

Cade Mataya didn’t expect to enjoy theater as much as he did at Hahnville High School, but that changed after only a few rehearsals.

“It was a very good example of giving something a chance before totally rejecting it, as theater was never something I even considered prior to my junior year,” said the Hahnville High senior. “However, a bigger takeaway for me was to always do what you can to expand your horizons.”

In his two years of theater, Mataya was exposed to “modern cultures and different periods of modern history within our own national culture.” He observed how literature and writing styles evolved.

“The production I would say I was most involved in was the play for this past year’s season: Peter and the Starcatcher,” he said. “This show, which serves as a prequel for Peter Pan, was one of Hahnville’s most unique productions in terms of set design: the set and the props were very minimalistic (in the vain of Our Town) and called upon the audience to use their imagination to fill in the blanks that the staging left. I starred as the eccentric (but well loved) Smee, a role that I really enjoyed.”

The effort he lovingly devoted to acting would also be extended to volunteering at Ashton Manor Assisted Living and Memory Care in Luling, which he did daily in summers since he was in eighth grade.

“It fits in the sense it sort of pushed that desire to help to the forefront,” Mataya said. “Ultimately, I decided to enter law.”

Mataya’s parents, Jerry and Patsy Mataya of Luling, suggested he volunteer at the nursing home to have something to do in summer. Activities Manager Trudy Lopez, welcomed the help. [pullquote]“They’re like these living history books.” – Cade Mataya[/pullquote]

“I was very excited about interacting with residents and hearing what they had to say,” he said. “The different generations are represented there and it’s like two totally different cultures.”

Mataya recalled playing chess with a resident he called “Mr. Tim” and learned about his life. The man was unable to walk, but was still self-sufficient.

But the student quickly learned those times were less about chess and more about having someone to talk to about his struggles.

But now, at age 18, he reflects on the experience with deeper understanding.

He also realized much more about what senior citizens offer.

“They’re a little piece of living history,” he said. “I’m a little bit of a history nerd and some of these post-war era people were in a very unique place and time. They’re like these living history books.”

He said it influenced his desire to go above and beyond in what he’s doing to help others as he prepares to enter the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to major in political science and minor in history, and then plans to attend Tulane Law School.

“I should always find a way to be a helping hand in some way,” he said. “It was never really part of what was required of me, but it’s personally rewarding for me to do.”

Mataya’s life experiences changed his outlook.

“They have a sense of humor and you kind of see parallels,” he said. “You get a deeper appreciation for the human condition.”

 

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