Meet RESPECT Actor Educator: Conner Holben

What is your favorite RESPECT educational play?

My favorite educational play would have to be Between The Lines. There’s just so much to unpack throughout this performance and I have a great time with my cast mates because our chemistry is pretty on point. I love the scenes because these are real things that happen to middle schoolers and it’s always important, no matter what age you are, to understand that bullying comes in so many different shapes and forms. And that’s the most important theme to carry.

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job would have to be the acting and theatre perspective of it all. Since I was young, my dream has been to perform and now I’m doing it not just to tell a story, but to deliver a very important message to children and adults alike. It’s the best thing in the world when someone comes up to you and says “I really believed you when you were performing” or “I want to be an actor someday too.” That means you made a difference in someone’s life and that’s all I really want as an actor/educator.

What is the best part of your interactions at RESPECT programs?

What is something that you’ve learned by being part of RESPECT?

An anonymous source once said “Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours shine any brighter.” I’ve never been fully aware of bullying being a worldwide issue and how challenging people’s lives are because of it. So many kids and adults struggle just getting to the next day because they don’t know if they even want to see the next day which disheartens me. RESPECT gives me the strength to do the right thing and help others realize they have a voice and they can use it to save somebody or even save themselves.