When the name Mount Carmel is mentioned, many think first of the school’s storied athletic program. However, with the recent success of the IHSA Speech Team, the re-emergence of band and choir, and last year’s highly successful Spring Arts Festival, it can be argued that the arts program also is gaining prominence.

In recent years, the various components of that program have begun to inspire a number of students to pursue college majors or to seek out career opportunities in the arts. Wallace Goode III, Class of 2016, is one such student who is planning to pursue a career in the arts when he begins college in the fall.

After graduating from Mount Carmel last spring, Goode decided to take a gap year and spend three months in Costa Rica. He wanted to travel while he was young, but knowing he was facing surgery soon for a condition called scoliosis, which could limit his ability to travel later in life, he chose to pursue those experiences right away before college.

Now back from his gap year travels, he is preparing for the next phase of his life. He has some auditions coming up for colleges, and is waiting to hear back from others. In college, Goode plans to pursue a dual major in acting and creative writing, hoping to one day become an actor or author. He hopes he is able to be completely devoted to the arts while in college.

Goode first was exposed to acting in third grade, when he had to perform in a play as a class requirement. Before that, he had wanted to work with animals in some way. Then in fifth grade, he volunteered to be in a play for the first time, and ever since he’s been active in theatre.  It’s become a passion, for as he observes, “There’s a certain joy that comes with being on stage.”

As might be expected, his initial experiences of acting during high school had “ups and downs.” In his freshman year, he was cast as a police officer in a play, but was on stage only briefly near the end of the play. “It was very uninspiring,” he recalled.

However, in his sophomore year, he was cast in a lead role in the play Twelve Angry Men, playing an elderly, angry, racist. During that experience, Goode worked under the supervision of Mr. Kevin Taylor, who used to run the arts program at Mount Carmel, along with Ms. Marita Tierney.

He remembered how Taylor fought for him to get the role despite the fact he was only a sophomore.

“I’m glad I did well and showed them I could do it,” Goode noted about his performance that year.

That experience solidified his interest in acting, as well as provided the type of mentors that anyone needs.  In fact, Goode recognizes in hindsight that Taylor was the first teacher he ever had who he would consider “a good friend,”

Prior to that, Goode’s interest mostly found support from his parents. He recalled when he acted in Macbeth in seventh grade, his parents were up day and night coaching him and helping to get him into character.

Looking to the future, Goode has ambitious dreams.  He hopes that in 10 years he will have achieved at least some fame or recognition, preferably in some type of television show or small movies.

After that, who know?  For now, Goode simply hopes that he is “on the road” to that future acclaim.

This is the first in an occasional series of profiles that mccaravan.org will publish to highlight alumni who have pursued careers in the arts.