Looking back to move forward: The heart of retrospect

By: Toby Knutson

As seniors begin to close out their college careers, many look back in
search of clarity of what mattered, what changed, and what comes next.
Retrospect, the senior show written and directed by Communication Studies
and Theater senior Faithanne Rukavina, leans fully into that uncertainty, offering
a deeply personal exploration of identity, growth, and the pressure to “figure it
all out.”
Originally developed as a ten-minute piece in a playwriting class, the
production has grown into a full-length work that now serves as both Rukavina’s
honors thesis and senior project. “It started as a 10-minute play,” Rukavina
explains, “and then it branched into something new, which is very funny and
exciting.” What began as a small assignment has evolved into something much more personal, a
show that Rukavina wrote
for her own thoughts, and
her own reflections.
Those reflections shape the heart of Retrospect. The play explores the idea that life does not have to follow a single, fixed path. “You don’t need to just choose one path in life,” Rukavina says. “And it’s never too late to start in those dreams.” At the same time, the show acknowledges the difficulty of change, emphasizing that “sometimes you have to give up things that you’re scared of to get what you really want.” Taking on the dual role of writer and director has given Rukavina a new perspective on her work. “It’s really different directing than acting,” Rukavina describes the experience as both challenging and rewarding. Watching the show come to life has been particularly impactful: “There’s a lot of moments that I wrote it and then I’m like, ‘whoa, it’s a lot
different seeing it in person,’ or it’s like, ‘that’s exactly what I wanted.’”
At its core, Retrospect is about hope. Rukavina hopes audiences walk away
with that feeling above all else. “There’s hope in every situation that’s gonna turn out,”
Rukavina says. “You don’t need to just be one thing, you can be many things, because
they’re still important to you.”
That message carries through the performances, particularly in the character of
Tessa, played by freshman Leah Aderhold. Tessa is, in Aderhold’s words, “very fun” but
also deeply complex, “she’s gone kind of through the ringer.” The role has challenged
Aderhold to navigate emotional nuance, especially in moments of conflict. “There’s a
scene where she gets really defensive,” she explains, “but it’s hard… to be defensive
without sounding manipulative.”
Despite those challenges, the role has been equally rewarding. “I feel like I’ve
grown a lot just in my acting,” Aderhold says, noting that the process pushed her to
“really ramp it up.” More personally, she found herself connecting to the character in
unexpected ways. “We’re so similar that it’s like scary.” That connection has made the
experience especially meaningful, as “being able to see her growth and healing, as
well as living in my healing, has kind of been really fulfilling.”
Together, these voices shape Retrospect into more than just a senior showcase.
It becomes a shared reflection. One that embraces uncertainty, honors growth, and
ultimately points toward hope. As the title suggests, the show looks back, but as
Faithanne Rukavina’s senior project, it also quietly insists on the possibility of moving
forward. “It’s really different directing than acting,” Rukavina describes the experience as both
challenging and rewarding. Watching the show come to life has been particularly
impactful: “There’s a lot of moments that I wrote it and then I’m like, ‘whoa, it’s a lot
different seeing it in person,’ or it’s like, ‘that’s exactly what I wanted.’”
At its core, Retrospect is about hope. Rukavina hopes audiences walk away
with that feeling above all else. “There’s hope in every situation that’s gonna turn out,”
Rukavina says. “You don’t need to just be one thing, you can be many things, because
they’re still important to you.”
That message carries through the performances, particularly in the character of
Tessa, played by freshman Leah Aderhold. Tessa is, in Aderhold’s words, “very fun” but
also deeply complex, “she’s gone kind of through the ringer.” The role has challenged
Aderhold to navigate emotional nuance, especially in moments of conflict. “There’s a
scene where she gets really defensive,” she explains, “but it’s hard… to be defensive
without sounding manipulative.”
Despite those challenges, the role has been equally rewarding. “I feel like I’ve
grown a lot just in my acting,” Aderhold says, noting that the process pushed her to
“really ramp it up.” More personally, she found herself connecting to the character in
unexpected ways. “We’re so similar that it’s like scary.” That connection has made the
experience especially meaningful, as “being able to see her growth and healing, as
well as living in my healing, has kind of been really fulfilling.”
Together, these voices shape Retrospect into more than just a senior showcase.
It becomes a shared reflection. One that embraces uncertainty, honors growth, and
ultimately points toward hope. As the title suggests, the show looks back, but as
Faithanne Rukavina’s senior project, it also quietly insists on the possibility of moving
forward.