Two Fresno City College students have advanced as finalists for Kennedy Center American College’s theater festival. 

Adam Khouzam and Anou Her will compete amongst other bachelor’s and master’s degree students.

“I’m still wrapping my head around the whole thing. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity and everything that has brought me to this point in the festival,” Khouzam said.

Khouzam and Anou shared similarities in their reactions to being selected as finalists.    

“To be honest, this festival to me was just a learning experience and not a competition, I am just so grateful to have had the chance to be a part of it,” Her said. 

Anou said the reason he chose to pursue theater is that he wanted to be able to express himself in life. He wants to be as authentic as possible and said the theater allowed him to do that.

According to Khouzam, acting was something he wanted to do at a young age, but it was Janine Christl, an FCC acting professor who encouraged him to pursue the field. 

“She was the one who really saw my potential and reignited my desire to pursue it more seriously,” Khouzam said. 

 Khouzam and Her both expressed that performing was challenging.

“I get nervous before I perform on stage but I always tell myself that nervousness is just excitement,” Her said.

“This was a big challenge for me and definitely took me out of my comfort zone. But through this experience I plan to learn that I am fully capable of doing this,” Khouzam said.

Her would like students who feel like acting is difficult to know it’s easier if they, “Don’t try to act in your performance, live it, be present.”

Khouzam words of encouragement for students who may be considering acting was on a deeper level.  

“Know yourself. Don’t be like everyone else. If acting is what you really want to do and hopefully make it into a career, learn, learn, learn, and experience as much as you can,” Khouzam said.