Native Roofing High School Reflections
It’s been a joy being the official spokeswoman for Native Roofing, a locally owned and operated roofing company here in Tulsa. Blake and Jordan Grey own Native Roofing and excel in one of the most highly demanded industries in weather-torn Oklahoma, roofing! We all need a good one!
One fun fact is that I went to school with Jordan. I went to Bishop Kelly and though he was a senior when I was a sophomore, we hung out in some similar circles. He was pretty popular and happened to date one of my best friends in high school, so it was a nice surprise when I got a call to meet with them about being their on camera spokeswoman for the company.
Back to high school. I was a fish out of water. I started at Cascia Hall (6-9th grade) and transferred to Bishop Kelly for my sophomore year. Hindsight is always 20-20 and I can see how awkward I must have seemed to typical kids in my grade. I had an obsession with Old Hollywood and vintage clothes- especially hats and gloves, I smoked cigarettes from a filter from the 1940s and at parties, I brought my own red wine and wine glasses. Not to say I didn’t do beer bongs and other bongs, bc I did, but I had this strange affectation about me and kind of rubbed it in everyones face.
I wanted out of Tulsa. I wanted to get to NYC ASAP! I went to a summer acting program at 16 in Manhattan, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and loved it. It changed and shaped my life. In fact, I came back to Tulsa from my 3 month trip to NYC at 16 and broke up with my boyfriend, became vegetarian and in return lost 15 lbs and started reading The NY Times (back when it was actually good and non-biased). Oh, those were good memories. Point being, after coming back to Tulsa from NYC, I was more comfortable in my own skin and didn’t have to push the ‘Hollywood’ actress part so much on everyone. Well, at least not as much. I still wanted to get to NYC as fast as I could. But NYC was not the first place I went after graduating high School. I actually went to Chicago. I applied at multiple schools in NYC, including Julliard. I was accepted to all of them but put on the waitlist at Julliard. Probably because I mis-cast myself (per usual) for my audition into the school. I always have, and still do, see myself as an older, jaded character type…think Ethel Merman, Barbara Streisand, Patti LaPone and maybe a little Elaine Stritch. I auditioned to Julliard with the song, Whatever Lola Wants, a la Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees and with the monologue of Elizabeth Taylor in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf. The one where she is very angry and drunk. Why on earth would an 18 year old lovely young lady like myself choose those two pieces to audition to the most prestigious school in the world?? I don’t know. I know most actors have some character conflicts and an identity complex, I sure did and it shows up through out my life. Alas, I was put on the waitlist to Julliard but received a huge scholarship to the ‘Julliard of Chicago’- The Theater School at DePaul Univeritsy. I am sure I will write more about this later and it is a complete digression from the intended purpose of the blog talking about being the spokeswoman for Native Roofing in Tulsa Oklahoma with high school ties to the brothers! But that is the fun part of life, getting side tracked and seeing where it takes you.
I am glad my journey took me back to Tulsa and I can now work with people Ionce used to party with in highschool. ALhtough I acted and dressed like a broadway star from the 1940’s, I also had lots of fun letting loose and acting my age dancing to pop and hip hop and partying with the likes of good people like the Grey brothers. So cheers to a good roof! Want to see one of the spots? Here you go: WATCH
