Determined Student Making Her Dreams Come True
From Cut Off, Louisiana,
Dru Collins Takes Online Classes & Lives With Family In New Orleans
Each day, Dru Collins puts on her bicycle helmet and heads down one of the most historic avenues in New Orleans, Chartres Street, to do what she loves to do: Theatre and Performance. A simple bike ride to most, but for Dru it has been a long journey over great distances, with even a few bumps in the road.
Dru is not afraid of hard work. Even at her young age, she understands it is part of the process. She is now cherishing every moment of her high school experience, her senior year at her dream school, Louisiana’s arts conservatory NOCCA.
Youngest daughter of Drew and Kristine Collins of Cut Off, Dru DeLaney Collins, has a genuine fierily spirit, her red hair and flashing eyes only reinforce that. She learned about NOCCA during the summer of her freshman year at South Lafourche High School, when she was cast in a play at the South Louisiana Center for the Arts located in Houma. A fellow cast member told her about NOCCA. This sparked her passion and a year-long quest followed for Dru. She learned as much as possible about NOCCA and prepared for the school’s audition. Dru was unsuccessful, but she did not give up.
Dru then worked with local director Perry Martin, who helped guide her through insight and feedback. Dru was scared to even share with her friends at South Lafourche High her wish to attend NOCCA. When she was finally accepted to the NOCCA Drama program, she knew she could not look back and had to make it happen.
NOCCA has been lucky to have several students from south Louisiana attend, but it is a big challenge for any student to travel to New Orleans each day for training. One of NOCCA’s great alumni includes Golden Meadow native and opera star Lori Guilbeau who studied Classical Vocal Music, traveling to NOCCA each day with her mother Lorraine who patiently waited for Lori to complete her afternoon music studies.
Dru did not want to cause any burden. She researched Lafourche’s online school options and knew she had family in New Orleans that would welcome her with open arms. With the loving support of her parents, Dru changed schools in her junior year, living with her great aunt and uncle Becky and Ed Edwards in the French Quarter.
“I could not do any of this without my parents, and aunt Becky and uncle Ed,” stated Dru. “NOCCA has changed my life. I now have the opportunity to be in a city where I can see professional theatre anytime I want. I have met other kids just like me and have found friendships that will last a lifetime. I am very lucky.”
What is in store for Dru next year? The sky is the limit. She plans on attending Nicholls State University and is looking into their IT major. She also hopes Perry Martin will remember her and maybe cast her in a play at his professional theatre, The Bayou Playhouse. There is no stopping Dru, for sure.
written by Brian Hammell, Director of Communications | NOCCA