Melissa Simmons graduated from Potosi High School in May of 2025. Melissa spent most of her high school career putting on performances for family, friends, and community members. Melissa was Henrietta from HONK! Her sophomore year, which got her more comfortable in front of others and new opportunities. Later, she got the role of Lucy from “The World According to Snoopy,” where she had to learn to be mean and really act outside of her comfort zone, as well as many other acting roles.
From her years of performing on the stage to her new adventures in college, Melissa always has a smile on her face. Melissa played the role of Kanga in the Mineral Area College’s Fine Arts Academy production of Winnie the Pooh. Currently, she has the role of Esmeralda in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Show dates are April 30 through May 3, 2026.
Melissa is currently attending Mineral Area College to pursue her degree in Biological sciences. When Melissa was asked about how college life was going, she said, “College so far is not what I was expecting. All throughout high school, I had a vision of how it would go. I was under the impression that college was way stricter than high school and honestly, for me, it really isn’t. You can get up any time you want and use the bathroom without raising your hand. The fact I can still choose my schedule and be back home by 12:30 is a dream come true.”
Melissa says the biggest thing that surprised her in college is that no matter what major you are, there are still general classes needed to take at MAC. Melissa was not prepared for all the essays she would have to write since she didn’t think she would need more math and English credits. When asked about the transition to college life, Melissa said, “The fact that I don’t get to see my friends every day is a struggle. I have friends who go to MAC with me, but we do not have the same classes. I didn’t realize how much I missed seeing familiar faces and hanging out in the halls every day.” Since Melissa has not known her new friends for very long, she has participated in theatre shows to help fill the void of familiarity. Her new friends will never replace the ones she made here at PHS but they make her feel less alone in this new chapter of her life.
