Catch up on my life!

College Majors Musical Theater Majors
1

<p>Hey CC, long time no talk</p>

<p>I received a facebook message from a member here telling me that some of you folks were wondering what I’ve been up to recently, so I decided to come back and fill everyone in.</p>

<p>For any of you who don’t know me, my name is Robert. I auditioned for 7 or 8 schools last year and was rejected from 7 or 8 schools. I took it very hard, but I decided that I was going to reaudition and come back next year as the most prepared person to ever audition for the school. Well I spent all summer working with monologue coaches, voice teachers, vocal coaches and any other services that could be of help for me until late August I had an epiphany.</p>

<p>I decided that I did not want to reaudition but rather go to my back up school, Christopher Newport University, about 30 minutes from my hometown. At first I was wary about my decision because, after all, this is my life riding on this decision, but after some intense research I got very excited. Of course it was too late to enter for fall semester, so I waited until January to start school.</p>

<p>The theater program at CNU is a BA in Theater Arts with concentrations in:
Acting
Musical Theater/ Dance
Design/ Tech
Directing/ Dramatic Literature
Arts Administration
and Theater Studies</p>

<p>One thing I was really excited about was that, as a BA program, I was also able to study my other passion in life: German. So I enrolled as a Theater (MT concentration) and German double-major. I had kind of lost my interest in becoming an actor when I get out of college, but I decided that having a history in musical theater would put a very interesting perspective in teaching theater.</p>

<p>I am taking Acting I currently, and this class taught me that my heart really isn’t with musical theater or acting. Although it is fun, I do not see myself making a career out of it. I need to study something more left-brained. I cannot understand a lot of the abstract concepts that are being taught in acting class. I need concrete boundaries and definitions, I need right-or-wrong answers rather than subjective answers. Last week I decided that I wanted to change my concentration from musical theater to Arts Administration, where I’d be doing the business aspect of the arts. What will I do with my degree after school? Whatever comes my way.</p>

<p>Overall I am 100% happy with my decision. I truly believe that I was rejected for a reason now, and although it was the most painful thing to go through at the time, in the end I wouldn’t change it for the world.</p>

<p>Robert</p>

2

<p>Robert, Wow! Good for you! I am so impressed with your maturity in your decision and I am so proud of you for finding your direction in life! Congrats and keep up the good work, and visit us here from time to time, the folks here need to hear your story, it’s truely an inspiration! Thanks for sharing.</p>

3

<p>Oh I forgot to mention what all I’ve been doing theater-wise at school already.</p>

<p>I was on run crew as a fly operator for Sweet Charity. I meant to audition, but when I signed up for my audition time I thought I had signed up for Thursday at 10:15 PM, so I showed up at like 9:30 on Thursday just to find out that I signed up for 10:15 PM on Wednesday, so I missed my audition :/. But I auditioned for the Directing Showcase, which is where all Senior directing majors put on a 30ish minute scene/play and have them all performed in a showcase. I was cast as Jim in A Lonely Impulse of Delight by Patrick Shanley.</p>

<p>I am also working on getting credit to join Alpha Psi Omega, the Theater Honors Fraternity. I should have enough credit to join Spring '10</p>

4

<p>What a great post, Robert! I’m sure there are many readers right now that are feeling very similar to how you were last year and now look how great you are doing. Congrats!</p>

5

<p>Robert, as one of a number of Moms that wondered and cared what became of you, I"m so glad you shared this. You are the personification of what I have always observed - the personal growth and change between age 17 and 25 is tremendous. It’s a total time of exploration and discovery of every aspect of “who am I” as we realize we may not be our parents or who we have been thought of or even thought of ourselves. Plus going to college you can end up in some class that you had virtually little interest in and with exposure can discover you absolutely love. It’s such an exciting time of life!!! </p>

<p>I can read the minds of many here thinking “well I’ll NEVER give up theatre” “it’s my passion”-- I think that was where YOU were last year. Hopefully your sharing will stay with those that someday struggle with how life is a path and we just don’t know what brings us happiness until we travel down it.</p>

6

<p>Robert – What an amazing story and outcome for you! I, too, had been wondering what happened to you. </p>

<p>I hope you know that your courage to reveal your personal experience and innermost thoughts last year was incredibly endearing and inspirational to all of us, parents and students alike. That took GUTS! </p>

<p>We are wishing you continued success in carrying out these wonderful ideas and plans --though I have no doubt at all you will be a great success no matter your path.</p>

<p>Good going!</p>

7

<p>Robert, I am one of the moms from CC who actually met you and your parents at one of the auditions last year (Syracuse … the audition in Washington, DC) so I am particularly happy to hear that you landed on your feet and even more, that you are thriving! I am so happy to hear that you are happy and that you found an area of theater and the arts that suits you and that you feel passionate about. As my friend HoosierMom said above, college and the years between high school and the middle 20s are a time of incredible personal and emotional growth and it’s clear you are growing by leaps and bounds. Your story will be an inspiration to many other kids on this board, for sure.
Keep in touch, OK?</p>

8

<p>Robert, just another mom wanting to congratulate you on a wise and mature decision that I am so glad went well for you. I am sure this thread with be shared with many other kids who thought things were hopeless when the last rejection arrives. For all the believers that everything will find a way of working out you have certainly given them validation. I really believe this is what a forum like cc is all about.
Thanks so much for sharing your story!</p>

9

<p>Robert, THANKS for the update! We always knew you were a determined and thoughtful young man…you will succeed at whatever you put your hand to. God bless you and please keep in touch with your second family here on CC.</p>

10

<p>Robert, I’m new to the CC boards, so I was not privy to your journey last year, but I still have to tell you how proud you have made every single parent who read your update – even those who don’t “know” you from before!</p>

<p>Congratulations on not just finding a direction, but understanding that your life will continue to take many twists and turns as you travel. Not to mix too many metaphors, but you have certainly made lemonade from last year’s lemons…and I’m thrilled to know you are enjoying every sip!</p>

<p>Thank you for sharing your story thus far. I look forward to finding out how you progress.</p>

11

<p>So I log on to Facebook (yes, I’m procrastinating at work, lol), and one of my friends has this GREAT quote as her status. It couldn’t be more appropriate to this discussion and what many of our kids are going through. It’s attributed to Carl Bard, who is purported to be a Scottish theologian, religious writer and broadcaster.</p>

<p>“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”</p>

<p>Words to live by, for sure. :-)</p>

12

<p>Robert–
Thank you for sharing. I too remember you, and your story is so inspirational to so many. I wish you the best in all you do.</p>

13

<p>Thanks Robert! I guess you were able to locate your log in info :D! Good to have you “back”. Look forward to hearing every once in a while about your college journey.</p>

14

<p>Robert - I was so glad to hear the wonderful outcome for you on your college journey! I agree with everyone else that this is a tremendous time of change for young people like you and it is so good to hear that you were able to incorporate your passions into your college program.</p>

<p>Please keep us updated every one in awhile. You are an inspiration to all of those kids right now who are finding out or waiting for their audition results.</p>

15

<p>Robert~your update put a smile on my face! Thanks so much for letting us know how you are doing. I know a lot of us here at CC have thought a lot about you and have admired the manner in which you have conducted yourself during this process. You have been a cheerleader for others going on this journey and it is great to know that you are happy and thriving! :)</p>