When you are in high school, it is strongly encouraged to “beef up” your extracurricular activities, so most high school students try to do just that. Plus, it is nice to think about something other than ACT/SATs, college admissions, and homework. In one corner, you have those who chose the life of athletics. You were athletically gifted, so congrats. Next, you have the brains who chose academic team, mathletes, tutoring positions, robotics club, etc. Then there were the students who chose to be in a little bit of everything from Student Council to Spanish Club – the list goes on and on. FINALLY, we have those who chose the life of performing arts. Band, choir, drama, theater, orchestra, dance – you were in at least three of these, most likely, and you probably ROCKED each one. There are a few things that one who calls themselves a “performing arts nerd” can definitely relate to:
1. You were at every sporting event but probably only to sing/play the national anthem.
Sports in high school are a big deal for everyone, even us performers. Whether it be playing/singing the national anthem or crushing our school fight song, we are there to support our team (but mostly perform).
2. People THINK we are into performing arts because we have no athletic ability. WRONG.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard someone say, "dancing isn't even qualified to be a sport." WRONG. It is hard. Don't even get me started on how people in marching band feel about the assumption that what they do takes no athletic ability. I promise you that a marching band member and dancer both have calves better than Carrie Underwood's, so you might want to think again before you assume that performing requires no athletic ability.
3. You are a professional at annoying every member of your household with your countless hours of practicing.
We have all heard the line, “Honey, you think it’s time to give it a rest for the night?,” from our parents, and all of our siblings have probably attempted to soundproof their rooms. But practice makes perfect, and we know that all too well.
4. Your memory is SHARP, well...most of it.
You remember dances from a recital 10 years ago and eight-page music pieces, but you can't remember what you ate yesterday. Makes sense.
5. Boy or girl, you know how to WING that eyeliner.
Two words: STAGE MAKEUP. Enough said.
6. Your closet is filled with... CRAP.
After all of the recitals, performances, and concerts that you have been a part of, your closet if filled with tutus, uniforms, dresses, and costumes. UPSIDE: you are totally set for Halloween for the rest of eternity.
7. You have been subconsciously changed forever.
You listen to music, and suddenly you find yourself keeping time with your foot or counting one-te, two-te, three-te. Sometimes, you will hear a new song and think, "This would be so cool to dance to." Next thing you know, you have drifted off and choreographed the first two verses in your head. One of the biggest struggles is watching someone perform, and your friends feeling like they did an amazing job, but the whole performance you were keeping count of how many times they were flat/sharp. It's a blessing and a curse, really.
8. Your house is a shrine of all your performance videos and pictures.
Your parents just HAVE to buy every single DVD at every single performance of yours. You can't walk down your hallway without seeing embarrassing pictures of your four-year-old self in that recital outfit. There is video/photo evidence of your performances everywhere, and you know your mom has those DVDs ready to pop into the living room TV anytime family comes over. Don't even think about going to your grandparents' house, because it just gets worse.
9. You know EVERYONE.
After all of the competitions and recitals you have been to, you know at least 67 percent of the entire world population. You will always see someone you know everywhere you go.
10. You are unnaturally fast at changing your clothes.
The person who holds the Genius World Record for quick change was probably in performing arts. You know what it is like to have to change in 0.5 seconds, and you have made it happen.
11. You have all too often experienced the tragedy of a song being forever ruined for you.
Super-popular song that people love? You probably hate it because you have had to sing it, dance to it, or play an orchestral version of it. IT HAS BEEN SOILED. You can't even listen to "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts anymore because your jazz class had a battement combination to this song, and now it is forever ruined (I realized that this is a very specific instance, and it may or may not have happened to me).
12. You are the cold and flu guru, and you WILL NOT get sick.
You're everyone's go-to for cough drops and throat spray. You have enough GermX, Halls cough drops, and lemon honey green tea to get you through the apocalypse. You don't mess around with cold and flu season, and chances are, your vitamin C levels are through the roof.
13. You know every meaning to the phrase "WORK IT."
From putting in countless hours of WORK to owning a performance, you know the meaning of this phrase inside and out.
14. You are a STAR.
