"Say whatever you want. Do whatever you like. Be whoever you are." - Amy Poehler
At my age, my role model Amy Poehler was just getting through college. She had no idea about "Parks and Rec," "Mean Girls," or UCB. She just loved what she did. It took a while to figure out, but I'm taking the step to follow her path.
I'm a thespian. I even have the paperwork to prove it. The stage is my second home. I've always had a flair for the dramatic. From dress-up fashion shows to magic shows with my hamster to stealing the family video camera to send in audition tapes to MTV as teenager, show business has been in my blood. Christmas pageants and after-school plays primed me for high school theater. I took four years of theater classes and had my hands on every production possible. Though I was heavily involved, it never took priority in my life. It was a hobby, not a lifestyle.
When freshman year of college came along, I jumped at the chance to be a part of Doane's theater family. I took a few theater classes, but was only dipped my toes into the department with improv team, clubs, and crews. As I was considering a theatre minor, a mentor of mine asked me if I'd be happy making money when I woke up every morning hating my job. After that conversation, I went straight to the registrar and changed my major. If I could do anything else and be happy, I would. Amy urges artists like myself to "take your risks now -- as you grow older, you become more fearful and less flexible," so I think this risk is coming at the right time.
Fast forward to this summer where I landed an amazing internship in DC. I started off with the mindset that I'd one day manage an improv theater. I love doing improv and comedy, and my talents were in administration and production management. I can see myself doing it every day, but the only thing better than the work is the classes and performances. After watching "Don't Think Twice" in a preview audience and sitting through Q&A's with Mike Birbiglia and Gillian Jacobs, I knew what I had to do. I went home and reread Amy's "Yes Please!" for further motivation.
Through improv, sketch comedy and standup, I want to make a difference with comedy. Making someone laugh is the second best feeling in the world. Getting paid to do it is the best. Standing in the spotlight is a feeling like none other. That rush is a drug, but one of the good ones. Comedy cures. They say laughter is the best medicine. If that's so, then I want to give out as many prescriptions as possible.
"Try to keep your mind open to possibilities...limit your 'always' and your 'nevers,'" Amy advises. I know that there’s a long road ahead of me with endless opportunities and choices to make. There’ll be a lot of late nights and empty wallets. I may not be on SNL, have Jimmy Fallon interview me, or show up on the cover of Cosmo anytime soon (or ever), but that's not the goal. It's about the work. Amy urges that "you have to care about the work, but not the result. You have to care about how good you are...but not how good people think you are." Doing something I'm proud of is what it's all about. If I can make a living out of it, I'll be fine. If I make it big, even better.
It takes a little of talent and a lot of hard work with a sprinkle of luck. Lots of late nights and early mornings are ahead of me. For every door that closes, I'll knock on 20 more. I might even find a lock smith that can illegally make a key. Whatever it takes. My path might turn into an obstacle course, but it will only make me stronger.
"Taking risks and making choices is what makes life so exciting," Amy once explained. I couldn't be more excited about where life will lead me. She also said "great people do things before they are ready," but that's getting a little ahead of myself.
