As a freshman in college, time management becomes one of the most important elements of being a student. There are so many things out there for you to do, but you can't do all of it. You have to pick what's most important to you and hope it's everything you hoped it would be.
This semester, I chose to dedicate a lot of my time and effort toward being in the play at my school. I didn't participate in the production during my first semester because I was scared I wouldn't have enough time, I was scared I wouldn't get a part and I was scared I wouldn't be good enough. This semester, I decided I was definitely going to audition for the play, because performing is my passion, and I shouldn't let silly excuses stop me from participating in what I love most.
For the past four years of my life in high school, I've had the same director who's known me pretty well, and now it was a whole different ball park- college. Auditions were nerve wrecking, because I had no clue what this director would think of me, I had no clue if I would get cast and I was just a jittery mess. I wound up getting cast, and as I initialed my name accepting the role, I had no idea what I was about to experience during the next two months.
Twenty-one, 21. When you see this number, what comes to mind? Being able to get into any bar, being able to legally drink and maybe even being able to apply to adopt a child. For me, I think of the 21 amazingly, talented cast members that dedicated their time to making a play come to life. Every single person who acted in this play blew me away every time I watched them perform. To think that I'm friends with such talented, intelligent, dedicated people makes me so happy, and I know I have a lot to learn from them.
Of course, a production isn't just the actors. The lighting, costumes, sound and set amazed me every time I set foot on stage. Seeing everyone in their costumes and make-up really helped bring the play to life, thanks to our director's wife, Mary Phillips, who spent hours and hours finding the perfect fit for us. Watching the crew do lighting and sound cues baffled me at how well they could do something so complex. Learning how to help build a set was definitely an interesting experience, and I could not do any of that without the help of our technical director, Peter Ray. Working beside him on the weekends to help create a magical set is something I will look forward to each semester, because not only did I learn so many new things all thanks to him, but I've been inspired by one of the most hardworking people I've ever met.
Last but not least, I got to work with a new director. Of course I was terrified and so nervous. What if he doesn't like me? What if I disappoint him? What if I can't do what he wants me to do? I mean, this is THE Professor Phillips we're talking about here. I am very happy to say that I had an extremely positive experience working with him as my director for the first time, and I can't wait to have many more of these experiences. I instantly became comfortable enough to joke around with him, get feedback from him, have conversation with him and learn from him. Every time he taught any of the actors anything, I was always dumbfounded at how smart he was. It became clear to me right away that this man definitely knew what he was doing, and I wouldn't be all that surprised if I found out today that he's a wizard of some sort, to be honest. But, in all seriousness, I learned a lot from Professor Phillips, and he helped me grow as an actress in just two months. Imagining what I could learn from him in the next three years on stage, in class (Intro to Theatre), and off stage excites me for my future with my college's theatre program.
As a freshman in college, time management becomes one of the most important elements of being a student. There are so many things out there for you to do, but you can't do all of it. You have to pick what's most important to you and hope it's everything you hoped it would be. I picked what's most important to me, and it was more than everything I hoped it would be.
