When you go to college, everyone is so focused on what you are going to be majoring in.
Business? Education? Oh... Theater? Well what are you going to do with THAT?
The answer to that question, for me at least, is anything I want. The truth is, studying theater has given me more tools than any other degree has. I have a well-rounded education, and a world of opportunities ahead of me. Performing through college gives you the confidence to be able to tackle any situation. Having opportunities to audition multiple times every semester prepares you for any public speaking challenge or interview you will ever have to handle.
Being a theater major makes you approachable and ready for anything life throws at you. During a performance, you have to be ready for something to go wrong, for someone to drop a line or for your prop not to be in the right place at the right time. You have to improvise. In life, you have to improvise. You can prepare for weeks for an interview; study everything there is to know about the company you're interviewing for and have an answer prepared for every possible question, but the interviewer will still throw a curve ball and ask you something unrelated to the job. For some people, this would be a huge stress factor, but it is natural for a theater major. Never be afraid, embrace the unknown.
As a theater major, I was given opportunities I would have never imagined. I volunteered and made a difference with children and adults in my community. I was able to work with, and be critiqued by, prestigious theater professionals. I was able to travel, locally and afar, to exercise the skills I was learning. I made lasting relationships, had an entirely hands-on learning experience, and was able to map out my entire college career based on a track of theater I was most interested in.
Since graduating college, I have worked for 2 radio stations, a 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital, and now a marketing firm. So yes, I would say that I am doing whatever I want with my theater degree. I have confidence in myself that I have never had before. I never feel like I blew an opportunity because of an interview, and I have definitely never felt that I am unsuccessful.
Maybe I'll just make a difference in my own life, or maybe I'll help change the world. Either way, I know I have a bright future ahead of me, and I have my theater degree to thank.
