So, I'm entering into an interesting period of college. The last two weeks of school before my senior year of college. Senior year. What does this bring up? Dreams of police raided parties, running through trenches (ruining white shoes) escaping drug dogs, and...homework. Lots and lots of homework. Because of course, that is what happens when you are taking 20 - 24 hours (possible because of online coursework) a semester. Oh, the joys of higher education.
I ask myself, where will my degree take me? It is no small fact about my life that I used to attend the University of Kansas's younger brother, (technically, not true, but by academic and extracurricular standards absolutely true), Kansas State. Although my time there was quite illustrious and filled with incredible times, it was also filled with some of the worst times of my life. Never have I encountered so much bullying of my personality and self as I did there in both academic settings and social. I found myself, with a 3.7 GPA and plenty of involvement on campus, isolated. I hated who I was and the people around me reminded me of this every day. I lost the essence of self worth and began to perform in social settings just to fit in! How sad. At the urging of my wonderful girlfriend, who single-handedly changed my life for the better, I began to look at other theatre programs. I looked at Minnesota, UMKC, etc., etc. Never did I think to look at KU. Some of the students I had known at KSU promised me that I was "not good enough" to compete at KU, that I wasn't good enough to leave KSU. Although I had some wonderful friends in the program there, it seemed that the negative influences outweighed the positive, which unwittingly played on every fray of every nerve I had. Although I had worked professionally and was well on my way to my Actor's Equity Membership, I was stricken by those words and doubted myself. I asked myself over and over, why am I doing this? Against my better thoughts, I came to visit the University of Kansas.
How amazing that day was. My dad, my best friend, and I were wandering around this gorgeous campus with John Staniunas, the Chair of the Kansas Theatre Department. He was telling us all about he illustrious alumnus from KU Theatre, the boards, scholarship opportunities, KC connections, NYC/LA showcase, and the list goes on. We were floored (My dad and I). I met some of the students and I knew I needed to come here. I immediately, for the first time in college, felt like I wholeheartedly fit in somewhere.
So, I came. After spending the summer in beautiful Macon, MO working as an actor for Maples Repertory Theatre, I came to Kansas with one of my best friends, Caiel Noble (also a transfer from KSU). We immediately fell in love. We were accepted by the theatre department and auditions went well; I was cast as Noah in Noah's Art (an original musical) and Caiel was cast as three roles in Shakespeare in Hollywood. Right off the bat, we were in. Just like that we were part of the family.
This year has been nothing short of incredible. A wonderful (almost) Championship run, fulfilling professional acting training from a FAR-ABOVE average faculty, and meeting some of the best friends I have had since starting college. So, how do I feel? I feel sorry I wasn't here since the beginning. I am thankful for KSU because of the lessons I learned but I will always wonder how much different (maybe better?) my undergrad would have been having been at KU all four years instead of just a quick two.
Heres to junior year and my Friday nights with my home away from home; my family here at the University of Kansas.
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