(no subject)
so, couple of major developments.
I'm not applying to grad school this year.
I'm not doing the thesis.
I decided I'm unsure library science is the thing for me. I was really gung-ho about it at first, but working at Special Collections here is so.....quiet. it's fun to be around all these nerdy books, but I'm used to loud environments. I'm by myself most of my shift in the backroom. I like my boss a lot, but honestly, she kind of smells like mothballs. so while I don't want to judge an entire field based on a crappy student job at one university, but if I'm unsure, there's no reason for me to try to convince myself to do it by applying to school. plus, with all I've had going on this semester, I wouldn't have had the time or energy to make a really good application. getting in is one thing, but getting scholarships and TAing is something completely different.
the thesis thing is a rather new choice. I've been debating it since the end of the summer, but it wasn't until recently that I felt ok with not doing it. I explained my reasons to Dean a couple of weeks ago- mainly that I've lost my enthusiasm, and this isn't something you do half-assed, and also that I want time to explore different classes and opportunities next semester. I think he's disappointed, but ok with my decision. I'm not entirely dropping it- I'm changing the thesis class this semester to ENGL466, independant study (and since it's honors, that takes care of another requirement....). I plan on spending winter session writing a paper on what I did, maybe 20 pages or so (as opposed to 60). I gave a presentation on Monday, and one of my friends suggested presenting it to a conference or something. who knows? all I know is right now, it's on my terms. I don't get the fancy "with distinction" at the end of my degree title, but that's ok. it's at my pace, and I like it that way. I'm getting credit for 5 months of research and I'll still end up with a sizable paper at the end. I really wasn't ok with it until recently, but I'm actually pretty happy with the way I'm doing it.
theater is amazing. Sweet Charity had a great opening weekend- we almost sold out opening night. getting a crew together has been a bitch because no one seems to want to help out this semester. I had three girls express interest, but one wound up not having the time and the two others just never showed up. one other girl, Katie, had emailed me early on and she's turned out to be excellent. she's my asst. stage manager. Jon of course got dragged into it from the beginning, and when I realized he and Katie were my crew, I said fuck it and made him second asst. stage manager. no sense in giving him the title of stage crew when he's responsible for building half the set and helping me coordinate everything (not to mention driving me places and buying me food, coffee, and when the need arose, cranberry juice spiked with the vodka he had in his car). I was really frustrated with a lot of things, mainly the lack of help we had tech-wise. thankfully, Jon got his sister and Heebs to help us out, and they've been a huuuuge help. the last three weeks of my life have been entirely consumed by this show, and it kind of got to me that I had to be on call 24/7 because I had the keys to the theater. but it turned out well, and I'm really proud of this show. I've really enjoyed working with this cast. despite the fact that some of the freshmen don't know how to handle responsibilities, a lot of them were really great. they helped me out tremendously last tuesday when all of my crew had to work and I was basically left to do the scene changes/curtain by myself.
the show has really turned out well though. the choreography is unbelievable- one scene involves people in marching band uniforms drumming on the stage, and it looks/sounds incredible. our leads are phenomenally talented. I've come to adore one of them and seriously want to pick him up and put him in my back pocket. and yes, I told him that (as have several other girls in the show). too bad he's three years younger than me (and not really interested in women...). I've gotten to know some great people. that's the reason I do this, you know? and I was so thrilled in the first place because I haven't been this involved in a show since high school. and doing theater in high school, believe it or not, made me much more confident and outgoing than I had been before. but anyway, I'll be glad when it's over, but I'm thrilled at the way it turned out.
and I get to do it again next semester! Brian's proposing Bare, a pop opera (coincidentally, the soundtrack was put out on the record label my cousin is the VP of), for winter session and he has me as stage manager. Joe is proposing Seussical for the spring and has me as asst. stage manager. Mike just called me earlier and asked me to be SM for his winter show (which may work out if Brian decides to do his show in the spring).
so basically, I could be on the production staff of three shows in my last 5 months of college.
classes aren't looking so bleak anymore either. none of my favorite departments are offering anything particularly interesting, or if they are, they're at the same time as another class. one such conflict has caused me to voluntarily decide to sign up for an 8am class. my first in my college career. given that I fall asleep in a 2pm class, this could be interesting (or I could finally get that ulcer from all the coffee I drink).
at the moment:
American Lit from the Civil War to WWII (the 8am....American lit is not my forte)
Elementary Arabic (just for the hell of it)
Intro to Theater Design
Intro to Performance
University Singers (hopefully!)
of course, because UD has decided to change to a real-time registration system, I may not get these classes because a) the server crashed or b) these are popular courses that several people will want to take.
I'm excited though. one real requirement, a language class I've wanted to take for 2 years, two theater classes, chorus for the first time since 9th grade, and hopefully at least one show, if not two. plus friends and bars and parties and such.
also cool news? Jon's company isn't moving to Maryland for another couple of years, so looks like I'll be staying in DE after graduation. who'd have thought I'd want to stay around here? but my friends are here, I can keep doing theater, and hopefully get a job in Philly (or a decent one in Wilmington).
things are looking up. it's a great little world we live in....
I've spent too much time around musical theater (and if you can identify which show that's from, you're just as bad).
I'm not applying to grad school this year.
I'm not doing the thesis.
I decided I'm unsure library science is the thing for me. I was really gung-ho about it at first, but working at Special Collections here is so.....quiet. it's fun to be around all these nerdy books, but I'm used to loud environments. I'm by myself most of my shift in the backroom. I like my boss a lot, but honestly, she kind of smells like mothballs. so while I don't want to judge an entire field based on a crappy student job at one university, but if I'm unsure, there's no reason for me to try to convince myself to do it by applying to school. plus, with all I've had going on this semester, I wouldn't have had the time or energy to make a really good application. getting in is one thing, but getting scholarships and TAing is something completely different.
the thesis thing is a rather new choice. I've been debating it since the end of the summer, but it wasn't until recently that I felt ok with not doing it. I explained my reasons to Dean a couple of weeks ago- mainly that I've lost my enthusiasm, and this isn't something you do half-assed, and also that I want time to explore different classes and opportunities next semester. I think he's disappointed, but ok with my decision. I'm not entirely dropping it- I'm changing the thesis class this semester to ENGL466, independant study (and since it's honors, that takes care of another requirement....). I plan on spending winter session writing a paper on what I did, maybe 20 pages or so (as opposed to 60). I gave a presentation on Monday, and one of my friends suggested presenting it to a conference or something. who knows? all I know is right now, it's on my terms. I don't get the fancy "with distinction" at the end of my degree title, but that's ok. it's at my pace, and I like it that way. I'm getting credit for 5 months of research and I'll still end up with a sizable paper at the end. I really wasn't ok with it until recently, but I'm actually pretty happy with the way I'm doing it.
theater is amazing. Sweet Charity had a great opening weekend- we almost sold out opening night. getting a crew together has been a bitch because no one seems to want to help out this semester. I had three girls express interest, but one wound up not having the time and the two others just never showed up. one other girl, Katie, had emailed me early on and she's turned out to be excellent. she's my asst. stage manager. Jon of course got dragged into it from the beginning, and when I realized he and Katie were my crew, I said fuck it and made him second asst. stage manager. no sense in giving him the title of stage crew when he's responsible for building half the set and helping me coordinate everything (not to mention driving me places and buying me food, coffee, and when the need arose, cranberry juice spiked with the vodka he had in his car). I was really frustrated with a lot of things, mainly the lack of help we had tech-wise. thankfully, Jon got his sister and Heebs to help us out, and they've been a huuuuge help. the last three weeks of my life have been entirely consumed by this show, and it kind of got to me that I had to be on call 24/7 because I had the keys to the theater. but it turned out well, and I'm really proud of this show. I've really enjoyed working with this cast. despite the fact that some of the freshmen don't know how to handle responsibilities, a lot of them were really great. they helped me out tremendously last tuesday when all of my crew had to work and I was basically left to do the scene changes/curtain by myself.
the show has really turned out well though. the choreography is unbelievable- one scene involves people in marching band uniforms drumming on the stage, and it looks/sounds incredible. our leads are phenomenally talented. I've come to adore one of them and seriously want to pick him up and put him in my back pocket. and yes, I told him that (as have several other girls in the show). too bad he's three years younger than me (and not really interested in women...). I've gotten to know some great people. that's the reason I do this, you know? and I was so thrilled in the first place because I haven't been this involved in a show since high school. and doing theater in high school, believe it or not, made me much more confident and outgoing than I had been before. but anyway, I'll be glad when it's over, but I'm thrilled at the way it turned out.
and I get to do it again next semester! Brian's proposing Bare, a pop opera (coincidentally, the soundtrack was put out on the record label my cousin is the VP of), for winter session and he has me as stage manager. Joe is proposing Seussical for the spring and has me as asst. stage manager. Mike just called me earlier and asked me to be SM for his winter show (which may work out if Brian decides to do his show in the spring).
so basically, I could be on the production staff of three shows in my last 5 months of college.
classes aren't looking so bleak anymore either. none of my favorite departments are offering anything particularly interesting, or if they are, they're at the same time as another class. one such conflict has caused me to voluntarily decide to sign up for an 8am class. my first in my college career. given that I fall asleep in a 2pm class, this could be interesting (or I could finally get that ulcer from all the coffee I drink).
at the moment:
American Lit from the Civil War to WWII (the 8am....American lit is not my forte)
Elementary Arabic (just for the hell of it)
Intro to Theater Design
Intro to Performance
University Singers (hopefully!)
of course, because UD has decided to change to a real-time registration system, I may not get these classes because a) the server crashed or b) these are popular courses that several people will want to take.
I'm excited though. one real requirement, a language class I've wanted to take for 2 years, two theater classes, chorus for the first time since 9th grade, and hopefully at least one show, if not two. plus friends and bars and parties and such.
also cool news? Jon's company isn't moving to Maryland for another couple of years, so looks like I'll be staying in DE after graduation. who'd have thought I'd want to stay around here? but my friends are here, I can keep doing theater, and hopefully get a job in Philly (or a decent one in Wilmington).
things are looking up. it's a great little world we live in....
I've spent too much time around musical theater (and if you can identify which show that's from, you're just as bad).