BWW Blog: There Is No Perfect Program

Hello, Broadway World! We are so excited to be featured as student bloggers from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University this semester. The two of us have had a long journey through conservatory mayhem and are very close to be taking on the professional world together. There is a lot we have learned along the way and we can't wait to share some of that with you! This little word playground of a blog will give us the chance to share experiences, helpful tips, answer questions and spread encouragement for students, teachers & actors.

Let's start with the cold hard facts: college is hard. Acting is hard. What happens when those two things are combined? A crazy, challenging, incomparable and rewarding four years. All across this nation and beyond, students of all ages wrap up their high school years and enter the great world of academia. Some follow in their parent's footsteps working towards owning a business or being a successful lawyer, others chase a newfound passion in accounting or hospitality. Then there is the great crowd of dreamers and chasers: the theatre kids. No matter how many talks we have or how many other options we consider, we just can't seem to let our extra curricular high school activity end. We must do it for the rest of our lives. And so the journey truly begins in finding the right school. Prepping for months to enter a room and give it our all for one minute and thirty seconds to secure a spot for the next four years in an ensemble at our dream school. That thought really never leaves our heads either. "This ninety seconds is determining my entire FUTURE."

So why do we do this to ourselves? We get all worked up, trying to pre-fit the mold of whatever school is at the top of our "list". We are told to be our true, authentic self, but still want to prove that we can be a part of this tribe that has already been created. It's a catch twenty-two. But, there is a truth that is so important to remember, whether you are applying for schools right now or you are one semester away from graduating college: there is no such thing as a perfect program.

Here are some tips we seemed to find beneficial when going through that vigorous process of applying, auditioning & choosing a school.

1. Keep an Open Mindset

So you have your list of your top schools and you feel on top of the world. Amazing! But prepare your heart for what may or may not come to be. That school that was near the bottom of your list may end up being the exact place that you are supposed to be. Accept the possibility that you may not get into your #1 school, or believe it or not, You May Go to the audition and discover that you actually don't like the people, campus, or whole program after all. If you cannot picture yourself happily thriving at that school, cross it off of the list. Don't choose your school based off of popularity or the amount of times it is mentioned in a Playbill bio. Take care of yourself and be ready for surprise paths to open up.

2. You Get What You Put In

This is true with anything in life. Realize as you are choosing a school that a blissful, utopian educational institution will not simply be handed to you. There will be things that frustrate you. Classes that seem pointless. Weeks that make you question why you are even there. But, check in and see how your mindset has been. Keep your outlook positive and put in the extra work and effort to fill whatever void or frustration you are having. Many things are out of your control, but focus on the things that you can control and make changes happen.

3. Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

The harsh reality is that comparison brings nothing nourishing or beneficial into our lives. We are on this planet for such a short time, why should we fill our time with useless mind games that really bring no outcome? It is so easy to get caught into the never ending trap of comparing the current situation to something else. You are two years into your degree and you see other schools offer different classes, cast shows more effectively, accept more or less students into the program. This list is always growing and envy is constantly brewing. Sure, from the outside it might seem like a flawless paradise, but there are students in that program that are struggling just like you are. We are humans, so of course we are going to be constantly trapped in that toxic cycle of yearning for what we don't have. Try to focus on the positives of your school and thrive on those. Remember that every conservatory student hits a place where they can't help but question the quality of their program, the decision they made to come there, or what other possibilities are out there.

Every school out there offers their own version of perfect. Never stay somewhere that makes you genuinely unhappy or unsafe. Follow your heart no matter what and put in the energy to get the most out of your four years! College is an exhausting, exciting time that brings so much growth and revelation. Embrace it and follow your own path. Sure, there is no perfect program. But, there is a perfect program for YOU.

To post a comment, you must register and login.