My freshman year is coming to close. With only three weeks left of professors, tests, lectures, work, dining dollars, college friends and dorm rooms, it is pretty bittersweet to be thinking of summer break. A whole three months without all of those things, a whole three months of not just no school, but no college…
I think what people fail to understand sometimes is that when students say “college”, they don’t just mean the academic aspect, even though that is the biggest part. They also mean the relationships they build with professors and staff around campus, all of the classmates they have, all the friends they see almost every day, the great food they get to stuff their faces with, the awesome clubs, the cool events, everything about it.
In conclusion: yes, I will be one of those people who will miss school.
So since there is only so much time, I decided about two weeks ago to finally… DECLARE MY MAJOR!
It is decided: I have declared Theatre Arts!
To tell you the truth, I was not going to declare this year, simply because this year the Theatre Department (which is an amazing department full of fun, welcoming people) started to hold mandatory auditions for all majors and minors, even if you don’t want to be in the shows for next year. I got cold feet for a while, I have to admit.
But the problem is I do want to be in a show! So I thought to myself, “Melanie, if you ever want to get anywhere in this department, you have to start now.” I got the courage to walk into that well-decorated office, point at the department chair and tell her in a musically uplifting song called, “I’m Ready to Start My Career!” Then everyone in the room sang and danced with me, because they automatically knew the dance moves and lyrics, of course.
This is what theatre people do.
And I know what you’re thinking: this is a bit earlier than you assumed I would declare, correct? I honestly did not think I was going to declare in a while, but I realized that if this is what I am truly passionate about, then I need to just go do what I love. The heart wants what the heart wants. (Cheesy, I know. But true!)
I also know what else you are thinking: What are you doing to be doing after you receive the degree in Theatre Arts, Melanie? Well, honestly, I am not exactly sure. I still would absolutely love to be high school drama teacher, but I need to see if I want to double major in Theatre Arts and English. But there are so many options: I could try my hand at being an actress, auditioning for shows around Southern California. I could become a lighting technician, after being trained, at the La Jolla Playhouse. I could be a set designer, designing for high schools that have a small budget. I could be a dramaturge, which is the person who researches everything in the time period and setting is at so that everything is historically accurate, here at USD. I could pretty much anything to do with theatre after receiving the proper education and training in theatre!
Besides, you should not fret, because declaring a major now does not mean it is set in stone, necessarily. If I ever change my mind, I can always change my major and there are always other options.
I am super excited for next year, because I will be rooming with my best friend in Manchester, one of the nicest buildings on campus! It is typically for Juniors and Seniors, but we made it in! We are going to have a kitchen, living room, our own bathroom and shared room – so excited to move in this upcoming September!
Also, I am going to continue working at both of my lovely jobs, the wonderful Torero Store and my Youth 2 College tutoring job that is part of Federal Work-Study. They have both helped me pay off my tuition, gain work experience and learn how to work in an environment where I am constantly representing USD, which is such an amazing opportunity. I am so grateful to have both of my jobs.
With this, I bid you adieu, my friends. Now it is time to start a new chapter in my life, one where I am going after what I truly love, theatre. This year has been full of professors, tests, lectures, work, dining dollars, college friends and dorm rooms, and it has truly been one of the best years of my life. And the best thing is… there is more to come. Enjoy your summer, and you stay classy, San Diego.
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