I was just reading different tips on how to start a blog, or what kind of things to write about. I guess the consensus is that a blog should be about something specific, which is something I like. Now, it's not like me to go along with what everyone else is doing, but I am usually lost as to what to write in this thing, so I'd like to try something different to inspire me a bit.
I think without even meaning to, I realized that my blog is about the adventures and struggles of a girl who has just graduated from college and has no idea what to do with her life. So there's my jumping point. Here I go.
Adventures in an Uncertain World.
Adventures with a B.A. in Drama from UC Irvine.
I am going to start by saying that I LOVED UC Irvine. I wrote infrequent posts about my time at UCI, talking about shows I did or what I was up to. I don't think I ever fully expressed just how much I adored my school and how grateful I was to be there. I made the greatest friends, and had become part of an amazing community of artists who supported each other and truly loved one another. Every day that was a struggle was also a joy, because of the love I was constantly surrounded by. At UCI, the Claire Trevor School of the Arts is separated from the rest of campus by a bridge (when the school was built they felt the artists were the most likely to hold riots...). We were in a safe haven, a place where we could be ourselves and rehearse Shakespeare outside, walk around singing, dressed in tights and leotards, where we all knew each other. The Cyber A is the central location - the little coffee shop where if you felt lonely, all you had to do was walk in and you would run into someone you knew. Sometimes I would walk in pretending I wanted water, just so I could see who was in Cyber A at the time because I needed a friend. Sometimes I would nap on the couches, or sit at a table memorizing lines for hours just letting friends come and go as their class schedule permitted. My favorite time was on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to around 3:15, when everyone would come to Cyber A before Cliff's 120 (Development of Theatre) class. Everyone was in this class, so everyone would gather to walk over together. My senior year I had already taken the class, but I would hang out just so I could see Rachelle and Perry and gossip about the happenings of the last few days, or so I could get a big hug from Andreas, or just be reminded that I am loved by any of my friends in line for coffee to make a feeble attempt to not fall asleep in 120... There was just always love in that coffee shop, the center of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
But now it's time to start talking about my new adventures. My adventures in this big world I am now a part of, where I no longer have a little Cyber A or a bridge separating me from the rest of the world.
I decided long ago that I would trust God to show me what He wanted me to do after graduation. I lived with my best friend Deidre for my senior year, who is very driven and prefers to have plans - so some days it was hard when people would ask us,
"What are you doing after graduation?"
And my best friend would answer, "I'm going to be in 42nd Street at Moonlight and in the fall I'm planning to move to New York," which I would have to follow with, "Yeah, I'm moving home and have no idea what I'm doing."
I still knew somehow that I was not supposed to have a plan, though. I was open to whatever God had in store for me - and I was taken completely by surprise and was incredibly humbled when I got 3 jobs in a matter of a few days.
Right now, I'm working at Dana Hills High School, music directing their production of Guys & Dolls. I have found it to be so incredibly fulfilling. I know I want to be a performer and an artist, but I have experienced so much joy in my years as a teacher. This is my first time working with kids without disabilities, and I thought that would make it more difficult for me - but I truly love my students and I'm having a blast. How lucky am I that I make my living playing piano and being a kid? Not to mention the director, Brittany, and I have become such dear friends and get along perfectly - what a blessing. The problem is, the school is a 2 hour drive away from my house. We don't need to delve into that. Let's just say I'm always tired.
Pretty soon I'll be singing at the concerts in the park summer series with the Pacific Symphony, after which I'll be music directing the ArtsFest art camp at the JCC in Orange County. I didn't apply or pursue any of these jobs, except for auditioning once for the Symphony - God has truly looked out for me.
What comes after August 13th, though? Who knows.
I have so much about myself and about life I have yet to figure out. But I'll share all that with you guys as I go.

Deidre and I, despite our different plans and paths, are ready to embrace the world with open arms.
4 comments:
Love this! And of course, I can totally relate since I moved home right after school too. I'm still home!
Sounds like you're doing great babe.
Love it! Love the picture!
I love you.
I love it, I love that picture, i love the post, I love your trust and not planning...
and I can't believe I hadn't read this until just now
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