If you all had any idea how many times this year I was crying and saying, I just want this stupid year to end you would be amazed. Senior year was not fun... I didnt experience the whole last football game thing or the whole senior nostalgia with receiving cap and gowns. I wasnt excited for the Senior trip until a few weeks before and the idea of my last prom wasnt a positive one. I had decided in the summer that I was going to focus all of my time and energy this year into getting into a really good school for theatre and that meant I had to prepare auditions and resumes and applications and more auditions and songs and a portfolio and headshots, etc etc etc. I picked out several conservatories in early fall along with some liberal arts schools and they were quite prestigious. I started off with the mindset that they only take 20 or so students and that it was okay if I didnt get in... hundreds or thousands audition and 16-20 students are selected. But Kara being the crazy competitive person she is changed the mindset as the year went along. August and September turned to October... by which point I was dead set on getting into a top school. By the time November came around deadlines started rolling in and I ended up applying for close to nine schools. Daniel Dotten was the best because he learned so well to jump through hoops. We needed the SAT scores sent from College Board not your transcripts. Were sorry to inform you that written in tiny font at the bottom of the website we explained that you were to attach a letter explaining why you bought your current pet. Sorry, if you could send all that to be here by today--we decided we would rather you lick the envelope that tuck it in. It was crazy. The application process alone was hard but I knew what came in early January--the auditions. By December I had narrowed down my options to Fordham University in New York City (my top choice school), North Carolina School of the Arts (a competitive conservatory and my second choice that accepted around 20 students), JMU, and VCU. Not only had I figured out where I was auditioning but I had also gotten gradually unhealthy. I didnt know that at the time but looking back I realize that I had dark bags under my eyes, had lost a lot of weight and appetite, was sick all the time, and had a bad attitude about theatre and to my friends. My first audition was on January 26th at Fordham University in New York City. The wonderful Mark Salyer coached me on my pieces and they were pretty good! I met Kara-Lynn Vaeni up there and she helped me get around the area and not be so nervous. I went in for my audition and nailed it. The directors seemed to like it and they asked me to perform it for a second time and gave me direction with it. They were very gracious, but I guess they didnt love it because I didnt get in to the major program. After that Mark continued to coach me until my auditions at UNCSA and JMU and I had to prepare new pieces. A different Shakespeare, a longer contemporary, 16 bars of a song, preparing for a short interview.... etc. I was accepted to JMU, but not North Carolina. After all of these auditions, I canceled VCU because the thought of more stress was too much.This puts us at March. Im just now finished applying and at this point I dont know anything yet about the outcome of my auditions but my whole senior year is gone and I worried through the entire thing. You know what was great though? Even though I was MIA the whole year being anxious and awful, my friends were there to pick up where we left off and be amazing as always. Annie and Peter Pan were two of the best musicals Ive ever gotten to be in and everyone who supported me let me finish with a bang even if I didnt deserve one. With the help of my parents, friends, and directors I managed to learn that I could forgive myself for not getting into these schools and that it wasnt the reason to do theatre in the first place. Today Im graduating from high school and its all I wanted to do the whole year. I still want it but Im glad I can do it with a better outlook now... one that is more peaceful. I just have to thank everyone who helped me out this year. Ill never forget Jasmine Vance holding my hand when I got my first rejection letter. I wont forget Joshua Worrell being there with me in New York auditioning for his school and knowing that he was there doing the same thing as me gave me some extra courage. Jami Griffin Dotten and dad were the best ever with getting me where I needed to be when I needed to be there. And Jan Thompsons advice is the best thing ever. Thank you to everyone who made this horrible year a not-so-bad year that I can look back on and learn from. And when I walk across the stage tonight I will think two things--1. That Mr. Collins would die if he saw how short my dress was under my graduation robe haha suck it Mr. Collins I hate u and 2. Im so glad the people in my life helped me get here.
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 18:00:22 +0000
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