September 12th, 2010

The first time I ever felt part of a group was four years ago when I moved to Oglethorpe.  Today is the second.

My day started off with meeting Brent to go to Lincoln Center and buy tickets for the New York Film Festival.  After going through weird subway complications, we made it and found ourselves once again amongst those participating in Fashion Week - I, being the awkward one, started to get giddy when I saw all the male models walking around (I don't think I will EVER be able to handle Fashion Week. There are just so many beautiful people.).  We made it to the Alice Tully Hall and were some of the first people in line.  The box office opened at noon, but since I had orientation for Atlantic today I couldn't stay; however, Brent and I do have tickets for Julie Taymor's The Tempest, the director talk back with Ms. Taymor, and tickets for Uncle Boonmee, Who Can Recall His Past Lives, which is the film that won at Cannes this year.

Orientation was amazing. I was scared that I would be walking into a huge mistake, but, upon just entering the building, everyone I met was so friendly.  I felt very welcomed into the environment.  The staff made sure to tell us that, at every moment of our experience at this school, we should remember that they have been in our shoes - moving to NY and being terrified of the new career they were going into, they've been there.  And with that, they want us to be comfortable talking to them and to the other students, since we are all each others' new family.

The First Years went on a tour of the studio - or, rather, studioS.  I've never been in a rehearsal area with so many spaces. And to even think that the actors for Mamet's new play were rehearsing next door to us was crazy in itself.  We were also assigned "buddies," which consisted of the Second and Third Year students.  Mine is Chris (not a hard name for me to remember) from Maine, and he gave me some insight about the classes and the instructors.  A couple of them are comedians, apparently, which is exactly the kind of instructors I need. :) First Years also had to sign up for tech work to help out with the Third Year shows.  I will be the Wardrobe Assistant for Reckless in December! I'm so excited about working on that show and adding it to my resume; I'm also really hoping that I can shadow the designer a bit so I can practice more on my own designs.

I think I will do well here.  I mean, I smiled the entire way back home. I took a risk applying to this school and moving here, now I have to take a risk and just let go.  While that will be a work in progress, I'm excited for this to happen.  As Mamet said, "The difference between an adventure and a vacation, is that the adventure is full of risks."

Here's to my adventure. <3