Building.
This weekend for me was one of labor. The Frantals had me over to help build some shelves. It seemed like it would have been easier going if we had some different drivers, but all-in-all, I would call it a success. The larger two of the four units we had planned are up and functioning. The shelves are damned sturdy in construction and should last them a good long while.
As I understand it, not much of sentimental value was lost. Mostly books, which can always be replaced. Since this is a journal and not to be edited or judged, I am learning to ignore sentence fragments like that one. It is difficult, but I am coping. I can chalk it up to style, right?
There are auditions this Sunday for RSVP theater’s upcoming season and a meeting with the burgeoning community theater at the South Milwaukee PAC. Also, plans for me to teach private stage combat lessons for a community in Racine seem to be moving forward rapidly. I find that when I am not active in theater, I don’t notice how much time is passing between events.
Then again, it was less than a month ago that I closed Carousel and it seems like forever. I need to be diligent in my pursuit of these things. Time is my enemy. If my goal is to be a professional before age 35, I have a great deal of work ahead of me, not the least of which is securing a degree.
Until recently, I had held that higher learning — and its proof by way of important-looking pieces of paper — was a prerequisite for a full life. Lately, I have been reconsidering that stance. Higher education is, in itself, reward; to that principle I still cleave. Its necessity is more dubious, particularly in light of experience.
Most professional theater types with whom I have spoken on the subject all sort of joke at the importance, or lack thereof, a degree really holds. The education and experience that do hold sway can be gained through less conventional means. No one would deny that they learned things, but the piece of paper would mainly be helpful to secure an educational position, rather than in the business itself.
Combine that with the sense of politics underlying the university system as it stands and one is left to wonder if a trailblazing ambition might serve better. That is, I can make my own way. One barrier to that philosophy remains: a degree is necessary in order to secure the rank of Certified Teacher with the SAFD. Granted, a case might be made for equivalent experience, but that sort of exception would smack of a compromising of principles that I would not wish on the organization.
Notably, many employers have noted to me that a degree in one’s field is helpful, but far from necessary. Instead, it represents a certain perseverance and ethic, so a degree in any field speaks of the person’s dedication. I want to have that piece of paper for that purpose at least. I know that going back to the academic world after so long away is bound to have a strong positive influence on my more experienced mind, as well.
Maybe I should just print this up with my application letter. It seems to express my concerns about my life path. Without too much ego, I think that I at least appear to be a bright fellow, even an educated one, despite not having completed my junior year of college. I can hold a conversation with my highly educated friends and colleagues and only occasionally feel tiny-brained. I do respect their surperior education and defer to them always. But, I consider myself as intelligent as they are. Perhaps that’s a mistake and I will understand that better when I have completed a degree.
In theater? Probably not. Although I have much to learn about acting and theater, I think I would rather study something with a little more academic punch, namely Literature. It is a related field, but one that I think carries a certain pipe-smoking, jacket-wearing pomp than Theater would. While I know that perception may be mine alone and that it is a poor way to choose one’s major, it will hardly be the worst mistake I have made in my life.
Right?
Dude you are so frickin’ smart that I often forget that you didn’t complete your degree. College doesn’t make you smart. College doesn’t make you intelligent. The way I saw college was that it gave me the opportunity to learn about certain academic subjects, about how to socialize, how to make mistakes.
You are either intelligent or you are not. You are. I can identify a ton of minerals, but ask me to point out the finer points of a Picasso and I’ll laugh and say, “that face is fucked up.” SMRT in some aspects, dumb as a box of rocks (yay rocks) in others.
I’d say don’t go to college only to validify your intelligence. If you need that degree, you hit it on the head: that piece of paper proves perseverence and a certain amount of ethic, or creativity. Nothing more, nothing less, my friend.
Comment by loricious — 6/16/2008 @ 12:11 pm
I appreciate the vote of confidence. I do feel like I need that piece of paper, though. Could just be another manifestation of my feelings of inadequacy. But what could it hurt? Well, my finances, but what else? ;)
Comment by steelbuddha — 6/16/2008 @ 12:34 pm
Apparently, going back to school at our age is a completely different prospect, according to heysooka. I’d have to agree to much of that, though. At this point, its more about showing dedication and work ethic than learning how to live or proving your intelligence. I’d also say that experience really changes your attitude about the whole thing. You’d be paying for it, and completely invested in what you’re doing, unlike teenage freshman.
Comment by Xiad — 6/16/2008 @ 1:38 pm
I agree with Xiad. The older you are when you go to school the more you take it seriously, thus the more you actually learn.
In my opinion, which is far from good, if you want to learn more about a subject you should do so. School or take out some books from a library. Either way learning in itself is a nice way to stay young. :o)
Best of luck in that endeavor and get that computer fixed we need to fight Villians in Paragon!
Comment by Superman — 6/16/2008 @ 5:42 pm
Ooh, good points fellas. I’ve heard it does changes as you get older, that you are likely to dedicate more of yourself to learning.
Comment by loricious — 6/17/2008 @ 8:55 am
My question is not whether I will succeed but whether there is benefit, but good points all.
Comment by steelbuddha — 6/17/2008 @ 9:03 am
This is something I debate. I got my BS degree (never a more appropriate word) finally because I realized that *I* felt I needed it, and that in itself was holding me back – through confidence, through my personal feelings of wanting to have it.
And the last thing I ever wanted was someone to say, “Well, if you only had your degree…”
There’s benefit to having it in that it buys the next step. Interviewers feel as if you’ve “paid your dues”. It is, unforunately, part of the culture in some ways. You can make your way without it, definitely. But having the degree often opens doors (SAFD teaching, for example) that were otherwise closed. Stupid, but true.
I try to think of it in terms of Return on Investment (ROI), but with a tilt towards happiness. Will getting this degree give me return on my investment towards achieving happiness? Towards doing what I want to do? This is my debate with Masters degrees – am I going after it because it is what I feel I should do, or will it actually get me closer to something I want?
(Hi – my name is Lane, and I babble in people’s blogs.)
Comment by Lane — 6/17/2008 @ 4:22 pm
As someone who is actually back in school at our age, I can unequivocally agree with your other commenters. Going straight on to law school after undergrad would have been disastrous for me. I was fortunate to get my BA when I did (yes I went straight through and did it) but I am glad I took time to live and work before returning to the academic world. Life perspective definitely enriches the experience – and truly, going to school with a bunch of adults is tremendous fun. Also – something about having to pay for it yourself is not only humbling, but motivational. Best of luck to you!
Comment by Kate — 8/6/2008 @ 4:13 pm