I'm a Student?

Sometimes you get so caught up in the upcoming production assignments that you forget you are in graduate school to take classes as well!
Classes began on Thursday with Drama 6, which for you St. Mary's folks is like a combination of Foundations and Masterpieces. For those of you who did not major in theatre at SMC that means the course is both theatre history and play reading/discussion. A 9 am class will be very challenging, especially one of this nature, but I've really felt like I needed a stronger grounding in theatre history so I will definitely get that. It helps that we are split up into smaller discussion groups for discussion of the plays and I like my T.A. as well as my group. I think it will go well.
I have also had production planning which I thought was very interesting and reminded of Michael Cook's theatre philosophy, theatre safety (I LOVE. The class itself is a little dry but safety? Finally!), and stage management issues which is a great class that brings the whole department together as well as the faculty and allows us to discuss issues that have come up in YSD/YRT rehearsals+productions as well as those that happen in the professional world. It is going to be an excellent class for me. God knows I've had plenty of issues in my academic and professional life that I will have plenty to discuss in class.
I also have a Saturday class which is scenic design. All of you who knew me during my last semester at St.Mary's and watched me struggle hardcore with the class are probably wondering how I'm going to survive but they have actually made it quite manageable for stage managers which I appreciate.

Tomorrow is my day off and Monday brings more classes. Tech begins next week and I'm ridiculously excited. It's been awhile since I've been on a run crew that has this much responsibility. I was also thinking today that it's been a VERY long time since I've been backstage for a production that I either wasn't ASM or heavily involved in. I'm accustomed to already being very acquainted with the show and either being in charge or taking charge. In fact, I think the last time this occurred I was in high school. But it's a good opportunity for me to learn a show quickly and I really do love being backstage so I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Everyone has been very nice so far. I really like everyone in my department and I've actually made friends outside of the department as well. I'm being more social which is an improvement for me and although I'm still not a partier, I'm more willing to go out at night. I feel a lot more comfortable hanging out with people at YSD than I did anywhere else so that definitely helps.
My parents were wonderful and sent me a lovely care package today. It included food, quarters for laundry, a gift from my cousin, and spackle...to fix the ugly marks on my walls. Best parents.

Though in other news, my Aunt Jean is in the final days of her life. My dad flew out to Florida today and at this point, we're just waiting. First sad event being away from home. You learn to deal with it but it still isn't pleasant.