It Was a Very Good Year

(me as Hildy Matthews in "Find Me a Dream" by Kurt Vonnegut)

I wrote my Grad School Resolutions back in September. I updated my progress in December. And now, I have officially finished classes for my first year of graduate training... it seems like a good time to do it again.


Resolutions for Grad School:

1. Take studying SERIOUSLY.
As I explained last semester, my class preparation is more about training than studying. That said, I'm doing really well with it. I take everything down here very seriously. If only I could show you how far I've come. My progress across the boards speaks for itself.
WIN

2. Finish homework, papers, reading assignments, etc. as quickly and efficiently as possible.
I got an official extension on my Titus Andronicus paper, but I ended up getting an A on it. Everything else I've done well with keeping on top of. I'm pretty proud of myself.
WIN

3. Do not add negativity into the world of the school.
In Chicago, my nickname was Sunshine. They don't call me that down here, but I don't think they'd be shocked by that name. I'm not positive 100% of the time, but I do pretty well.
WIN

4. Be open-minded and willing to try all exercises in class, no matter how lame they seem or how stupid I might look doing them.
Always. It's a promise.
WIN

5. Do not gossip behind people’s backs.
I am human. I try to limit my venting about classmates to people outside of my own class (namely my roommates and my boyfriend), but it's occasionally inescapable. I try to leave the room when other people are talking about others, but I do get sucked into the world pool.
FAIL

6. Try not to dance during class. (Except for movement class, because I think we’re supposed to dance there sometimes. I just don't want my professors to think of me as "the one who dances in the middle of discussions.")
Honestly, I'm a lot less dance-y of a person than I was when I got here. I put my energy toward more productive ends now.
WIN

7. Remember that we all made it through an arduous process to get here, and we are all clearly talented, intelligent people. They deserve to be here, and so do I.
I know that I deserve to be here now. And I respect my classmates' abilities.
WIN

8. Don’t let politics within the school get personal. Just because something is going on in class or in rehearsals, doesn’t mean it has to carry over into the rest of life.
Not all that applicable yet. I'm worried for next year, but for now, we're oh-bee-kay-bee.
WIN

9. Try to make friends outside of the program.
Considering I got a boyfriend outside the program this semester, I'm going to call this a success... Quality is better than quantity, right?
WIN

10. Go out and have fun at least once a month.
I go out every couple of weeks. Every week hasn't really been possible this semester... but I do make time to do fun things.
WIN

11. Try to stay a vegetarian until at least the first week of November (which will have been a year... I've saved plenty of animals, and I want to eat meat so badly I can't even tell you).
No longer applicable. I beat this beast last semester.
--- (WON)

12. Actually read all of the assigned reading. Don’t just skim it. Occasionally take notes.
I can't think of anything that we were supposed to read this semester that I didn't actually read. Is that possible? Whoa. I'm turning into a good student.
WIN

13. Budget properly. If having trouble, begin writing down all expenditures.
Thanks to my tax refund (thank you, Uncle Sam), I'm doing just fine at the moment. As long as I can make money over the summer, I should be fine next year as well.
WIN

14. Take all available opportunities to learn new skills.
I don't know what kinds of opportunities I thought I'd have... This isn't really applicable.
---

15. Work on outside projects (such as student films) if they fit into schedule.
I did a voiceover at a nearby college for a student project. I'm probably going to do two films this summer. I've been offered a role in a workshop of a new play, and I'm trying to fit it into my schedule.
WIN

16. Take a trip to somewhere outside of town (even if it’s just to the next closest city) at least once a semester.
I've visited my boyfriend twice this semester, and he's over 5 hours a way. Definitely successful.
WIN

17. Go to Disney World at least once.
Haven't done it yet. But I will. I swear.
---

18. Have as close to perfect attendance as is physically possible.
No missed classes yet. *knocks on wood* I was late to Movement Class twice this semester (by no more than about 5 minutes). Both times it involved baking... The first, I had put cookies in the oven and they just WERE. NOT. BAKING. I couldn't leave the house with the oven on, and I didn't want them to be half-baked. I didn't even wait for them to cool before leaving. The second time, I baked a cake for my classmate Iceman's birthday and left it at home, so I had to turn around and retrieve it. But seriously, I think I did a pretty darn good job of being where I was supposed to be.
WIN

19. Remember how hard it is to get to grad school. Remember how great of a program this is. Be grateful every, every minute.
You have no idea how grateful I am, and how much I love it here.
WIN

20. Find something to love about every class and every professor (so that I can focus on those things on the days that classes seriously blow).
I loved all my professors this year. I hope the same is true next year (slightly different line-up in the 2nd-year)
WIN

21. Do not kiss anyone in the program (unless it's required by a scene or something).
I kissed the same 3rd-year again in January... or rather, he kissed me. On more than one day. And it ended really strangely, and I regret it. But I've had my lovely and wonderful boyfriend since February, and now there's no one else I want to kiss... (By the way, I have kissed 5 guys in my class in scenes.)
FAIL

22. Do not get crushed on anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

23. Do not actively flirt with anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

24. Do not pursue a relationship with anyone in the program.
Not a problem.
WIN

25. Keep all classmates on the “As Good As Gay” list.
Not a problem.
WIN

26. Swear less.
I gave up swearing for Lent (which actually means that I just cut back, because sometimes I'd forget and a word would slip out, and then I'd pray...).
WIN

27. Replace swear words with exclamations such as “drat”, “shoot”, “freakin’”, “frak” (← it’s a Battlestar Galactica term), and the like.
I say "frak" all the time.
WIN

28. Cut alcohol out of diet (as much as possible).
I drank on New Year's Eve. I drank one night in February (on a school night, like an idiot). I drank one night with Filmmaker when I visited him on Spring Break. I drank Thursday night. Once a month... I'm going to say that's not that bad.
WIN

29. Try not to drink until my birthday (October 25 – If I can cut meat out of my diet for 9 months, I can certainly take out alcohol for 3).
No longer applicable.
---

30. Do not have alcohol more than twice in one week, regardless of occasion.
Already listed my drinking days...
WIN

31. Try to limit caffeine intake.
Yeah, I rarely have caffeine.
WIN

32. Make sure to eat tons of peanut butter, cheese, tofu, hummus, and other protein-containing foods in order to keep energy up.
Huh... I forgot that I wrote this... I mostly just eat things that I can defrost.
FAIL

33. Don’t tell classmates about my (lack of a) sexual history. Remember that it is none of their business.
No longer applicable. They all found out last semester. And I really don't care that they know any more.
---

34. Don’t even THINK about doing NaNoWriMo.
No longer applicable. In fact, until just now, I kind of forgot that I have an unfinished novel that I should kick my butt into gear on...
---

35. Try not to make the fact that I’m a blogger public knowledge. (Even though I’ve already warned my roommate. And one of the second years found my blog in February).
No longer applicable. They've known for a while.
---

36. Consider lying and saying I blog about something that they won’t want to read. Make it sound like it’s not a personal blog.
No longer applicable.
---

37. Do not discuss individuals from grad school program on my blog, in case they find it.
I did in a vague way, but I deleted most of those posts anyway... Oh, whatever. I failed.
FAIL

38. Do not mention what grad school program (or city) I’m in on my blog, so that they won’t be able to find it.
Check.
WIN

39. Be supportive of classmates, not competitive with them.
I'm good at this. Most of my classmates are not going to be once we audition for things.
WIN

40. Avoid getting too negative about myself or my potential.
I had one weekend when I had a breakdown about this, but now I'm in a good place. I'm good at this, and I can make a career out of it if I put my mind to it.
WIN

41. Use days off well, because they’re few and far between.
I'm getting so much better at this.
WIN

42. Laugh as much as possible.
I do. :)
WIN

43. Write down all homework assignments (because I WILL forget them if I don’t).
I still write them down, but I've also gotten to a place where I won't forget them if I don't.
WIN

44. Walk or bike to school on occasion. (Will work out details on this once I figure out if it’s even safe to do this, as I’d have to cross a couple of 4-lane roads, and Florida drivers are NUTS.)
Nope. Sorry. Not happening.
FAIL

45. For understudy assignments, attend every rehearsal that fits into my schedule (there are only three actual understudy rehearsals per show, and we’re mostly expected to learn what to do by watching video tapes and whatnot… so clearly, the more actual rehearsals you can make it to, the better).
I rocked my understudy stuff. No, seriously. I wish you could have been there.
WIN

46. Work on completing my novel in my spare time (HA! Spare time! Like I'm going to have any of that!).
Nope. Not possible.
FAIL

47. Remember to step back and take time to breathe.
I do.
WIN

48. Do whatever it takes to get closer to the goal of becoming a castable, skilled, professional actor.
I try.
WIN

49. Loosen up. (recommended by Eric Shonkwiler.)
Working on it.
WIN

50. Don't let things from OUTSIDE of class affect what's going on INSIDE of class. (The reverse of #8)
I'm growing up so much, guys. I think I've learned to compartmentalize.
WIN



36/42
Not bad at all.



May you get better at being good.

~A~