It has been awhile...so here is an update, as well as some semi-shameless self promotion:
As I mentioned last time, I was going to (and did) apply for a gig at the Mat-Su College branch of the University of Alaska system. I also had a submission in for a tuition waiver scholarship. I have sort of held off on any new postings (though I have had some ideas percolating) until I had any news regarding either submission...
Well.
The first notice I received was in regard to the Mat-Su gig. I was, as the UA system likes to put it, "screened out". Which means that I didn't even make the cut to get a phone interview.
[insert pensive exhalation of breath noises here]
Classes started last Thursday (09/04/14). The results of the committee decision regarding the tuition waiver scholarship didn't come through until this Tuesday (09/09/14). And I wasn't selected for that either.
I've been scrambling for funding, since I still have (had?) hope that I can/could get back to classes this Fall. The deadline for enrollment and payment of fees is tomorrow (09/12/14). So while I am still scrambling...
[insert additional pensive exhalation of breath noises here]
That aside, I do think that my essay submission for the scholarship is worth sharing since I have had some folks ask why I want my degree/want to continue my classroom education. With that in mind, and as an admitted example of self promotion, here is the text of the aforementioned essay - the subject, because the scholarship was for 'returning/non-traditional students' was "What was your inspiration to return to school?":
-------------------------------------------------Essay begins------------------------------------------------
My return to school has followed a
convoluted path, with a spectrum of factors effecting my decision
making process. These can be sorted into professional, personal, and
philosophical motivators. There was, however, one group of
experiences encompassing all three realms and which was key to my
making the final decision to return to the collegiate experience.
After my graduation from high school
I attended a local community college (College of Lake County –
Grayslake, IL) and graduated from there with an Associate of Arts
degree in Communications. I then transferred to a four year
university program at the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign,
seeking a BFA in Theatre with a design emphasis. Because of certain
developments in my life outside of academia I left school prior to my
graduation from that degree program.
Initially I was able to find some
work locally, first as a freelance designer, and later as a
non-academic staff member at a community college in the
Urbana-Champaign area. While able to perform my duties at a
reasonable level I still lacked certain skill sets which could best
be developed through classwork and related production projects in an
academic setting. As time progressed I continued to be able to obtain
work. However there still remained skills that, due to the nature of
the theatrical industry, were virtually impossible to learn 'on the
job'. Because of this I found myself constrained to employment at a
very specific level, with minimal opportunities for advancement or
development as an artist.
In the personal realm, I found
myself feeling a lack of satisfaction. In part this was due to my
having not reached the goal of receiving my Bachelors degree. I
looked at family members who had made themselves promises over the
years. People like my mother, who had promised herself that someday
she would visit the town in Norway where her grandparents were born.
A promise of someday which turned, over the years, into a never, and
grew into a “I wish I had...”. Such experiences further fired my
resolve to return to academia.
Philosophically, I have always loved
learning. It is one of my core beliefs that education can be a
primary curative for the ills of the world. Beyond that I have a deep
belief in the idea of the 'Renaissance person', one who is versed in
a broad range of knowledge and skills. The very sort of educational
basis that is found in the curriculum of a liberal arts education.
These aspects found a final synergy
while I was employed by a small theatre as a combination of tour
manager, designer, technician, and actor for their educational
touring program. In that program we (myself and three actors) would
travel to various elementary and middle schools, performing short
productions. I found it amazingly satisfying to help introduce young
people to theatre. To know that, if even in some small way, my visit
to a town of 400 people might inspire a child there to reach beyond
expectations. This job also involved working with students in the
theatres educational program. It thrilled me to see them take risks
and to grow as people, and as artists. One day, while working with
some students, one of them commented that I would “make a good
teacher.” In something of an epiphany, I realized that being an
educator was part of who I wanted to be.
In answer to that epiphany I began
classes at UAF in 2010 and am now just two semesters away from my
degree. With your assistance I will be able to complete my goal.
----------------------------------------------------Essay ends------------------------------------------------
And that is really the key at this point: I have 11 credit hours remaining of my required classes. If I want to get started on an MFA program I need to be able to submit applications by the start of the Spring 2015 semester. Because theatre design MFA programs (generally) only accept applicants to start in the Fall semester. If I don't graduate in May 2015, I won't be entering an MFA program till the Fall of 2016...
So I remain hopeful (some angst notwithstanding) of being a member of the class of 2015. And I am thankful to all of you who have given me your support, in whatever form.
That's about the size of this update. As I mentioned above, I have some other essay/article ideas floating through my synapses and will be sharing at least one or two of them soon. Till then...
As always, assorted links below.
