Lessons From Graduate School Still Apply

Graduate School in Chicago I'm sure is different from way back in the 80s, otherwise known as the dark ages; pre-cell phones, and home computers. I'd gotten my BA from LMU in Los Angeles and had heard about the professional training program at the Goodman School at DePaul Paul University. Moving from sunny LA to windy Chicago was transformational and I was not going to miss one moment. I never missed a class and applied myself to tumbling and mime taught by a (real!) Ringling Brothers Clown, I practiced my dialects, (Standard British, Cockney, Southern, and Irish dialects, and learned to dissect the parts of a play. Mostly, I was willing to listen which gave me points with the teachers.

Why was I so open? I think it had to do with taking ballet classes since I was fourteen. the Ballet Masters were usually tough and let you know in no uncertain terms if you were failing. If he said, "Higher, get your leg higher." You did, no argument.

I was shocked in my first acting class and I heard students argue with the teacher. In my estimation, the teacher was there to help you become the best you could in whatever role. I figured, why argue? Ask questions, obviously, but argue?

When I reached graduate school, I naively thought childish arguments would fade and dialogue, conversations, and a search for meaning in the text would move to the forefront. Yeah, right.

In Shakespeare class, I met Ann, a slim blue-eyed brunette. From day one she struggled with memorizing and speaking Shakespeare's monologues. Our teacher was a London-born transplant who was an actor going through a messy divorce and wanted a break from England and get a fresh start teaching 'overseas'.

I thought he was clear, and concise and gave assistance in dissecting difficult passages in which American ears struggle. Ann did not think he was at all clear and felt he was very hard on her work in class. She broke into tears after every class. Our teacher was direct about that as well. He told her, that she wasn't willing to do the work to improve, what she wanted was approval and admiration. She wouldn't get that in the real world of professional acting.

Wow, to the point eh?

She dropped out after three months and went back to Sioux Falls.

I think of Ann these days especially when I struggle with hearing critiques of my writing. I have broken down in tears. I've begun to ask myself, How much am I like Anne? Unwilling to hear criticism as a boost up and not as a means for others to tear me down.

Cause if I am that thinned skin, I need to toughen up.

My best, Brie