Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend the University of Mississippi for several reasons, but mainly because I knew it had the best program in Mississippi for what I wanted to learn and to help strengthen my career. I am from the coast of Mississippi, and both of my parents went to this university, so I have been familiar with the campus and the community for a while now. However, I didn't seriously consider it as an option until researching every liberal arts college in Mississippi. I found that, after looking at dozens of different colleges, this place had everything I needed and was the most prestigious theatrical arts program in Mississippi. I often get asked if I could go back in time, if I would try to go to a school in New York, Chicago, or L.A., but my answer has been and will always be no. The University of Mississippi has led me to grow further in my education than I ever could imagine, and I would not trade that for anything in the world!
I chose to attend the University of Mississippi for several reasons, but mainly because I knew it had the best program in Mississippi for what I wanted to learn and to help strengthen my career. I am from the coast of Mississippi, and both of my parents went to this university, so I have been familiar with the campus and the community for a while now. However, I didn't seriously consider it as an option until researching every liberal arts college in Mississippi. I found that, after looking at dozens of different colleges, this place had everything I needed and was the most prestigious theatrical arts program in Mississippi. I often get asked if I could go back in time, if I would try to go to a school in New York, Chicago, or L.A., but my answer has been and will always be no. The University of Mississippi has led me to grow further in my education than I ever could imagine, and I would not trade that for anything in the world!
What would you tell a high school student about your major? What is most important for them to know if they are interested in pursuing that field of study?
I am a Bachelor of Fine Arts major with an Emphasis in Acting for Stage & Screen and I adore it. It has been the most rewarding experience and has only shown me that being in the arts is where I belong. Being a BFA Acting major is not like any other major on campus. The BFA program is designed to help students, like me, who never had formal training before going to college, learn everything they need to know so they can thrive in a professional setting. Because of this, the program has to fit every single aspect of this career path in a 4-year program, which is a lot of information. Every single day, I learn something new that guides me toward the path of success, whether it be from my professors, my fellow students, or from just observing others. The most important thing to know going into this level of education is that it does require certain elements that other majors offered at this campus don't. For example, there are rehearsals outside of class time, time taken to learn other crafts outside of the performance aspect, and time dedicated to working on the mainstage shows. A lot of people learning about this aspect of the program are a little worried about time management when they hear about it for the first time, but my favorite thing to remember is that other students in completely opposing programs have to dedicate this same amount of effort and time to their education, just in a different way. Accounting students, Pre-Med Students, Public Policy students, etc., they all have to complete some outside training to grow in their specialty. This is no different! The only difference is, this is what you feel called to do with your life, and they feel called in a different direction.
I am a Bachelor of Fine Arts major with an Emphasis in Acting for Stage & Screen and I adore it. It has been the most rewarding experience and has only shown me that being in the arts is where I belong. Being a BFA Acting major is not like any other major on campus. The BFA program is designed to help students, like me, who never had formal training before going to college, learn everything they need to know so they can thrive in a professional setting. Because of this, the program has to fit every single aspect of this career path in a 4-year program, which is a lot of information. Every single day, I learn something new that guides me toward the path of success, whether it be from my professors, my fellow students, or from just observing others. The most important thing to know going into this level of education is that it does require certain elements that other majors offered at this campus don't. For example, there are rehearsals outside of class time, time taken to learn other crafts outside of the performance aspect, and time dedicated to working on the mainstage shows. A lot of people learning about this aspect of the program are a little worried about time management when they hear about it for the first time, but my favorite thing to remember is that other students in completely opposing programs have to dedicate this same amount of effort and time to their education, just in a different way. Accounting students, Pre-Med Students, Public Policy students, etc., they all have to complete some outside training to grow in their specialty. This is no different! The only difference is, this is what you feel called to do with your life, and they feel called in a different direction.
Why is your department a special place?
The Department of Theatre & Film is a special place because of how intimate our education process is. Though we are growing in numbers with every class, the department is still relatively small to keep a close-knit environment between professors and students. With the arts being such a subjective thing to dissect and understand, our smaller numbers in classes allow every student to have one-on-one time with their professors in order to fully understand every concept taught to us. Because of this, we also establish amazing relationships with our educators and our peers. This allows us to be fully immersed in every activity, lesson, and performance we are contributing to. I have had so many experiences with my professors where I have been confused on a concept, and they have welcomed me into their office with open arms to help me fully understand. With how large other programs at the university are, I know that not everyone is able to experience this type of education. I cherish it and recognize its uniqueness every day.
The Department of Theatre & Film is a special place because of how intimate our education process is. Though we are growing in numbers with every class, the department is still relatively small to keep a close-knit environment between professors and students. With the arts being such a subjective thing to dissect and understand, our smaller numbers in classes allow every student to have one-on-one time with their professors in order to fully understand every concept taught to us. Because of this, we also establish amazing relationships with our educators and our peers. This allows us to be fully immersed in every activity, lesson, and performance we are contributing to. I have had so many experiences with my professors where I have been confused on a concept, and they have welcomed me into their office with open arms to help me fully understand. With how large other programs at the university are, I know that not everyone is able to experience this type of education. I cherish it and recognize its uniqueness every day.
What class or professor has had the most impact on you?
Every single professor has made an impact on my life and on my craft in some way. The professor who has made the biggest impact on me recently has been Joe Jackson, Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance and the Head of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.F.A, and continued to get his M.A. in Directing. He has taught me in musical theatre dance classes previously, and most recently directed a show that I was cast in called "Ride the Cyclone". If you're not familiar with the show, it was in the works for 20 years before gaining its popularity, so there are many different pperspectives to analyze before putting this show on. He went into the process with such a clear idea of the story we wanted to tell, while also giving us plenty of room to stop and discuss why the show was written the way it was, and how we should explore ways to express it. It is a very intense show, and we only had a month to put everything together with music, choreography, costumes, sound, lighting etc. He was so prepared and understood this show so intensely, it was the most organized rehearsal process/show run I have ever been a part of in my years of doing theatre. His commitment to his craft and to us as a cast was beyond inspiring and reminded me every day why I decided to go into this career.
Every single professor has made an impact on my life and on my craft in some way. The professor who has made the biggest impact on me recently has been Joe Jackson, Instructional Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance and the Head of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.F.A, and continued to get his M.A. in Directing. He has taught me in musical theatre dance classes previously, and most recently directed a show that I was cast in called "Ride the Cyclone". If you're not familiar with the show, it was in the works for 20 years before gaining its popularity, so there are many different pperspectives to analyze before putting this show on. He went into the process with such a clear idea of the story we wanted to tell, while also giving us plenty of room to stop and discuss why the show was written the way it was, and how we should explore ways to express it. It is a very intense show, and we only had a month to put everything together with music, choreography, costumes, sound, lighting etc. He was so prepared and understood this show so intensely, it was the most organized rehearsal process/show run I have ever been a part of in my years of doing theatre. His commitment to his craft and to us as a cast was beyond inspiring and reminded me every day why I decided to go into this career.
What do you hope to do after graduation? What are your career goals/plans?
After graduation, I plan to move to New York and use the education the university has given me to grow in my career there for several years. After I get a couple of years of experience in the field, I plan to move back to Mississippi to help integrate more artistic extracurricular activities into the community. Growing up, there weren't many options for theatrical performance growth and training. This has inspired me to take what I have learned from the University and what I learn from working in the industry, and use it to help children like me get a chance to experience what it is like to perform.
After graduation, I plan to move to New York and use the education the university has given me to grow in my career there for several years. After I get a couple of years of experience in the field, I plan to move back to Mississippi to help integrate more artistic extracurricular activities into the community. Growing up, there weren't many options for theatrical performance growth and training. This has inspired me to take what I have learned from the University and what I learn from working in the industry, and use it to help children like me get a chance to experience what it is like to perform.
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you'd tell your past self (about the general college experience)?
If I could tell my freshman self one thing, it would be to not put so much stress on yourself to make friends. Everyone going into college is worried about finding their people and figuring out who they are as a person. I would tell myself that you will 100 percent find the people and places you want to surround yourself with, and everything will fall into place. Don't be scared to reach out to people first, because I can promise you, they are just as scared of these new experiences as you are.
If I could tell my freshman self one thing, it would be to not put so much stress on yourself to make friends. Everyone going into college is worried about finding their people and figuring out who they are as a person. I would tell myself that you will 100 percent find the people and places you want to surround yourself with, and everything will fall into place. Don't be scared to reach out to people first, because I can promise you, they are just as scared of these new experiences as you are.
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