Top Things Learned Pt. 1

Top Things Learned will be a chance for me to communicate all that I gained in my college experience. Obviously, I can't communicate all of that in one post, so there will be parts and sections and whatnot. Shall we begin? 

P.S.A. : I don't know how many parts there will be. Deal. 

Top Things Learned from majoring in Theatre (that are about theatre)

1. How to get comfortable in my type. I learned early on what my "type" or character was. Professors, friends, and others helped communicate this to me. Going to auditions helped too. It has allowed me to tailor myself to specific roles or companies, as well as how to play my cards right in social settings. 
2. How to look beyond my type. At the same time, in college, I was challenged to not settle with my type. When I was thinking about a musical, my professors pushed me towards a play. Through looking beyond my type, I have come to learn that I am versatile and can play more than what I thought. And I enjoy that. It gives a sense of freedom to know you are not limited-you just need a different perspective. 
3. How to always find the energy. So many days (especially during tech week) you wake up thinking "oh, I do not want to go to class right now". But you can't. Because you have to go to theatre classes where everyone is just as tired as you. And in class you are working on a completely different project which requires a lot of energy, both physical and mental. Being a theatre major means one never gets a break. Our work consumes us day in and day out. There is very little rest time because our craft is all-consuming. I had to learn how to be just as alert for my classes as I was for rehearsals.
4. How to be consistent. Having an "off day" isn't allowed when you are running a show or training to be a performer. Being "unpredictable" onstage gets you fired. I learned this early on. I had to learn how to become consistent in my performance, maintain my stamina, and focus my mind.  I learned how to take care of my body (both in learning to train and learning to rest), my brain, and my spiritual needs in order to perform at my peak. This has allowed my abilities to soar. 
5. How to increase skills and talents. Well, hello, isn't this what a theatre degree is for? I had four years of dance classes, voice lessons, acting scenes, production work, and performance opportunities. And it was amazing. In the past four years I have made progress in all areas of the theatre (even those offstage). My professors challenged me to the highest levels of professionalism and coached me to refine my talents. My peers expected my best at all times. It was hard at times but now that I am out in the world auditioning I see the benefits. I also learned that behind talent is a great set of skills. There have to techniques to propel the talent. You have to know how to analyze a script, read a piece of music, or learn a combination. Sure, some are better than others, but there has to be a drive to work and not just float your way through. That's what I learned. How to work.