On March 31, 2014, I received this email. 
Upon starting my sophomore year at UR, I began looking into theatre internships I could do over the summer. I strongly felt that I needed to see the inner workings of a theatre company and start making possible connections for my future. However, I quickly realized that what I honestly wanted to do over the summer, what I reeeeally felt I could put my heart and soul into, did not involve sitting at a desk or getting people coffee or simply observing actors, designers, directors, administrative coordinators, marketers, etc. I wanted to learn by doing, and I wanted to learn more about what I hope to be doing in my future. What I really wanted to do was further my craft by participating in a summer conservatory program.
Then came the research! The very first thing I Google-searched was "summer acting conservatory at Oxford." Ever since I learned about the Harry Potter movies being filmed at Oxford (aka since I was 8 years old), I have dreamed of studying at Oxford. However, as I got older, I realized the impracticality of my going to a university in another country, so the once semi-reachable dream become an unlikely fantasy. UNTIL that fateful Google search! BADA MIDSUMMER IN OXFORD appeared as the first result. Over the next hour, I devoured every inch of the British American Drama Academy website, learning about the program, the classes, the alumni, the faculty, eeeeverything. I knew this was the program I wanted to put all my effort into. This was the program I would fight for!
On March 15th, my mom and I traveled to Northwestern University in Chicago for my audition. I had prepared a Catherine Connolly monologue from The Laramie Project and a Joan of Arc monologue from Henry VI Part I. Walter Schoen, my Shakespeare professor at UR, had recommended the Joan monologue since it is a very rarely done piece from a very rarely performed play as well as a strong, complex monologue. Ian Wooldridge, the Dean of Bada, led my audition (#yikes). It was my first audition outside of high school and college auditions, so I was SUPER nervous. I had no idea what to expect! And, even though I love Shakespeare, I hadn't had that much experience performing his work. But Mr. Wooldridge and the two women assisting him were so so nice! They were very supportive and made me feel very welcome and comfortable. Upon leaving the audition, I had felt that I had done all I could have done. I felt that I had gotten a good response from Mr. Wooldridge, and whether I had gotten in or not, I had really enjoyed and learned from the experience. No regrets!
But, waiting for the response was torture. I just wanted to know either way! And, lo and behold, a little over two weeks later the torture was over, and the result was overwhelming. I wasn't rejected; I wasn't on the waiting list; I had gotten in! I screamed; I teared up; I jumped about my dorm room like a fool!
You know, sometimes I still can't believe it. My unreachable fantasy is coming true. I CANNOT thank my parents enough for letting me go to Chicago for the audition and letting me have this once in a lifetime opportunity.
I leave in 26 days (yes, I am diligently counting), and I am sooooo excited (can't ya tell?!)! :D
