An Academic Issue

[PainTrain]

My passion in life, is wanting to be an actor. I've wanted to act for as long as I can remember. Now that I have enough credits to transfer to a major university, I want to take on my dream. The university that I will be attending, has a well known acting/theater degree program. In fact, it was rated among the top in the nation.


This is my problem. Everyone in my life is telling me not to do it. "It's too hard of a life"... "It's too hard to make money"... "There is no way you would be able to support yourself"... I hate it when people tell me what I can and can't do.


At the same time, I have to look at it realistically. I know it will be tough. Seriously, though, what in life is easy? This is what I want. This is something I KNOW I have a talent for. People have told me I have a talent for it.


I love the feeling I get when I "become" another person. I melt into the role, and all I think I know goes away.


What do you think I should do? I don't want to let people down, but it's my life, and I want to work towards my dreams! No matter how hard it may turn out to be!

 

[ChosenofMystra]

Ever seen the movie American Beauty ? Wonderful example of following your heart and desires and to hell with what everyone else thinks.

The people that truely love and support you will stand by your side no matter what your choice may be. I faced the same torrent of doubts from my friends and family when I told them I decided I wanted to write for a living. You have to do what feels right to you, I know it sounds like stupid, trite, perhaps even cliche advice; but in the end, only you can make yourself happy in these sort of choices.

 

[InspectorJapp]

It's better to act and to regret,
than to regret not to have acted.
- Mellin de Saint-Gelais

Although one should also be realistic. In other words, follow your dream, but make sure you have a realistic alternative if need be.

 

[milagros317]

My advice is to follow your dream until or unless you decide it's not attainable.

A relative of mine got a degree in theater, acted on stage (while having a day job) for five years, decided herself that she wasn't going to become self-supporting by acting, and went back to school to get an MSW. She doesn't regret the years spent acting, it was what she wanted to do.

 

[venray]

Dude...go for it!

You are plenty young enough to do something else if it doesnt work out, but you will regret it the rest of your life if you do not give it a shot....

I am almost 53 and am in the process of changing my entire career for about the 3'rd time now. It is never too late to do so.....

Give it everything you have while you can and in a few years when you begin to be successful I will be ready for another career change to become your manager/agent......so call me.....

Keep the faith Bro....

 

[isabeau]

i say go for your dreams...if you want it hard enough, i believe you will succeed at it...just remember us little people when you make it big...if this is what you truly want...go for it hon...and good luck...

o and i'll be your PR person..i'm quite good at that...

 

[minerva]

If this is your passion in life you have to give it a try.
If it shouldn't work out, you will be disappointed, but you will never regret, that you tried, if you never tried though you will regret that your whole life.
Good luck!

 

[slap'n'ticklee]

I agree with everyone else 🙂

If its a life long dream and brings you joy, then why deny it, at least give it a try and if you find after going to uni its not for you at least you can say you gave it your best shot and not have the regret that you didn't at least give it a go.

Good luck and hope your loved ones come around to the idea if you do decide to do it.

 

[steph]

This is the perfect answer and my thoughts exactly!

Do what a lot of us did~double or triple major.
Yes, it's a lot of work but totally do-able, as depending on what your "non-dream" major is, a lot of the classes can cross-pollenate, credit-wise. If you're the artistic type, and it sounds like you are, a major like Communications can take you ANYWHERE!
XOXO

It's better to act and to regret,
than to regret not to have acted.
- Mellin de Saint-Gelais

Although one should also be realistic. In other words, follow your dream, but make sure you have a realistic alternative if need be.

 

[Bugman]

If you dont give it a try,you will always wonder what if?Go for it and best of luck to you.

 

[Strider]

Move to LA or New York (depending on whether you want to do stage or screen), spend five years starving and taking any acting job you can get, if you're not able to work as an actor for a living by the end of that, then it's likely not going to happen. But just think of it in terms of 5 years at a time.

 

[PainTrain]

Thanks for the advice mates. I am aware of the risks involved, and I think I will move forward with it. I know it isn't realistic to believe that I could make a living with this, but I plan on getting something else as well.

 

[isabeau]

it's as real as you think it is..don't go in with the attitude that it is unrealistic, but be practical..go into it with confidence, that you will be the best actor ever...and see what happens..i'm behind you one hundred percent..

 

[Illtcklu]

Thanks for the advice mates. I am aware of the risks involved, and I think I will move forward with it. I know it isn't realistic to believe that I could make a living with this, but I plan on getting something else as well.

Why not? I do.

 

[Dianatklee]

I think you should do it. But I think you should be careful about it and not get married while you are trying to make it. The failure can lead to problems in the marriage.

 

[Strider]

Thanks for the advice mates. I am aware of the risks involved, and I think I will move forward with it. I know it isn't realistic to believe that I could make a living with this, but I plan on getting something else as well.

It's realistic enough, you may never be a household name, but making a living as an actor isn't a particularly outlandish goal.

 

[PainTrain]

Thanks for the support! I guess I'm torn between getting my hopes up, and plunging into it with 100 percent confidence, and thinking rationally, and taking it one small step at a time. I want acting to be my number one goal, but I will have to talk with some administrators to see what else would be available with the credits I'll have.

 

[Bugman]

Even if,for whatever reason you dont wind up acting full time its something you can always do on the side.Most actors never become household names,but some make a very nice living at it.Follow your dream while you are young.

 

[MrMacphisto]

I love the feeling I get when I "become" another person. I melt into the role, and all I think I know goes away.

Depeche Mode had a great song relating to that... "It's only when I lose myself in someone else, that I find myself..." It's an interesting paradox, but probably very useful in the profession you seek....

What do you think I should do? I don't want to let people down, but it's my life, and I want to work towards my dreams! No matter how hard it may turn out to be!

You can do both by starting a steady career in something else and using what free time you have to pursue acting opportunities. The best that can happen is that you will fulfill your dream, but the worst is that you'll never be an actor but still have a career.

 

[asutickler]

Why not take a double major? You could major in theater and something more practical at the same time. Sure, it might take you an extra year or so to graduate... But that's a good thing. College is fun as hell. 😀

 

[PainTrain]

Why not take a double major? You could major in theater and something more practical at the same time. Sure, it might take you an extra year or so to graduate... But that's a good thing. College is fun as hell. 😀

This is actually what I think I'll do.

 

[CoyoteScratch]

Do it. There may not be an afterlife after this so this could be your only chance. Call me naive for being a dreamer but I say go for it.

 

[steph]

It doesn't have to take an extra year if you know how to work the program right. E-mail me and I'll show you how to accomplish.
XOXO

This is actually what I think I'll do.