The Current State of Being

 Recently, my life—and the world—has been all out of whack. Between the closing of Ride the Cyclone, the start of rehearsals for the Holiday Spectacular, and the recent election, I haven’t had a chance to slow down at all. Last Monday, we had a strike for Ride the Cyclone. For those unfamiliar with a “strike,” it’s the day after a show closes, where we break down the set and put away all of the lights that were used for the show. The next day, Holiday Spectacular rehearsals started with a 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. session. Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind.

On a brighter note, I got to go to a Halloween party this past weekend, where I wore two costumes. For the first, I was Fred from Scooby-Doo with a group of friends, and the second was Miss Piggy from The Muppets. On Sunday, I went to Suter’s corn maze with a few friends, where we went through the maze and got some apple cider. Navigating the maze and collecting all the stamps for the chance to shoot the “corn cannon”—which is exactly what it sounds like—was a lot of fun.

On Tuesday, I drove home to Louisville, Kentucky, because I forgot to get my absentee ballot for the 2024 election. After driving there and back—about an eight-hour round trip—I went right into rehearsal. I had back-to-back rehearsals that day: first for a dance concert happening next semester and then the usual Holiday Spectacular rehearsal.

While it has been a busy and sometimes chaotic few weeks, I’ve also found a lot of joy and growth in my community. I believe that our holiday show brings the department together and helps us work as an ensemble, rather than as individual performers. In addition, Ride the Cyclone allowed me to create connections I didn’t think were possible, especially with upperclassmen.

These recent weeks have aided me in understanding the importance of community and connection, reminding me of the joy that comes from working together toward a shared goal. Despite the hectic schedule, my involvement in these productions and the friendships I’ve built along the way have been deeply rewarding, making each busy day feel worthwhile.