What are you going to do with that?
This question should be familiar to anyone who made the fateful decision not to pursue a degree in a professional school such as Nursing or Engineering. Most students who earn a degree in Art, Music, Drama or Media Studies continually face that question -- and must continue to do so until they justify their choice.
With graduation just upon this year's Class of 2006 and many second years feeling the pressure to choose a major, it seems appropriate to reflect upon the lives of those students who took a calculated risk with their education.
The arts and entertainment fields are notoriously difficult to enter and demand that students find creative ways to establish a name for themselves. Naturally attracted to New York City and Los Angeles for their wealth of talent and opportunity, many students realize it might take years before they have the experience and résumé to gain entry into their chosen field.
University Media Studies graduate and current second year at University of Southern California's distinguished School of Cinema-Television, Jarrett Conway understands the time involved. He notes that his goal is not simply to be a Hollywood director but to be the one in control of both the "writing and directing, like M. Night Shyamalan" (The Sixth Sense).
Just like how group work and calculators should not define the COMM School, paintings should not label an Art major, nor concerts for Music students, journalism for Media Studies or monologues for Drama. Those attempting a career in arts and entertainment fields accept their varied interests.
Current and former Drama majors expressed an interest in different facets of performance. Recent graduate Jinny Parron hopes to excel in stage management at the University of California in San Diego, while her classmate Tim Granlund envisions being the "next Jerry Bruckheimer (Top Gun, Bad Boys) but with more credibility and respect." Meanwhile, undergrad student Mostafa Abdelkarim -- known to many for his role in the Hoos News Show -- aims for a degree in international law even as he harbors a dream to one day "produce a film in his native country of Egypt" in order to depict life from an Arab-American perspective.
Graduates of the respective programs expressed gratitude that they left the University of Virginia capable of doing practically anything. Granlund spoke fondly of his Drama background, saying students were made to do "a little bit of everything in order to get our degree: lights, set construction, acting, stage management, etc."
Granlund also said for those interested in the actual production of media, knowing the "fundamentals of storytelling -- being both engaging and entertaining -- proved essential."
For others, their involvement with their major and its signature activities gave them experience that could be applied elsewhere. Mary Malerich, a 2003 Music graduate, admits that her continuous fundraising charges for the CLAS musical productions prepared her for her current job as the Manager of Political Affairs with US Telecom Association (a political action committee). She still maintains her "eternal passion for the arts" through piano lessons and monetary donations to the Arts. She never expected to jump from music to politics but enjoys her current post nonetheless.
When she graduated last May, Jane Mayer set her sights on doing musicals in New York City. While she was successful in joining a national tour, she acknowledges that her grand aspirations required that she fall back on her "communication, public speaking and people skills" developed as a Drama major. She felt more than prepared to become a chameleon in the City.
"It might sound odd, but the world needs theatre majors. I have worked as a medical receptionist, a substitute teacher, a corporate secretary, an associate in a New York clothing showroom and a waitress for a catering company," Mayer said.
While this demonstrates the variety of ways students can utilize their majors, it also illuminates the situation in which most Arts & Entertainment majors find themselves: pursuing a dream that simply does not pay well. Granlund stated that he also had a "day job at Take It Away Sandwich Shop" in order to pay the bills. Even though she is most enthusiastic about painting, 2005 Art graduate Gabriela Gutowski chose a career in Historic Preservation. It struck a balance between her historic, artistic and economic interests. She plans to paint more when she has "her own apartment and less student loans to pay."
Many of these students constantly fight the prevalent belief that they should have chosen careers more likely to lead to a stable, consistent flow of income. There are indeed students like Calie Broussard who are not concerned with climbing the "corporate ladder," but with finding "a music ministry in a place God has ordained." However, most graduates fiercely want to succeed in their profession. It is not that being financially established is not their goal; their dream vocations simply take more time, diligence and risk.
"Some might say a degree from U.Va. warrants a better career than transitional, minimum wage jobs. But my degree taught me that I have to work twice as hard to achieve my goal. Work three jobs instead of one," Mayer said.
Most competitive careers ask a great deal from those who want them. Success in the arts and entertainment fields seems to demand not only greatness but patience, as it is more often than not a game of time and chance. However, those students who carry an ambition to be successful in music, art, writing, theatre or the media recognize that their dream is both unique and challenging. In fact, they embrace it.
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