What My Theatre Degree Taught Me: 4 Lessons on Balance, Bravery, and Breaking Boxes

As a recent college graduate entering the workforce, I’ve been reflecting on my collegiate journey and asking myself: Am I really prepared?

So, I’ve decided to share 4 things I’ve learned – not just about theatre, but also myself.

Without further ado, let’s jump right in.

1. I Need to Have a Life Outside of the Arts

This one’s a bit weird, but very important. I love what I do. I am so grateful that I get to wake up every morning excited to be in a field I love. I honestly don’t think I could ever bring myself to fully retire because of how much joy it brings me.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

My life is not my work.

I am not my work, and my work is not me.

In my Directing 2 class, I had the opportunity to interview playwright Cordelia Lynn, and she shared how her friends – who have nothing to do with theatre – keep her grounded. That stuck with me.

If you haven’t heard of Cordelia Lynn, go read one of her plays when you have time to process them. They have the power to change your worldview.

Theatre has a way of consuming your thoughts, emotions, and time. A bad review can feel like the end of the world. Forgetting a line or step can feel like failure. It’s easy to tie our worth to our work.

But:

It’s just a review.

It’s just a line.

It’s just a step.

It’s just a show.

Having a personal life outside of theatre helps keep everything in perspective. As a director, watching TV or listening to music can feel like work. My brain is always on.

But when I read for fun or spend time with non-theatre friends, my mind resets.

We are meant to work to live, not live to work.

2. Don’t Put Yourself in a Box

You never know what areas of theatre you’ll fall in love with.

When I first started college, I was determined to pursue musical theatre. I was going to be on Broadway, performing with Jeremy Jordan and Audra McDonald. It didn’t matter that I had never really sung in public and had the flexibility of a dried twig – I was going to make it big.

Thankfully, my theatre department required us to take non-performance classes, no matter our concentration.

Once I started taking those classes, I realized how much I didn’t know. I gained a deep appreciation for backstage and pre-production work. I loved learning about theatre history, dramaturgy, design, and tech.

And then I took my first directing class – and fell in love.

My professor, the incredible Robin Witt, taught me so much and inspired me to become the best director I could be.

Now I want to be a director and eventually start my own theatre company.

There is so much to love about theatre and so many career paths to choose from. Don’t box yourself into one lane without exploring the others.

I didn’t – and it changed my life.

3. Being Talented Isn’t Everything

In my Senior Seminar class, we discussed the three most important things you need to work in theatre (or any field for that matter). You only really need two.

• Be talented

• Be professional

• Be pleasant to work with

Of course, talent and skill are important. We train, take classes, and hone our craft. But here’s the thing: skills can be taught.

What can’t be taught is professionalism. Showing up on time (which means at least 20 minutes early), being kind to your colleagues, and respecting the process – those are make-or-break traits.

As a director, I’d rather work with someone who is still learning but makes the process collaborative and respectful.

I used to worry about not having the same experience or training as others. But then I realized:

I was professional. I was kind. I was dependable.

And that matters. So there’s no need to stress over skills that you don’t have yet. As long as you're willing to work hard and learn.

4. Jump Before You’re Ready

You will never be fully ready for a role – do it anyway.

One of my favorite pieces of advice came from my directing professor:

“Jump before you’re ready.”

I am a perfectionist. I hate making mistakes and doing anything less than my best. But perfection is an illusion – that’s what makes theatre special. The imperfections. The unknown. The risk. Every show is a gamble. Every performance is an act of courage. It’s thrilling and exciting.

That’s part of why I love what I do.

If you want to know how I feel before a show or during auditions, listen to “Something About This Night” from the musical Finding Neverland.

So jump.

Audition for your dream role.

Make a short film on your phone.

Write that play you’ve been thinking about.

You’re never “ready” for something new. You adapt. You grow.

Don’t let fear or the risk of embarrassment hold you back.

Seriously, just do it.

Final Thoughts

-If you couldn’t tell by now, I learned a lot these past few years.

Studying at UNC Charlotte (GO NINERS!!) taught me more than just how to be a theatre artist. It taught me how to be myself.

So, to anyone pursuing this field, here’s what I’ll leave you with:

Be professional. Be kind. Be courageous. Be curious. Be open.

And remember:

“Not everyone is going to like what you do or what you have to offer; however, if you can’t see yourself doing anything else, and you have the drive and ambition, get the training and go for it.”

– Kristin Chenoweth