BWW Blog: Patti Meadors - Balancing School and Theatre

I attend public school every day and go from rehearsal to rehearsal after school. I am lucky to have these opportunities to perform and work with others in my theatre department. These opportunities often times lead me to being home later than expected. I sometimes go to three rehearsals after school and get home at 9:30.

With this being my senior year, I have a lot of college audition and applications to focus on, in addition to general schoolwork. I also need to find time to make sure I'm practicing vocals and monologues for auditions, and dances and blocking for show choir, shows, and classes. Sometime in there, I need to find time to stay healthy and be able to be social.

I usually go to bed right when I get home from late rehearsals, because I am so exhausted. I set my alarm for early in the morning to get homework done. I also made sure to finish college applications before school started, because I knew I would have a lot of other outside commitments. I am lucky that I did this and planned ahead, because I know many people may be scrambling to make their November 1st deadline.

My biggest challenge is trying to make time to practice not only for vocals, but also my monologues. I rarely have extra time during the week because I am also focused on staying healthy and getting sleep. Running from rehearsal to rehearsal seems stressful and tiring, but it is how I love living day to day life. I thrive on being busy, because I plan my days down well. I can stay on top of my schedule as best as I can so I don't scramble at the last minute finishing projects, papers or other things that need to be done.

I am thankful that I have an amazing support system who knows how to be kind and supportive of me when I need them. I have been lucky enough to be constantly busy, yet still be able to have fun and get a good amount of sleep to stay healthy, and keep my grades up. I am nervous for college auditions, but excited for the new journey ahead of me.