Many may be surprised that not only does the University of Miami have a theater department, it is also becoming one of the best in the country. An astounding amount of pressure and competition accompanies this triumph. The talent within our program is stunning and intimidating, but so few people really know what we’re going through.
Girls tend to be competitive with each other. While there is nothing wrong with friendly competition, it can be exhausting when you’re surrounded by it – auditioning for the same roles, hunting for the same straight men in the department, singing the same songs in class, etc. While this pushes us to work harder and improve, it also drives wedges between friends. Luckily, I have never experienced drama around casting, but I know people who have had friendships dissolve due to competition for a role.
In addition to the competition, it’s difficult to not compare yourself to others. There are some FIERCE singers, actors, and dancers in the UM conservatory, which is phenomenal! Yet that makes remembering your own talent and self-worth more challenging. At the start of each year there’s a Ring Kick-Off in the theater on campus and we’re all welcomed and reminded of one important fact: someone else’s success does not diminish your own. Read that one more time. Someone else’s success does NOT diminish your own.
However, this sentiment is easier said than done. As a female who has grown up in a society in which comparing yourself to others is the norm, wanting to change something about yourself to fit a certain type or look or ideal, can be difficult in itself. Throw in watching your talented, stunning, funny and kind classmates and it becomes nearly impossible not to compare your performances to theirs.
With that being said, I’ve made some of my best friends in this department. Because we rehearse, live, take class, and hang out together, the women of the theatre department have a bond akin to that of sisters. We may fight at times, but nothing can come between myself and the women in the theatre department. Even those that tend not to get along outside of class are constantly rooting for each other in class – we have fostered a love and passion for performance that no petty drama can undermine.
The theatre department has also helped me come into my own, and I see my classmates experiencing that same thing every day. I’m extraordinarily proud to call myself part of the 16 of ’16. This year in particular, I’ve found my place. I know who I am and there is a magical kind of peace that comes with that. The nerves are fading and simple, unadulterated joy is taking its place. The need to compare myself to others has began to slip away; instead, pride for my classmates’ growth and talent overwhelms me. I know I have a long way to go, but there’s no other program that forces you to come to terms with exactly who you are and celebrate the amazing things you have to offer.
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