Scholarship Weekend 2010
Loads of eager high school seniors crowded into the Conant Performing Arts Center on the Oglethorpe University campus in January for our annual scholarship weekend. Scholarship weekend is an important and unique opportunity for prospective students–including theater majors– to compete for one of many full-ride scholarships. As a freshman, I can attest to the anxiety, exhilaration, and enthusiasm that is included in this event, as I competed just last year, but now that I am on the other side, I have a slightly different perspective.
This year, I had the opportunity to work the behind-the-scenes aspects of scholarship weekend through my work study job in the theatre. There is a beautiful combination of empathy, compassion, and excitement for the students who stand in the shoes I wore just 12 months ago. The Oglethorpe University Theatre Department (ranked among the top 20 in the U.S. by Princeton Review) offers prospective students the chance to win the Georgia Shakespeare Scholarship, which includes four years of tuition plus the opportunity to study abroad at Oxford University. (Georgia Shakespeare is the professional theatre-in-residence at Oglethorpe University.)
The competition requires students to read self-selected monologues and participate in a seminar discussion over assigned readings. Watching students as they were directed from place to place around campus and sitting in on panels and discussions brought up a certain sense of nostalgia and appreciation in me, as I’m sure it did for many of my fellow peers who also volunteered. I would even argue that this weekend was as valuable to us as it was to the students, as I was reminded of the energy and efforts that got me to where I am today and all the gratitude I owe the Oglethorpe staff for helping me to make it to my dream school.
No comments:
Post a Comment