Advice

Hello blooming artist! This is coming from an alum of theatre wishing you a fulfilling experience at the Louisiana State University Theare Dept. You're going to find that the atmosphere is, most often, energetic and there' always something going on (if not academically, there's SOMETHING to do). You're going to be surrounded by a lot of people who have a vast understanding of theatre and information surrounding the arts, and I'm not just talking about the professors. I'm writing this to you to let you know that you're going to have a good time and, if not, you're going gain something from this. Following is advice that I wish I would've gotten or would've taken from someone.
 
 When I first came to the university, I didn't know what to expect or what I was doing. I transferred to the department when I changed majors after freshman year. Had I transferred earlier, I would've had much better guidance. As a theatre student, you have your own advisor. She's awesome. Ask as many questions as possible. Nothing's made me feel so confused as when I didn't know what was going on. The more you know and understand, the better your experience. Allie C. is her name and she's amazing. She really down to earth, doesn't make you feel silly, but will be that push and mentor when it's time to be. The more you let her know, ask questions, and listen to her, the better she'll help you.

After you ask those questions and you get all the info you need, be sure to schedule your time well. Know when you need to do what. There's going to come a time in the semester where things are going pile up and it's not going to be just school. You're going to be doing things outside of class. It may be work, a party, family event, concert, fundraiser, etc. Somehow semesters have a formula to them where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, will all be done in the same week if not day and the day afterwards. It's not wishing you negative energy, it's just apart of  college life. It's good feel like death sometimes, hahaha, but if my forgetful ass can do it, I know you can! Schedule and manage! It'll only help. I had a habit of carrying a planner around, but if you don't find yourself looking at it very often, buy a big one so you have no choice but to look.

Go to forum ( don't swipe and leave too often). If you feel it's getting too pointless or they're constantly taking about things that don't relate to what you're doing, go to forum and stay for at least one. There's information in there somewhere for you. I'm not going to tell you to go all the time and stay, because let's face it, you're going to figure out how leave. Yet, it's important for you to stay involved. Get involved and stay involved. They have said this at orientation and S. T. R. I. P. E. S.
That's how you connect with people and get comfortable. There were times that I felt I had nothing to do and it was because I didn't stay involved. When a group of classmates invite you to go out, go! How will you ever get to know anyone if you don't participate? Of course, if they're doing something you don't agree with, do participate, but ifs like a movie, a kickback, going to see play, or anything relating to comraderie, go and participate. It'll help you make friends and feel like you have more to do than just school. Manage your time, of course.

Last thing. This is hard for me still, but it's worth the practice. Save money. That's it. If you have a friend that's has paw points and are trying to get rid of them, be good to that friend help them ;). Books and supplies will take most of it in the beginning, so do all you can to save money.

I wish a wonderful time! Tiger town is the town to be in. You'll be proud to be one.

Self image

I'm quicker to point out my flaws than I am to congratulate myself on an accomplishment whether minute or great. I like to be truthful with myself, even if it's in the moment or after the fact. I recognize that I feel insecure about myself most of the time. I do my best not to show it to others who I don't know that well, but my friends can tell at times. I allow the stuff that doesn't matter to get to me and I let that thought linger and fester its way into my day. I find myself creating negative energy because I allow my focus to remain on that one flaw or that one problem I have with society. I let it bother me and I walk around thinking something negative is bound to happen. I scew my reality knowing good and well that I can shift the way I percieve it by managing my focus positively. 

The funny thing concerning this subject, is that I was having a conversation with an aquaimtence o mine discussing confidence in self despite how we look or think we look. It's funny that bigger people tend to have more confidence, willingness to be outgoing, and are less likely to apologize for who they are than people who are, by society's hypocritical standards, said to be more asthetically pleasing. Why is that? I still don't know why. I feel that it'll come with looking into my self and saying "Elise, I accept you for who you are. I know there are certain things that I don't like about you, but I accept those, too. You are a good dancer an you have the ability, but don't be afraid to put the work behind to be better and DONT be afraid to be better."

I think a lot of the way I percive myself comes from

the need of how I would like others to see me. There's a timidity that comes from that horrible way of thinking. It's not always that I'm afraid people won't accept me, as crazy as this sounds, I feel I downplay myself because I don't want to offend anyone with my confidence or have them take it the wrong way as if I'm being big headed...... I think too damn much. I have faith I.useld, it's jusy I'm giving too much attention and permission to fear to have its say in my life. I've decicded that I'm going to continue to take it step by step on the journey to self love, because I truly can be my own worst enemy.

De bugging constantly

Born into a middle working class African American family raised with Christian values while being constantly reminded by my mother that "We can only afford so much" does have it's lasting effects on my subconscious. I always knew that I couldn't get all of the things that I wanted, I knew that as a black person I would be viewed a certain way off bat, I knew that as a women I had to sit, eat, and talk a certain way, and I knew that I had carry myself in a respectable manner wherever I go because of those things. Initially, it placed fear in me and always had me thinking that the world is out to get me and that if you didn't follow the teachings of Christ, you were (not only going to the obvious opposite of heaven) immoral, not a good person, confused, and later on evil. Even to this day, I walk on campus fighting fears and feelings of inferiority, when in actuality, to my knowledge I've been treated well and respected more often than not by the people who I felt were against me.

Concerning money, I find that my habits are doing me more harm than good. Because I was raised being told that I never had enough and the most important thing to ever buy is food. Not only do I find myself spending the bulk of my "unused" money on food, but I developed a dependency on it and have been battling weight control for years. I've had to teach myself to put away funds and to only touch them when needed and I still have to convince myself that it's okay to purchase material necessities (new clothes, vitamins, air freshners, etc.) it doesn't have to be off bramd all the time. If name brand works better and I have the spare change to purchase it, get it girl! It's okay to have the best wishing your price range, just like it's okay for me to walk with my head held up high.

I've experienced discrimination before, more so verbally. It didn't happen when I was young, either. I'm talking 19-21. Hearing that slur manifested my feelings of inferiority that I had been carrying. Nevertheless, I realized that just because I was called a derogatory term doesn't mean that that's who I am or how I have to look at myself. I have to remind myself that people are going to judge me no matter where I go and what I do, and it doesn't have to stop at race. Walking on a campus that's predominatly white can be intimidating to start, but I don't have to act intimidated. 
One of the first things you learn as a black child is that the world will most likely see you differently. You're taught about slavery and all the horrible things that happened and (most times you will never here a black person speak of this) that you're hair is nappy, bad and not to stand out in the sun too long because you'll get dark, and you don't want that. This you hear from, not the white man/woman/people whose supposedly your enemy, but from those who look just like you. As I continue my journey into womanhood, I have to debug certain things I've been taught about myself. There was one thing that my mother told me that I continue to live by and has helped me broaden my mind in many situations: don't just think black, think universally.
In my last year of high school, the day before it resumed I made a promise to myself. I told myself that I am going to make a friend who is non-black and get to know them. Not just an associate, but a friend. Not only did I make that friend, but I ended up eating lunch with non-black people everyday that year. I went to parties and even went on a senior trip to Destine, Florida because of my friendship with this person. Stepping outside your comfort level (even if that means certain things you've been taught throughout your life) can introduce you to a plethora of valued experiences.

Yes, customs involving money and race have had its time in the sun in the back of my mind for years, I feel religion has had the most influence on the way I've looked and felt with things.  Since I was little, I was taught that Jesus was the way and anybody outside was automatically a bad person. They may not be Hitler, but they ain't no Mother Mary either. I was taught homosexuality was unnatural an wrong and a bunch of other harsh, judgmental 'morals'. Recently, I m finding that the ones who bark it out the most, tend be the most hypocritical. It's not always as black and white as we'd like them to be. There are plenty of gray areas. When I worked a job and surrounded myself with people who were the opposite of what I was taught to be, they turned out to be the most interesting, nice, and intelligent people I have ever met.

Synchronicity

The overall message I took away from this chapter is to make your own luck. Of course, as artist, we train and practice and (for dancers) keep ourselves in shape unknowingly staying ready for that opportunity to come. I remember a teacher saying "Stay ready. You've only got one shot!". I like to think of every opportunity as one shot so that I push myself that much more. I can recall more than one situation where synchronicity had a huge part to play in my being able to participate in the opportunity. One happened just recently.
My friend Jeremy and I had booked an audition for a movie. Jeremy has a very friendly personality. His social skills surpass mine in almost every way, hahaha, yet he has the ability to make everybody around him feel comfortable and have fun. I'm explaining his characteristics because he ha a huge part to play in this. Jeremy started talking to another dancer from Atlanta that he follows on Instagram, introducing himself and myself. The next week, all dances who were apart of the film met up for a 6 hour rehearsal. Since Jeremy was riding with me, he asked if we could stay longer because a group of dancers from Atlanta had invited us to apart of their video they were making. I said it was cool.
We all went to the hotel they were staying at and learned the choreography. It wasn't until the end that I realized they were going to film this on Burbon Street. That's when I realized that I stepped into an opportunity that I was unaware of. Because of taking a chance and staying longer, I was able to film choreography with professional dancers on Burbon. I made some connections and got my face out there for others to see, all the while having fun.
I can honestly say that if it wasn't for Jeremy's personality, the opportunity may have come later and I would missed out this season.
Another opportunity presented itself when the Super Bowl was held in New Orleans. I was dancing non stop with my team Legacy at the time. By word of mouth, through the Saintsations and Honybees  (now called Pelicans) that Beyonce was looking for local dancers to be apart of her performance.
Legacy had decided that we were going to audition as a group, but no one ever did anything or got
together to try to do anything. I told myself that I refused to let this opportunity pass me by. After reading the guidelines of the auditioning process, I put together a routine, asked a friend to help film me, and sent it in. I was making affirmations everyday afterward, saying "If anybody from Baton Rouge, Louisiana is going to dance in the 2013 Super Bowl, it's going to be me!" I said that everyday. Of course my heart grew faint at times, but I kept speaking my faith even after already activating it by auditioning.
I received an email that I had been chosen only to go for another round of auditions. After making it passed two rounds, the process of preparing for the show began. I got to meet some of my favorite professional dancers, meet Beyonce's choreographer,  and perform in my very first Super Bowl halftime show! Because of preparation and affirmation, I made my own luck a was ready when the opportunity presented itself.