<p>I think one of the dumbest things I didn't do is not major in theater just because my best friend said about a theater student, "look at him, he's getting nowhere" and "i don't want to be a monkey to society". I guess hearing it from my best friend really made me afraid to pursue it, and I tried hard to do something else... you know that "if you can imagine you doing something else other than acting, you should do the other thing". Well, i couldn't really imagine myself doing something else, but I wanted to find something else. The acting business and all those politics makes me too nervous anyway. Except in the back of my head, I had a feeling that once I graduate I would go to an acting conservatory. Well, I'm not far from graduating, and going to a conservatory is seeming more and more close. But since I haven't had undergrad training, I will feel like I'm not as good as people who have a degree in theater. The experience of the conservatory itself will probably be one of the best things that happened to me... believe me, i will breathe in every second... but the price and what i will do afterward terrifies me. what if i spend two years of my life, come out and just end up working at mcdonalds? it's a very hard choice, and i really don't have anyone to help me. my parents don't care (they will actually not want me to go), my friends don't care (and i'm certainly not asking my "best" friend for advice again), and in the end, i have to make my own choice. i have a feeling i will end up going, just because i feel like it's engraved in me. but i don't want to go to LA or NYC. I'm actually thinking of NC or Chicago... somewhere cheaper to live and possibly more diverse? (i'm asian as well, and somehow i feel like that also lowers my chances of getting roles). i feel like i can't ever stop thinking about theater and acting. i didn't major in it, but i studied creative writing, philosophy, and some acting classes, and i feel like i'm learning a lot about life through art and it's probably one of the most beautiful discoveries i've ever made. my role model right now is edward norton, who is well educated and a great actor. and i'm following his advice on not worrying about celebrity and focusing on the art... and i think i've realized there is a difference. but i still don't feel brave enough to go out of state to an acting conservatory. i will have no friends, no family.. everything will be 10X as hard. :( . is anybody willing to talk to me more and help me figure this out? please PM me or reply to this thread. Thanks!</p>
<p>As a mother of a daughter who is going into acting I lie awake most nights scared about her future. But if you really love acting then you have to try it because when you are older you will regret that you didn’t at least try. People change careers all the time and if it dosn’t work out you can always do something else. My Husband is a doctor and one of the Medical students (who is now a doctor was a BFA acting student). No one knows what the future will bring but I do know you should follow your passion. I have tried many times to talk my daughter out of being an actress but she loves it so much and is willing to try it no matter what! I hope this helps but I say GO FOR IT!!!</p>
<p>actressmom, I used to worry about that for my D too, but I don’t now because . . . like your D, mine just LOVES it so why not pursue your passion in college and while you are young–as you say, you can always change later. And how less practical is this than something like a Psychology major which is one of the top liberal arts majors (and I’m sure there are many other examples). Or those who study a musical instrument (I was a bassoon major–now that’s one that’s kind of limited!). With acting, they are learning so many great skills–speaking, memorization, working as a team, taking direction, etc. In fact, there is some post here somewhere about all the great skills you learn as an actor that are applicable to other fields (it was from an acting prof–a very comprehensive list.) So I just don’t worry about it anymore. In college I majored in what I loved and later did the MBA thing and went into business, so now as a result am able to support the arts and help my actor friends who stayed with it and would do it all over again the same way. 4321234, you don’t want to get to the end of your life and look back with regret at the “what if”–so I would say, go for it! Life is a journey, not a destination!</p>