Working in the Arts and Having a Plan B
Mel @ brokeGIRLrich / November 11, 2016
When I expressed interest in studying theater in college, my parents practically had a heart attack. So scared of their disapproval, I secretly double majored, hoping they wouldn’t realize what they were funding. From the beginning, I always had Plan B in mind.
For peace of mind, I kept up my substitute teaching license for a decade. No matter how crammed my schedule was, I continued to operate brokeGIRLrich just in case. I even took the PRAXIS a few years later to keep my options open. I noodled over alternatives like going back to school for a teaching degree to pair with my English degree.
However, recently I noticed a shift. All my backup plans seem to have evaporated, except for brokeGIRLrich. I don’t think I could endure being a full-time substitute teacher. I dread it. As for my other skills, I’m not too confident either.
I revisited my original plan of becoming a professor. Truth is, 20-year-old me underestimated the challenge of that backup plan. I’m toying with the idea of attending grad school next year. But it’s a huge commitment, and I fear I’m not cut out for it. There’s also a good chance I might face rejection.
Taking this path would mean lower income in the next 5 years, something the personal finance blogger in me squirms at. I’m also doubtful about the stability in academia.
It got me thinking – do others in the arts, as they age and wear out, question their abilities to pursue their backup plans? Especially when those were designed at the beginning of their careers.
To be honest, the past decade of my career has been surreal. Waking up in a new country, living on a train, chilling with elephants, to taste-testing gumbo in the South; it’s been an incredible journey. Doesn’t even account for the thrill I get from leading a show or overcoming a tough problem.
The only thing missing is more time for family, friends, and weekends. Still, I think it might be time for a sea change. I’m uncertain about where exactly I’m headed, but I do know a change is overdue.