Dear Class of 2000,
I haven't seen many of you since graduation, and unfortunately, I will not be seeing any one of you that may attend the reunion. But I hope everyone is doing well. Allow me the time to take a few moments to at least brief you what my life has been so far, you know the "chit-chat version" that I would have given if I were to attend the reunion.
"I currently live in New York--well I sort of live in New York. I moved up there about three years ago and after a year and a half, I was offered a touring job with a children's theater company. I spent a year and a half doing the show, we toured elementary schools and it was a lot of fun juggling, breakdancing, and just being silly for kids...hopefully, and I think they did, the kids learned something about the message we delivered. We talked about healthy diet and exercise, and to be honest with you, I had a lot of fun doing it and I even learned a few things.
Oh yeah, after high school, I went to the University of Montevallo (I always say the University of Montevallo) and majored in theater. I picked up a lot of skills and altogether, college was fun. Probably some of the best years of my life...but not all, because those have yet to come. After college, I went back to Jasper because I realized that I had no money. I worked at Ryan's for like two years while still pursuing any theater opportunities that were out there. I worked for Birmingham Children's as an actor, and even worked with Jasper Children's Theatre teaching and directing, and soon after that, developed a summer program called Run! with Liz Ross, all in Jasper. We basically encouraged teens to start developing their ideas, we gave them an outlet. I felt like, as a teen, I had some pretty good ideas but never felt like I had an outlet to workshop those ideas and whatnot, you know?
Life's been a crazy ride...and it's only been 10 years. Wow, sometimes it's hard to believe. So much has happened, I've done so much I feel. We all have changed so much...some more than others, but I feel like a kid still. I'm enjoying my second childhood I guess. We're all at a point where we can do what we want, because we're grown now. Granted, we all have responsibilities, but we can prioritize much better now than 10 years ago. I mean, I've been an intern, a stage manager/carpenter/technician, an actor, juggler, stilt walker...actually, I'll be an acting-stilt walker in September. But anyway, life has been beautiful. There's been a lot of hardships, we all have had them, but we're here right now--that's what's up...it's what's awesome about us right now. We're here enjoying life. I'm trying to live mine to the fullest and destroy the box that I lived in for so many years of my life. I think living in New York and touring made me realize that. New York is ever a grind...you gotta hustle. There is no grind like the "New York I'm an actor" grind. I get up, look for work, eat breakfast, do some type of workout, look for more work, go to an audition or two, go to a class, get home, eat dinner, look for more work, sleep. That's mostly everyday. It doesn't stop, but I feel lucky to do that. It's all good."
I do feel like it's all good. I'm enjoying life and I hope you all are doing the same. Maybe I'll see you at the next one...or in a random point in life. We all have facebook (that may be a gross overstatement), hit me up sometime, even if it's just to say hi.
Later days Class of 2000,
C
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