Well, I have returned from the horrors of the bursar’s office relatively unscathed. I’m done with school, that wasn’t why I was there. The reason was because of the play I’m going to be rehearsing in.
Since I’m finished with school, there was the problem with me no longer being a registered student at SJSU. However, I need to be a registered student to participate in the play. Since I was cast in the play, and put a lot of hope, effort, and planning into participating, I decided to invest the time/money to make it happen. This mean registering for Open University, the cheapest means to still be a registered student.
Even still, it cost me $430 to register. This is not counting the $188 parking permit I will also have to purchase. It was this specific reason that many other people dropped out of the play- they were in a similar situation as I was, but did not want to spend the time and money when they only got a bit part. I myself got a small part, Guard #2, and I know that right now there are people that think I am batshit insane for spending so much money for some bit part in a school play. However this play means a lot to me, it was one of those things I hesitated at first thinking, “No, I’m not good enough to act in a play” but then for the first time in YEARS, challenged that notion, telling myself, “How do I know I’m not good enough?! I’ll try it anyway!” Getting cast was great for my self-esteem, and I believe my motivation will help me get a lot out of this production.
I found out through the grapevine that Guard #1 dropped out of the production, unofficially promoting me to Guard #1! Movin’ on up! I can’t wait to see what other male roles might become vacant by the time rehersals start!
Ya know, you could see if there is a Stage Craft or Drama Lab credit you could get for being in the play. Then you paid to not only be a Guard, but you improved your grade point average at the same time!
I go to SJSU myself, and haven’t bought a permit in two years. The solution is simple: don’t park in the parking garages. I park on 11th street between St. John and St. James, and it takes between 5 and 10 minutes to walk to class. This is actually faster than parking in the garages at certain times of the day, when the garages are completley full.
If you are on campus for less than two hours, or don’t need to get there before 4 pm, then you can usually find 2 hour parking meters within a block of campus. After 6 pm, most of these don’t need money, so you get there at 4, pop in a buck, and stay as long as you need. Same deal with the new garage by the library, after 6 pm there are no fees.
As far as the Open University, that sucks. Would you be able to drop the classes after a few weeks, get a refund, and still be in the play?
hightechburrito, I don’t think you get the point- the reason I have to register is for insurance/liability purposes. If I did what you describe and got injured, it could be a potential shitstorm. Anyway I’m dedicated enough to pay the money.
Are you sure it is safe to park on 11th and St James? A lot of the residential areas around SJSU require certain permits and such (so that residents don’t have their spaces gobbled up by cheapo students) and that particular part of San Jose is crawling with ticket-wielding cops.
The ironic thing is that I wasn’t even a Theatre Arts major, I was an English major. But I took a class that fulfilled upper division credits for both English and Theatre Arts majors, and kind of got a taste of it.
I know that several people have already dropped out of the play, and it feels good to be willing to see things through. Don’t think I haven’t weighed the costs (time, starting my career later, independence), but the way I see it, if I don’t do this now I will never have the potential free time to pursue something like this (without even MORE sacrifice than I’m already putting).
Movin’ on up! I can’t wait to see what other male roles might become vacant by the time rehersals start! 