It has been two years, roughly, since I graduated. That was May 2006. Shamefully, since then, the only steady work I’ve had was three months working retail. I’ve done odd jobs here and there, started my own business with not-that-much-more work and managed to not save a nickel.

Ultimately, with the degree I have there is no way to get into a professional job that I like. Theatre is cool and all, but I don’t want to be a nomad, running around the country from gig to gig. I would also like to be able to retire at some point. For the theatre business, that seems to mean an MA and a teaching job. I don’t like theatre that much.

What I have decided to do is pursue an engineering degree. Marshall has a relatively new program now where you can get the whole degree at Marshall rather than having to run off to WVU or WVUIT to finish the last two years. It puts me back in school for at least three more years, but I should be able to snag a decent job afterwards and get on with life.

If I had it all to do over again, I probably wouldn’t take the theatre track. It was fun and I picked up a lot of practical skills, but that BFA doesn’t prove you can do anything outside the arts. Hindsight is 20/20, I’m told.

So starting at the end of August, I’ll be occupied with Calculus, Chemistry, Geomatics, trying to pay for the whole affair as well as trying to keep a personal life going and working on a better housing arrangement.  Yes, it’s a lot to do, but hustle now, happy later. Hopefully my foresight on this one isn’t myopic.