Status Quo

So, I have decided to write a blog. In making this decision, I fully understand that it must come with some degree of conceit. I mean, who am I to assume that more than one person on the planet will care either way about anything I choose to post? Writer though I claim to be, the fact that kept me from doing this a long time ago was, when it comes to my own life, I have very little material. Most bloggers write about the things they’ve done and in all honesty, I don’t really do anything; certainly nothing noteworthy. I feared if I did choose to blog about myself, it would eventually just become a medium to vent my frustrations, my annoyances, a forum for things that no one, including myself, really wants to hear. And just when I’d accepted that I would all too often have nothing to report, I was blessed with something to report.
I, inexperienced, underqualified, infantile Akia Sembly, have a job. And not just any job either; a job that I actually want more for the experience than the money; a job that I can use as a foundation for circles I plan on moving in for the rest of my life…I hope I don’t sound too excited. I’d hate to fool my invisible audience into thinking I scored a show. No, on that front, I am as unemployed as I ever was. My journey to the Tonys and beyond has not yet made its step into the professional realm. I did however land a place with Fund for the Public Interest, a non-profit organization focused on lobbying (feel free to give me a better word) for issues that affect the masses, not just special interest groups. In essence, I’ll be campaigning for people to get involved. Think Obama campaign, only more for things than persons. Fun, yes? Exciting, yes? Jump start for when I go into public office, yes? Indeed, wonderful things to tend to come in threes. I submit that this is a good thing, no matter what anyone says.
I have been majorly bummed since finding out our camp endeavor fell through. Even though it wasn’t my idea, even though I wasn’t looking forward to the weight on my shoulders, even though I was terrified about screwing up, it was a great opportunity to have a unique experience and work with children (which I love) and make some money (which I need) and grow and mature both personally and artistically. I was so resigned to what my summer would be and determined to make the most out of it, I was shattered when I found out that it wasn’t going to be the picture I had painted in my mind. Today would have been my first day putting rose-colored lenses on the eyes of little ones who never before realized that there is so much more to art than what they see on TV. I was supposed to be Ms. Akia today, the woman who happily and patiently led my little recruits down the rabbit hole into the wonderland over which they would soon be stewards. Of course when I woke up this morning, I was none of those things. I overslept once again and all around was solid concrete that I had no chance of penetrating. It started raining soon after I went outside, my mother was working on the main level, I didn’t have enough music with me and I had no idea which book to tackle next. Not the makings of a good day. Finally, like all the desperate youth of my generation, I turned to my computer for solace, eventually finding one of my tabs open to craigslist. Doubtful though I was that many people would be looking to hire someone who couldn’t start before the second of June and would be unavailable after late August, I threw a bone to the hopeful side (or rather, the side that doesn’t want my idleness to be completely my fault) of my psyche and gandered at an interesting-looking ad. I actually first saw it a week ago, but I didn’t want to apply and get an interview only to be up in the mountains when they called. It looked like they still wanted someone and I definitely still needed a job so I went ahead and called, not really knowing what this group was about. It only took a brief phone call to get me very interested in what they are about and very happy that they were looking for young people like me; not experienced, but very devout. Unfortunately, my mother didn’t share my enthusiasm. It wasn’t until several hours later that I had convinced her to (reluctantly) take me (that license is still on my to-do list) downtown for my interview. Now, I am not one to hold my breath. I know very well how much brain-damage that can cause, especially when there’s a position for which a lot of people apply and there isn’t too great a demand which is often the case with not-for-profit companies. That being the case, I didn’t allow myself to feel my growing excitement until I was back in the hallway an hour later with an information packet in hand and an invitation to start training on Monday! Woohoo! says Akia’s brain. “Are you sure this thing is legit?” asks Tavalyn. *sigh* Thanks for the enthusiasm, Mom. Fortunately for me, I have unlimited texting and can find several friends to be properly animated in her stead. Like many endeavors important to me, this little step is peanuts to her. But whatevs. I’m just gonna pull a GW Carver on her. This job means something.
In The Sound of Music, Maria said that when God closes one door, somewhere He opens a window (yes I know other people have said that too, but I love me some Julie Andrews). Well this is my window and while the sun sets, my window is facing due west. Although in any continuous narrative, the characters are in some constant state of change, the beginning of every show is triggered when something major changes; something big enough to alter the status quo. In Gilmore Girls it was Rory being accepted into Chilton. In Make It or Break It it was Emily’s coming to The Rock. In Robert Langdon’s adventures it was the phone call from Kholer. This, my first job, a job that really means something to me, in the summer I mean to become most active in my theatre work and end up being as mediocre as before…I have to say it’s a change. It isn’t world-changing, what I’m doing, but it is something to be proud of. I have reason to believe I may have just altered my own status quo. I have high hopes that by the end of this summer, I won’t even miss camp.