How is it possible that the ONLY Christian MFA in Acting program completely fell through my searches until last Wednesday? I have no idea but if you saw this whole thing from my perspective you'd see that God was obviously hiding it from me for some reason; waiting for the exact moment to say, "How about Regent, Hey." (Said with a Dakotan accent as God speaks to me that way now) It goes like this: Last Wednesday Emily introduced me to a admissions counselor from Regent University's Law School. She had met him the day before and had told me that she wanted this guy to marry her sister. Regent had always hung around in the back of my head because my professor, Susan K Berkompas, used to advertise something about their school all during my undergrad studies. What this was exactly wasn't coming to mind at the time of me meeting Mr. Wholschlegal (or something like that.)I asked him if Regent had a Theater program and he was sure they had some kind of arts program but was unsure if they had any MFA in Acting program. His uncertainty led me to believe they did not...until Susan K Berkompas came strolling by at that very moment. And as she was walking by I said, "Sue, what was that thing you would always send e-mails out about Regent?" She said, "Oh their MFA in Acting program. It's the only Christian centered one in the world and its awesome and oh I know all the Faculty so you'd be a shoe-in." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My excitement thus launched through the roof and I went back to my office and started researching. There are three things that I desire most in an MFA in Acting program. One, that it would be Christian though I had given up hope on this aspect. Two, that it would prepare me for teaching at the collegiate level. And three, that it would give me some kind of opportunity to at least try the whole professional acting thing after I graduate with an MFA. Well, what do you know!? Regent University offers all three of those fantastic little jewels of my desire and to top it off they have an audition at Azusa Pacific at the end of February.
I immediately started looking into their admissions requirements and realize they require GRE scores in which I have none. Questions begin to arise...do I submit the application and scores and such before or after the audition? What is Virginia like? Do I have a shot in hell that they'll accept me? What will I eat for dinner tonight as I have to go to rehearsal for Our Town? Am I a good director? Am I a good actor? What are GRE scores?
I needed answers. So I found an inquiry section on Regent's website and asked a few questions about the GRE scores and such. No joke....5 SECONDS LATER! (Okay so it was really like 45 seconds-ish) my cell phone rings and a representative from Regent, who just happened to have graduated with her MFA in Acting was on the other end...crazy! She answered all of my questions except for the self-worth ones.
All of this within a span of about three hours. Instantly I began to be excited about completing my MFA instead of dreading it. What's even better is Emily was just as excited, which as my mom told me once, is a great sign that that is something God is telling you to do.
So obviously nothing is official yet and if you ask my co-workers I've pretty much already moved there. As well as my brother, who we just found out over a phone conversation that Virginia Beach is only a half-hour away from where he'll be living (!!!!!). But Regent is a definite possibility and moving across the country is becoming more and more a reality. I just need to get a good score on the MAT exam (its better, according to the girl from Regent), get three letters of recommendation, write a personal life statement, and come up with the best three minute audition of my life! Piece of cake. As Nolf put it today, "You'll be fine. You want it bad enough."
I do. I really do.