the record

Three days of voice auditions--

I just spent 18 and a half hours over the past three days hosting auditions for an animated series.  It was a completely new experience, even though I’ve held auditions for film/tv and for theatre before.  There’s plenty to say about it, but not at the moment, since my brain is fried. And since I’m just using this to stall from film history homework.

Control Play

This is just a developing trend, but I’m increasingly noticing more and more fratlife events that are “mandatory” around the house.  Is it really mandatory that I show up to listen to some alumni talk about his life for two hours when I need to be studying? Should it actually be mandatory for the newly initiated guys come set up for a party when some of them bought concert tickets weeks in advance?

Given that I’ve been skipping almost all of these “mandatory” events, with no consequence, it’s safe to say that “mandatory” is frat code for “I want a lot of people to show up.”

Equally as effective is the email subject “FREE T-SHIRTS IF YOU SHOW UP” which is surprisingly common.

Any single point of any day could be infinitely more important than you've planned it to be.

It’s one thing to live through each day doing schoolwork and making projects with friends and thinking, “I’m going to have to get things together soon. When I apply for internships I’m going to make sure I have my shit together. I should start working on my portfolio for when I apply places.”

It’s another to have it happen.  No one is going to say, “okay, this is an important connection so make sure you floss before heading to this dinner.”  No one is going to remind you about everything you’ve read on what not to do at an interview, how to negotiate for higher pay and for exactly what you want.

Thinking about how things will be when you find a great opportunity means you WILL NOT BE prepared for when it happens.

You have to realize that planning things out and “preparing” yourself in your mind will very quickly lead you you running in circles towards where you started instead of towards where you’re dreaming of going. Looking towards finding an internship or a job will only get you to a position where you are still looking forward to what you want.

Living as if when you wake up that morning you have the last interview you’ll ever get is the only way to be prepared for when one opportunity finally comes your way. 
Daydreaming about the big interview every day means when you meet someone interested in hiring you, but it’s not like how you dreamt it, you’ll take it less seriously and botch the best opportunity that will come your way for years.

Most people reading this are extremely happy with their careers, but a lot of my friends (college kids) are at the exact same point I am: I need to make sure I find somewhere to work this summer. I should redo my resume in case I need to send it somewhere. I should practice and think out a few potential interview situations.

Instead of reading this, those friends should be reworking their resume and calling the places they want to work this summer and practicing their interviews. Planning is not doing.

Meet someone who has the job you want, and convince them to hire you.

You will not be ready for the interview that gets you your job. You’ll be ready for your 9am class, your date on thursday night, for your parents visiting over the weekend.

You are immediately older than you think; you next job will be ten times more “adult” than your previous one.

I think I’m handling this college life pretty well?

No one has any idea what they are doing. There are only those who have tried the same new thing a few times over and because of that, others think they’re an expert on it.

If someone only sees you when you’re passionate about something, even if you’re BSing it, that’s who you are. Even if it’s not who you think you are; if every time someone sees you you’re confident and engaging, they will not think that you could possibly be any other way.

If you read every sentence but the last one, you think I’ve been through enough to know, to inform those who know less than I do.  Only old men can have philosophies on life, because they’ve experienced full lives, right?  A kid who doesn’t have the experience yet can’t give productive advice, because what do they know?

I haven’t a single idea what’s going to happen tomorrow, and I sure as hell don’t know how I should act.  What’s going on here?

A collection of plays on the word "Bro" in emails sent from my frat bros to the rest of the house.

from the Commonwealth of Broginia

Bromeless people

Wolfgang Amadeus Brozart

UNC Chapbro-Hill

Brotards

Brofibrillation devices

Volleybros

Patches Bro’Houhlihan

Fratty Quotes

“C’mon. Just like one dollar a piece and we can have a house duck.”
“Great, now I smell like f**in’ paint thinner and gasoline.”
“I’ll be happy when it’s tomorrow and I don’t have to worry about the house actually catching on fire and burning down.”
“I just can’t take your point seriously knowing that you hooked up with an ugly chick on Saturday.”
“Andy Capp’s Hot Fries are like… the legittest… the most legit snack food ever. They put other snack foods to shame.”
“That dude Colin is such a f**ing baller… he’s probably doing them all right now. He’s definitely doing the hot one. The girl from Texas? Did you guys see them? Were you dudes there?”
“I’d give you the beard handshake, but I don’t want you catching whatever I’ve got.”