The History of My Career and What the Hell Does One Learn in the Performing Arts?

In the first university I went to in 2004 fresh out of high school, the University of Cape Town (UCT), I was studying Property Studies and soon panicked that I was doing the wrong thing because it bored me out of my mind and I was so not interested. In class I would cry because I hated the classes, except property investment mathematics for some reason.

I was performing so badly in my first year and I was told by my psychologist that I can change faculties. Naturally, I toyed around with changing to the performing arts but it was just out of the question because my dad would not pay for that. I had to pursue STEM to get a secure job. 

Things were falling apart even in my personal life that I cried out for help by just attempting suicide by drinking all the painkillers my dad gave me. I woke up the next morning and called an ambulance and that's how I dropped out of first year dramatically. Quite the Grande exit.

So, recently I've been reevaluating my career path as God has been addressing for healing my thoughts and feelings about having to pursue STEM when I belonged in the performing arts. I let go of my aspiration (self-view) for intelligence, and I accepted I did not have singular intelligence as those in STEM do although I am intelligent, and I found increase, equity, rest, and completion in Christ which gave substance to my hope in Him, that regardless of how my life has turned out God's mercy would deliver me.

Today I am an IT Business Analyst. After UCT I pursued Information Technology (IT) at my dad's behest which I was interested in anyway, and I graduated with a diploma. I became a software developer then went back to varsity to pursue a degree in software engineering. It took a while to find work to complete my degree in the 4th year and then I found a job at Accenture where my career changed to Business Analysis and I was so damned relieved because I was beginning to resent programming and now I'm in my second job as a BA and because I have a talent for writing too I actually do enjoy the technical writing I am doing, compiling Business Requirement Documents (BRD's) for the development team.

However, I did not complete my degree because I was so distracted, having so much fun and also struggling with psychosis. It was so embarassing not to graduate but I overcome myself, the world, and the devil and now it's just my worst faux pas which happened because I was going through a lot and I was still psychologically immature. 

So anyway, I've always enjoyed the performing arts; singing, dancing, and acting. I did a lot of singing and acting through out school as I joined choirs and partook in school plays. In my final year of high school I won the best actress award! My greatest achievement regarding my natural gifts, talents, and skills (signature). But now that I understand what my best talents are (acting/writing), I am interested in learning more.

So I asked Grok 3, "what does one learn in the performing arts?"

Response: "In the performing arts, one learns a wide range of skills and disciplines that revolve around creative expression through live performance. This field typically includes theater, dance, music, and sometimes extends to areas like opera, circus arts, or performance art. Here's a breakdown of what you might learn:

1. Technical Skills: Depending on the focus, you could master acting techniques (e.g., method acting, improvisation), vocal training (singing, projection, diction), dance choreography, or playing musical instruments. Each discipline has its own set of foundational skills—like breath control for singers or stage combat for actors.

2. Emotional Expression: A big part of performing arts is learning to convey emotions authentically. You’re taught how to tap into feelings, interpret characters or pieces, and connect with an audience on a visceral level.

3. Physical Awareness: Whether it’s perfecting a pirouette, hitting a high note, or delivering a monologue, you develop control over your body and voice. This includes stamina, coordination, and sometimes even acrobatics or mime.

4. Collaboration: Performing arts often involve working with others—directors, choreographers, fellow actors, musicians, or stage crews. You learn teamwork, communication, and how to adapt to different creative visions.

5. Creativity and Interpretation: You’re trained to analyze scripts, scores, or choreography, bringing your own perspective while respecting the material. This might mean exploring subtext in a play or improvising within a jazz piece.

6. Stagecraft: Beyond performance, you often pick up practical knowledge like set design, lighting, sound, costume creation, or makeup—especially in smaller productions where multitasking is common.

7. Discipline and Resilience: Rehearsals can be grueling, and rejection is frequent. You learn persistence, time management, and how to handle critique.

8. Cultural and Historical Context: Many programs dive into the history of theater, music, or dance, giving you a deeper appreciation of how these arts evolved and their societal roles.

It’s a blend of the practical and the intangible—honing a craft while exploring what it means to tell stories or evoke reactions."

While it's a little too late for me to pursue acting even though I would love to be a drama teacher and acting coach, I've decided to just start this blog for fun and showcase what I get up to privately on my own as I perform in my bedroom and also maybe take some short courses to hone my skills.

I'm happy because my life has taken the turn for the better and I am looking forward to my future and the glorious things God has in store for me even in this life.