“ Back-to-School ” by Stacey Ardelean
12 Incite / Insight Board Perspective
Summer / Early Fall 2018
The Journey
“ Back-to-School ” by Stacey Ardelean
As a kid , “ back-to-school ” meant the start of a new journey : A new year with a new teacher , learning new things . It was also a chance for a renewal . New school clothes shopping , where the significance of the clothing changed each year , was a big part of that journey . In the primary grades it was a necessity to keep up with my growing body . During the middle years , it was about wearing the right clothes to avoid teasing , blending in and being accepted . In high school , it was all about finding my style , which looking back was not stylish at all ! Levis , hoodies , and Nikes were all the rage – thank goodness evolution continues . School clothes shopping symbolized a refreshed “ me ,” who was ready to face the challenges and adventures of another school year .
During college , the “ refresh ” took a more economically sustainable turn . It was around this time that the “ materialistic ” nature of my refresh started to feel less important . It was the feeling of new possibilities that capturing my attention . – Experiencing the school year / summer job cycles continued to include these “ material ” symbols marking a time of fresh starts , but now it was a new backpack , a new pair of shoes or a new toolbox for my stage manager ’ s kit . What I failed to realize during college was that my studies in all that rich children ’ s theater history , discovering playwrights like Harold Pinter and Jean Genet , and the magic of working with a brilliant department chair had become new annual moments of inspiration . My real rejuvenation came from interesting classes , challenging productions and inspiring professors . Finding new playwrights and different kinds of theater fed my passion . Years later when I went back to graduate school ; every course , classmate , and teacher taught me new things about teaching , about the art of theater and about myself . Although I must admit , two and half years of grad school “ renewal ” almost did me in !
Running parallel to my education , the journey of my career has also continued to be a source of rejuvenation . Early on , the start of the school year , the summer camp season or a new production signified an opportunity to start anew , apply what I ’ d learned and buy a new highlighter ! Occasionally , I still would indulge in a new outfit at the beginning of the school year just to capture the sense of new beginnings and endless possibilities . However , my real joy was how the cycle of each new project brought that feeling of embarking on a new journey . Every experience we have along our path teaches us difficult lessons , humility in the face of brilliance , and the thrill of selfdiscovery – sometimes all in the same