Plans for the future.

It's been a long time coming, but I will be graduating from the University of Kansas on May 17th, 2009. I. Can't. Wait.

As far as my next step... well, it's not exactly what I expected. I had a few grad school acceptances, a few rejections, and a short-list acceptance to the JET Program. But, there were a lot of factors in play (many unforeseen) that made deciding what do do rather difficult. The economy is bad. Funding is bad. Loans are bad. Programs are tightening their belts. Admitting fewer people and paying for even less. And playwriting, as much as I love it, is not high on the list of priorities for theater OR creative writing.

When I got all my results and saw that I'd have to go approximately 50k in debt to pursue my MFA this year, I knew I couldn't do it. And teaching jobs are scarce. So, I couldn't in good conscience sign on for that, not with the economy as it is and with questionable income post-graduation. No way.

I wanted to do JET, very badly. I still want to. But, I think maybe (after 7 or so years of college) I need some time to just write. I'm just tired. Much more than I'd thought I'd be. And thanks to my super-intense last year at KU, I haven't written a play in nearly a year. Sad! I know JET would be a great experience, but I think I need some time to recoup and recover. If I went to Japan as I am right now, I would easily be burnt out. I can feel it. That's not good for me or my employers!

So, the plan (as it stands right now) is this:

1.) Pass on schools this year.
2.) Pass on JET this year (Sad, but I remind myself that I'm making an alternate very, very happy).
3.) Move out of Kansas (a big task, if anyone knows the house we're moving out of).
4.) Have an awesome vacation in Florida for a month or so, where I plan to write and read whatever book I want. And get a freckle-tan. And maybe chase around a lizard or two.
5.) Move to Minneapolis, where there's the Playwright's Center (for me), the MN Opera (for Dan), and lots of arts, culture, and food.
6.) Write. Write. Work. Write. We've committed to both of us working only part-time, so that we can use this time to hone our crafts. We're actually pretty thrifty and we know we can make ends meet, provided we can find work. But... I've done a little of everything, and I'm not scared of a crappy job.
7.) Apply for schools with a new portfolio, a new perspective, and (hopefully) a new economy.
8.) Apply for JET again, once I have my next degree.
9.) Be happy. Actually, this is an ongoing thing. And so far, so good. :-)

I know that I was initially dissappointed with how things turned out, but the more I look ahead... the happier I get. This will be good for me, and for Dan. I promise to post more and, as I get back to writing, I'll put up some exerpts.

Thanks to everyone who has been so wonderful and supportive throughout this long process. It'll be quite an adventure these next few months, but I am ready! Wish us luck!