Lessons I learned at summer camp (that it would behoove me to remember now)

The best summers of my youth were spent at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, a summer camp in the Catskills where I "studied" theatre extensively. From ages twelve to nineteen, French Woods was home. I learned many, many valuable lessons there, lessons that I should really remember now that I'm studying theatre for real. Turns out, drama school and drama camp are a lot alike.

1. Theatre people can be pretentious, but they're wonderful.
2. Don't date actors.
3. Don't date musicians.
4. Don't be the subject of gossip if you can at all avoid it.
5. Do your homework. It's embarrassing when you don't have your reading done.
6. Belting showtunes at midnight will only earn you popularity points with a certain subset of the population.
7. Stage left is your left. Stage right is your right. Audience left is your right. Audience right is your left.
8. Vagina Monologues
9. You're in close quarters with those around you- you live together, you work together, you hang out together. Provided they don't suck (and few of them do, 'cause theatre people  are inherently awesome), you'll fall in love with your new friends very quickly. Keeping those relationships once you go home will be a challenge, but it is possible. Work hard, make it happen.
10. If the theatre gods don't give you what you want, make an opportunity for yourself.