Thursday, November 10, 2011

Funny Business

So... Tanner is in grade 12 this year, which means either "victory lap" or continuing his education next fall. He has always had a strong flair for the dramatic, dressing up and making up 'plays'  for he and his cousins to perform at family get-togethers.  It's not surprising that he has found himself in the 'Specialist High Skills Major' (SHSM) program for Drama at Central High.  He performs in musicals and plays, won an award for Excellence in Acting in a provincial competition last year and this year is considering writing and possibly directing his own play for the school's Spring Arts Festival.

So the focus and direction are there... the question is, where to take it from here?

This afternoon we went to Humber College in Toronto, so Tanner could learn more about something that has him genuinely excited - their Comedy Writing and Performance program.  It's a two year diploma program with close ties to Yuk Yuk's comedy club, with guest lecturers like Colin Mochrie (whom I adore), Eugene Levy, and Billy Crystal, just to name a few.

The course names alone made me laugh, which I guess is good for a comedy program.  Things like Stand-up Comedy, Improv, History of Comedy, Comedy Scriptwriting and Physical Comedy - nothing even remotely like the typical academic roster I'd guess most of us were confronted with at the college or university level.

He's a little excited.  A LITTLE?  Hell, I'm excited!!

I'm excited that he has such a specific interest, and that it can be met somewhere close to home.  I'm excited that the program director seems very accommodating and reassuring, telling Tanner that, although an audition using a 2-minute self-written piece is required, most applicants aren't too good, and it's more fun than anything else.  I'm most excited that he's so excited.

And yet... there's that part of me that was hoping he'd go for the extra semester at high school.  Take a little extra time, improve some grades, hang out.  Maybe stay young, need his mother, all that.  It's quite something to be confronted with a college-aged kid who is so pumped about moving on.  I feel like the work of raising him has been successful so far, as what we're ultimately trying to do is get them ready to go out into the world and find something that makes them happy.  And we may well be on the way to that.  And I am truly, genuinely glad for that.

And yet...


3 comments:

Wanderingcatstudio said...

That sounds like an awesome program - I hope he follows his dream!

Sandra said...

excitement about education is fantastic! My niece and nephew, both in grade 12, are totally apathetic about anything, and would rather have it all handed to them on a platter. I stay out of it, but I just wish they would show some sort of focus. GOod luck to Tanner in whatever he chooses.

Sue said...

Wow...how exciting for Tanner...it seems like just yesterday that we met at Little Friends Preschool. I understand your sentiments exactly. Nick is turning 18 next week and I am feeling lost that he is now an amazing young man who doesn't "need" his Mom anymore. I have been given the blessing of having him at home for an extra year while he works - at Starbucks no less - and then he will be off to university either in Toronto or British Columbia. Take pride in the amazing job you have done raising your boys...you should be proud!!