I just spent the most amazing five and half weeks at North Carolina Governor School and have a few things to share.
In order of experience:
- There is nothing wrong with going up to a random group of people and introducing yourself (it’s actually really cool and fun).
- You can always find things in common with other people you just have to try.
- You really bond with people when your dorm has no AC.
- Anyone (and everyone) can play ukulele.
- I’m literally the worst person in choral music
- Staring at a piece of music and hoping for the best will not help you learn it.
- Laughter is contagious.
- It’s very okay to be weird (in fact it’s encouraged).
- Crying in front of people you just met is fine.
- It only takes an hour to immediately bond with people. (@ Area 3)
- There is nothing wrong with being vulnerable.
- Cereal is a delicacy.
- Walking ten minutes in the beating sun for bad food and good coffee is always worth it.
- I don’t know how to hit a third…(even though I’ve done it a million times).
- It’s contemporary.
- It’s a lituation.
- When in doubt mini-dab (aka dabble).
- Music speaks for those who can’t.
- EVERYTHING IS FINE.
- “The refectory has tater-puffs” might be the best news you’ll hear.
- There is an incredible amount of injustice in the world.
- Being young does not make me uneducated.
- THE MATH KIDS ARE SO COOL.
- Don’t call Instrumental Music ‘band’; they have strings, they are an orchestra.
- If random things are written on walls and sheets of paper are being dropped, it’s probably theatre, get excited.
- Slapping paint on a human’s face makes them an Alien (ONE. OF. US.)
- The refectory does not have bananas.(Side note: hiding bananas is not easy.)
- Running in flip-flops is a feat.
- The visual art kids are infinitely cooler than me.
- OVERTONES!
- Order Chinese takeout an hour in advance.
- When singing in German no one notices if you accidentally change keys.
- Drag shows are easily thrown together last-minute.
- Napping during rehearsal is not only encouraged, but is required sometimes.
- You can make great friends by playing Cards Against Humanity with them for two hours (especially if it’s the first time you’ve talked).
- If a person is looking down at her phone while she is walking it’s probably Pokemon-go.
- Being home is no fun when you could be at governor school.
- Having a savage director only makes you better.
- I.M. IS SO COOL WHAT THE HECK.
- Sunsets are so much prettier in Winston-Salem.
- Don’t dance in stilettos all night.
- Hiking is much more fun when you get lost.
- Everyone learns their music the day before a concert, it’s fine.
- Milk is a treasure. It will run out, so cherish it.
- The one air conditioning unit in your dorm can, and probably will, break.
- It’s possible to make your closest friends in the last week.
- I’m not the worst person in choral music.
- The theatre kids make everything more lit.
- You can see the same play three times and still see a different show each time.
- People will literally try to run away from their feelings, don’t let them.
- North Carolina has never felt so big.
- Group Messages are not a nuisance.
- I’m kind of cool(?)
- Saying goodbye is impossible.
- I just had the best summer of my life.