Full Name:
Jena Kirmse
Major/Year:
B.A. in Theatre and Dance
T&D: What made you decide to come to UT Austin?
Kirmse: I have always been fond of Austin, and have had an amazing time coming to visit friends that attended UT prior to me, so I thought I would give it a shot and see how things would play out. The people are amazing, the weather is perfect, the facilities are wonderful, and the staff is extremely qualified and has connections all over the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. It is an overall well rounded, awesome school that has a great reputation, and you will never run out of fun things to do whether it's in the community or on campus. It's a very lively environment and I love it!
T&D: What made you decide to claim Theatre & Dance as your degree as an incoming freshman?
Kirmse: I have always wanted to pursue a career in the performing arts, preferably musical theater, and even though everyone always tells people to choose the more practical route, I figured why be practical if I'm not going to be happy. So, I went with a BA in Theatre, with a concentration in acting. I am starting voice lessons and dance classes this coming semester, and will be on my way to a well-rounded knowledge for musical theater as well as all aspects of theater in general.
T&D: What was your participation level in theatre in high school?
Kirmse: My participation in theater in high school was intense. I have never worked so hard in my life than I did my four years of high school. I typically did three shows a year sometimes more, sometimes less, but theater for me was definitely a non stop, crazy, time consuming, part of my life, but I loved it. In high school we didn't have costume, and set designers, we did that all ourselves. We built and painted the sets, found or made our own costumes and scrounged around town, and even took road trips to find props. It was not just a time to solely work on perfecting our acting abilities, but it was an overall experience. We participated in One Act as well as the competitions at the Texas Thespian Festival, and had the opportunity to attend the TETA meetings as well. I met all of my best friends through theater in high school and they all are presently attending UT.
T&D: I know that you attended the US Performing Arts Theatre Camp hosted by the Department of Theatre & Dance in 2005. Could you tell us a little bit about the program? How did you like that experience? What was the most valuable thing that you learned from the summer program?
Kirmse: I attended the US Performing Arts Theatre Camp in 2005, which was the summer of my junior year in high school. I loved having the opportunity to meet a large majority of the faculty and staff. It's nice to see familiar faces upon entering college, as well as to have the opportunity to get yourself better acquainted with your surroundings, the campus and different locations of various classes and buildings. It was only a week long, so it gives you a very minimal taste of the department, but I feel that it was a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in attending UT for theatre.
T&D: What were your favorite classes during your first semester?
Kirmse: My favorite classes during the first semester were Acting 1 with Fran Dorn and Language of the Stage with Pam Christian. Both of these classes were very hands on, and the teachers were both awesome! I felt incredibly at ease in their classrooms and all of my classmates and I were extremely close. It was almost as if we were a family.
T&D: What has been the most challenging part about being in college? What has been the best?
Kirmse: I think the most challenging part about being in college would have to be time management. Even though your classes are not back to back and all day long, such as in high school, you still have a large amount of studying and outside work that has to be completed, while also setting aside enough time to exercise, eat, sleep and have fun. I would say the one I do the least of is sleeping, and I find my body trying to tell me so during class. When teachers turn the lights off in the lecture halls it is very difficult to keep myself awake. So, my advise would be to try your hardest to get a sufficient amount of sleep prior to class, and to drink a lot of coffee.
The absolute best part about college is the amazing friends you meet. I am in love with all the people I've met so far, and they are definitely friendships I will take with me long after I graduate. Another great thing is discovering great opportunities around campus and off campus such as dance classes, different organizations that suite your particular interests and study abroad opportunities, which I feel everyone should have the chance to participate in at least once in their life. Oh, and the parties are nice as well!
T&D: What advice would you give high school students who are considering coming to UT?
Kirmse: Definitely weigh your options for all the schools you have in mind, and make sure you make the decision that is going to lead you in the right direction to your goals in life. Make sure you visit all your possible schools and find out where you feel the most comfortable. I know many schools may seem perfect by just reading articles in the Fisk book and browsing their internet sights, but it's not until you place yourself in that particular environment that you will be able to know if it's the place for you. All the people I've met here at UT are fabulous, and incredibly welcoming! You know you will be guaranteed a great education for an extremely affordable price, and a diploma from UT is viewed as an amazing accomplishment! You will be offered a plethora of opportunities, it is just up to you to get out there and discover them, and I think at UT you will be able to discover exactly what is right for you!
