Money Diet

This is the first video I made with new video software, let me know what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/masansgaard/

Simple Steps to Success

I have attended a camp, Camp Centre Stage, every summer for some time, almost 11 years to be precise.  Three years ago I transitioned from the metaphorical student role, to a teaching one. Aside from putting on shows, at CCS campers raised money and goods to give to charitable organizations.  Our motto, very fitting might I add, is “Building Character and Character.”  I remember all the shows that we ever put on, and all the moments we shared, but the thing that stayed with me most was the theme of each summer.  Themes would range from meaningful phrases like “The moon is round”(wink wink to those of you who understand!)  to simple themes like Perseverance and hard work.  One specific theme from camp fits what I am going through very well, humility.

My biggest surprise entering college is how truly humbling it is.  Within music or any other respective field of interest, students who were the best in their high schools realize that their skills are relatively mediocre in the broader scheme of things.  Students, like me, go from having constant praise and direction, to a sense of unimportance and a struggle to know what step to take next.  In this respect, as a student you have to be very self-driven… or at least act like you are!  Fake it ‘til you make it!

Speaking of self-drive, after many conversations with music mentors and college counselors it seems that college (prepare yourself this ones a whammy!) is not a step by step guide like the admission officers make it out to be.  Instead, college is just all the resources needed to succeed put together in one spot.  My major mistake was assuming that in college there would be someone who would tell me each step to take and what I needed to do next, but what I have learned is that you have to form your own plan and follow-through with every step to make your dreams reality.  Don’t worry!  You’re not up a creek without a paddle; once you take the initial step there are plenty of professors, friends, and resources that will help push you the rest of the way.

Things for me have definitely taken a turn for the better.  It took me a while but I have at long last come to the realization that being “the best” is not always what’s most important. It’s what you do with the opportunities you are given that dictate where your life will go.  And so my friends, do you want to know the secret to being successful?  Go into things with an open mind, benevolent and humble heart, and strong drive and you will succeed in anything.

MAS

Dear Diary:

8/31    10:31

Dear Diary:

Today I had lots of classes because I am a music ed major.  Because of this, i have a lot of homework.  In fact…  I am writing this right now only because i am procrastinating reading the rest of the 30 pages i need to read for tomorrows Psych class.  But that’s beside the point.  Anywho, i learned today that i am in Chamber Choir in addition to Collegiate Choir!  I think i will have to drop out of the opera to make some room in my busy weekly schedule; what do you think?        On the plus side, today was my first canceled class!  I didn’t have to go to class today because Dr. Russells 3-month old is sick.  HOORAY!!!

Did i just hooray at the fact that a baby is sick?  Do i hate babies? No!  I dont hate babies!  Do i?  No surely not…  but really… i dont hate babies…

…

Anyways Diary, now i am just rambling and using FAR too many ellipses.

Yours,

MAS

Wedding Singer and the Whats Up

Strap on your headbands and practice your dance moves because Wedding Singer is here!!!  It has been a long few months of five hour rehearsals and ridiculous fifteen minute runs to McDonalds but finally me and my cast are in tech week of our show.

Wedding Singer is the story of Robbie Heart who gets stood up at his Wedding by his fiancé before meeting Julia.  Julia is dating the wealthy and irresistible Glen Guglia but she falls in love with Robbie. It’s a very exciting show, and I hope to see you all there!

Other then being BUSY BUSY BUSY with the show and work I have been listening to lots of new music.  I had always been a fan of Nico Muhly and recently my friend introduced me to a website that had a web of related artists.  By looking him up on the web I found related artists like Max Richter.

Max Richter – The Nature of Daylight

Another group I found is called DITTO.  They remake and mimic a lot of famous works like the Nutcracker.  But they do original work as well!  This one is my favorite:

Ditto – The Carnival of the Animals: The Aquarium

Let me know what you think of it all!

Also!!!  I finally found out who my roommate is but they have yet to talk to me…   They are from Florida so it will be interesting having both of us from such far away places!  Could be fun!

Still struggling with the whole PAYING for college part but the rest of it is going well.

In the words of Camp Centre Stage (whos shows might I add were AMAZING!!!)—

LIVE LONG….. AND PROSPER!!!

MAS

Summer

The summer is a time we all associate with fun, friends, pool parties, and laziness.  That is – unless you are going to college.  For college students summer is a time of working two jobs, summer courses, internships, and skipping meals to save money.

In middle school the primary concern in the summer was whether or not we would have someone to have a sleepover with the night postceding.  Middle schoolers are at a great age in which they can attend camps, take vacations, hang with friends, and al of this at no expense to themselves.  Then high school rolls around.  Freshman and sophomore year are a little bit akward during the summer because you are still trying to find your niche of friends but once junior year arrives,  you are ready.  By the summer of Junior year jobs become a significant part of the summer.  Be it working a part-time 15 hour a week job or a “Kill-Yourself” 40-hour weekly job, you can still make tme to hang with friends.  But the second that high school finishes up its time to get crackin.  Two jobs is a norm.  30-hours a week is average.  You are now the counselor at the camps you once attended.  And you just about die everyday you dont get to hang out with your friends becaue you know you will be gone away at college in a short two months!!!  …no… of course i am not speaking from my own life…

Summer is still one of the greatest times of the year.  It brings once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and experiences.  This summer,  camp centre stage is that experience.  I have now been at Camp for 10 years.  It is a funny thing to think of myself doing ANYTHING for 10 years.   I was told by another staffer, “Its funny to see how the staff at this camp actually cares.” It’s a theatre camp and so over the course of the summer we put on a show.  Its a true treat being able to see, again and again, children who shy away from attention and spotlight taake the stage bravely and perform in front of their friends and parents.  Its a good feeling to know that i am a part of something like camp.

Besides camp and work i have just been getting ready for college.  I find out my roommate in July and will probably have a whole blog describing them!  I thought when i graduated high school that i would be done with the whole “summer reading” thing but when i logged into my online account it informed me of the book i was expected to have read upon arrival.  The book is not a terribly difficult one and so i am not stressing reading it.  It is called Three Cups of Tea.

Three cups of tea (keep in mind i have yet to read it) is the story of Greg Mortensong, a mountaineer who had recently filed a K2 climb, who is moved by the impoverished inhabitants of Pakistan/Afghanistan.  Its a story of the strangers of One Cup of Tea, the friends after two cups of tea, and the family of three cups of tea.  It is a powerful story f compassion and human spirit.

So on the plus side, at least it will be a fun read…  as long as i dont get sidetracked playing Sims 3.

MAS