A liberal arts education provides everyone with the preparation to go beyond with creativity, problem-solving, communication, and a deeper understanding of the human experience. Theatre itself goes far beyond what most people this it is; the stage and the film industry itself go beyond what is written on the page. Those who choose to get a liberal arts degree know this. They are able to take a story or idea and bring it to life while still connecting to the audience. These programs can teach students to be well rounded, step outside their comfort zone, challenge their thinking and their skill set, as well as create and understanding and humility between classmates. I, myself have been challenged with acting, I do not believe I am an actor or very good at it, but I do not believe without the experience of acting in an actual show, I would not have gained those skills which in turn made me a better designer and stage manager. I know my degree in theatrical arts is allowing the opportunity to try every field behind the stage. While I have fallen in love with stage management and dramaturgy, that does not diminish the importance of trying everything. Afterall the whole point of being a student is to learn and to fail. If you are an actor, you can benefit from courses such as costume construction and stagecraft because not only would you gain the understanding for the designers and crew, but also the knowledge to allow you to help in those areas or to be of help to someone else who may need it in emergencies. And vice versa for designers. Taking acting courses have helped my confidence and understanding of what actors may need from designers or stage managers. Getting a liberal arts degree allows for you to learn. Just as any degree would. You can get opportunities like seeing other shows, going to conferences like ACTF (American College Theatre Festival) or USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology), going to other countries, and building your resume. That is what college is! A giant chance to build your resume. Even if you never work in the field while you are in school, you will still be gaining the opportunity to learn, to grow. That is what theatre is all about. What art itself is all about, learning and growing. If you look back in history, you can see that no production is the same. No experience is the same. A degree in the arts shows you that you can change and grow and be better. The arts are the best place to be when you want to grow. They push you, allow you to learn, to find who you are, what you want out of life, and how to demonstrate to the world who you are. A degree in the liberal arts is the perfect thing to help you get a career in the realm of entertainment. It allows for you to learn, to grow, and to build a resume. It challenges you, pushes you to think differently, to look at something from a new perspective. It also allows you to gain experience in collaboration, designing, and acting. It allows for you to meet other students, experience things and shows, and allows for you to gain the necessary tools to succeed in a career.