If someone were to tell Abbey from 2019 that she would in fact not be a second-year medical student in the spring of 2025 and would instead be finishing her graduate degree in Business, she would laugh in your face. Not because the claim was nonsensical objectively, but because 2019 Abbey certainly knew everything about her life and future and had concrete plans that she simply would not and could not divert from. However, here we (me then and me now) are. My journey to the Bolz Center for Arts Administration was not tumultuous per say, but rather the fruits of my years of growth and personal evolution riddled with uncertainty and discomfort, and the ultimate “aha” moment in discovering a path that marries my skills, passions, and ambitions harmoniously.
Growing up, I was a lover of the arts. From being on stage from the age of 7 with my dance sisters of Signature Dance Company, or in the audience with my dad, watching whatever play, musical, or concert he could find for us, I always knew that artistic experiences felt like home. Fast forward to my senior year of undergrad, I am finishing up my degree in English with an Emphasis on Creative Writing and two minors in African American Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies. A few weeks before the fall semester, a dear friend of mine named Dawry invited me to apply for a position with the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Performing Arts Programming Committee (WUDPAC) as an Associate Director of Programming. For the first time, I felt like I could practice my passions and my skills at the same time. The same goosebumps I felt during an impactful piece in a showcase made an appearance during brainstorming sessions, bouncing ideas back and forth for real-time artistic programming. The familiar adrenaline rush that came with running off the stage after a dance number returned during the ups and downs of a show day with Wisconsin Union Theater. Once it was all over, I remember looking at Dawry and asking: could I do this, like, forever? He answered plainly with the slightest grin, “Yea”.
From then, I knew that I was not done learning. My undergraduate degree offered me valuable transferable skills, and my minors helped me solidify my “why”, but the concrete knowledge I knew I needed to excel as an arts administrator were yet to be obtained. I am so glad to have taken the leap in applying to the Bolz Center. Every day I am surrounded by a cohort that inspires me to continue to use art as a vessel for community and liberation.
My applied learning placement with the Wisconsin Union Theater allows me to apply what I learn in the classroom in real time, while further helping me discover my own passions within the field of Arts Management. As the Artist Services Coordinator I thrive in the fast-paced, people-facing environment. Learning on my toes with the most supportive team makes me feel nothing short of lucky, and I find myself feeling at home in the office, backstage, and everywhere in between. The real-time experience and challenges that I take on remind me that not only am I equipped to succeed, but also to thrive. This is in large part thanks to the Bolz Center!
With the beautiful combination of the Bolz Center’s comprehensive coursework, the bustling and invigorating atmosphere of my applied learning placement, and the rewarding community that this cohort has fostered, I feel ready and honored to take on my calling with confidence.