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In Pennsylvania, an Exercise in Utopia By GILLIAN JACOBS
Many of us feel like outsiders in our hometowns, the only one of our kind, misunderstood, unappreciated. Taking an interest in the arts, especially, can mark you as "other" in high school. For 200 Pennsylvania teenagers, there is a respite from this isolation and an almost idyllic artistic oasis offered every summer. This place is the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts (P.G.S.A.), a state-funded program designed to give rising juniors and seniors a chance to improve their craft, meet fellow artists, and become advocates for the arts. Students accepted to the program pay no tuition, room, or board. Although in Pennsylvania there are Governor's Schools of Excellence in many areas, including agriculture, computer sciences, and international relations, the arts program is the oldest.
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| Gillian Jacobs (second from left) with some of her young charges from the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. |
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For five weeks in June and July, Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. becomes a haven for creative writing, dance, drama, visual arts, and music. The entire campus is devoted to exploring and improving the students' artistic life. For many people, Governor's School is the one place where they feel appreciated and needed as artists. Many faculty and staff return summer after summer because the environment at P.G.S.A. is so supportive and encouraging. All of the students are in high school, yet the level at which they work is surprisingly high. Additionally, over the course of the five weeks, the program begins to feel more like a family than a school. The students develop new best friends within the first days of the program and many on the faculty and staff become very close. At times it feels like an exercise in utopia.How did I end up in the middle of this? Four years ago, I was fortunate enough to be accepted to P.G.S.A. as a drama student while in high school. The work I did there was so original and challenging that I never stopped talking about it; I compared every arts experience to Governor's School and bored friends and family with endless stories about my adventures there. Luckily, P.G.S.A. has made provisions for students who just can't get enough: Four years after attending the program, all alumni are given the opportunity to return as teaching assistants. This past June, I was one of the 20 who arrived in Erie as an ATTRA (Assistant to Teachers, Resident Assistant).I was not only in charge of checking the kids in at curfew and maintaining some semblance of order in the dorms, but also assisting the drama faculty during classes and productions. All ATTRAs must have continued their studies in the arts since originally participating, but not necessarily with a career focus (one dance ATTRA is a biology major who intends to become a doctor). Because we are much closer in age to the students than the faculty are, they often feel more comfortable coming to us with their problems, and we can also advise them on college and those crucial, final years of high school.Wrangling 200 teenagers is a large responsibility, but also a great joy. The kids attacked their work with such enthusiasm and excitement that it was contagious among the ATTRAs. One of the greatest pleasures of Governor's School is watching students discover a love for art forms other than their major subject. After the first gallery showing, every student at P.G.S.A. seemed deeply in love with the visual arts. The visual artists were the heroes of the campus for the next week. The same thing happened after the dance show, first musical concert, theater performance and readings.For many, it was their very first time seeing live dance or a play. Many of the students at Governor's School come from large metropolitan areas like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but a large number also come from extremely rural communities. Seventy-five percent of Pennsylvania is composed of forest, so many "govvies" have grown up with trees and cows as neighbors. Regardless of their previous experience, all quickly learned to be an appreciative and attentive audience, and overwhelmed the performers with questions and compliments after every show. Art seems terribly important and exciting at Governor's School—even during their free time, I would find students playing music on the lawn, taking photographs, singing, or doing acting exercises.One remarkable aspect of the school is that it does not set out to make 200 professional artists. The faculty would be far happier if everyone came away from the program having fallen in love with an art area different from his or her own. To foster this curiosity about other arts, many departments hold open houses, where students watch their friends in the day-to-day routine of classes. They also have opportunities after performances to ask questions and find out about the performer's process. Additionally, each student is required to take an elective class outside of their major.P.G.S.A. also thoroughly encourages advocacy for the arts. There is no expectation that all of the kids will major in their art areas, but there is the great hope that they will continue to attend performances and support and foster the arts in their home communities. To this end, all of the kids are asked to start a leadership project in their hometowns. The leadership project can take many forms, but its intent is to increase awareness and appreciation of the arts and provide a venue for their community to express itself. Some kids teach classes, others sponsor open-mike nights, and some start theater companies.
Toward the end of the program, an overwhelming sense of idealism often overtakes the participants. Students are often heard proclaiming, "I love everyone here, even if I've never spoken to you!" The last few days are also filled with a lot of tears and hugs and kisses. It is a moving and slightly bizarre sight to see teenage boys weeping openly without shame in front of their peers and parents. There is much promising to keep in touch and remain friends forever—and it is happening to a surprising degree. Some of the students have already started an online group, and post messages seemingly hourly. Reunions, parties, and get-togethers have already been planned and I receive regular e-mails from students.I was extremely lucky to get a chance to return to Governor's School. Being surrounded by this enthusiasm and dedication provided me with new inspiration for my own work. At times, it is possible to lose the joy and drive in your work, but the students of Governor's School reminded me why I have chosen theater as my life's work and why I am so privileged to do so. Gillian Jacobs is a fourth-year drama student.
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