Yesterday was officially the start of the stressful period. I advised a first year to avoid the studio, being as it was that all the third years were shouting, screaming and generally swearing at each other. Things were thrown and smashed, there was tea-drinking and a feeling of weight descended upon everyone. We have finally realised exactly what we are required to achieve; how much work, how much money for the shows, the show itself, exhibition spaces, promo stuff, websites, portfolios, and also eating and sleeping. The stress is hitting some harder than others, and to see friends break down because they feel they have no talent, or it's not worth it, or 'who cares anyway?' is destructive. Our course benefits from supportive tutors (for the most part) who are intent on giving us far over-and-above what is timetabled into our week. Our technicians are angels in dirty overalls and constantly will give you support even in their lunch break. Incredible? Yes. Unappreciated? Never.
However, some courses have to deal with tutors who at best are critical, indecisive and nonchalant about a potentially fantastic group of final year students. At worst, they literally reduce individuals to tears or drive them to despair. The morale in certain final year groups in the university is frighteningly low, resulting in less work and a lack of inspiration. Imagine the worst teacher you ever had at school, the one who never engaged you, never interested you and just didn't give a toss. And multiply it by the knowledge that you have skills and understanding, and you are a grown-up now, but you still feel just as frustrated and impotent. Trying to create work in the face of such disparate marking, tutorial time and decision making processes is nowhere near as easy as a challenge. It only affirms to me exactly how important good tutors are, and how hard it is to be both supportive and critical at the same time. Everyone has their off days with tutors, as I have already mentioned, but to feel as though your work is never good enough because of their comments is something much, much worse.
Hopefully their issues will be resolved and they will put on a stunning exhibition that will knock the socks off the doubters. I'm sure they will, but the final year of your degree should be enjoyable and exciting, not a struggle against a flow of unfounded negative opinion.
