Jeff: My advice to future members of The Company is (parents sit down) pursue your passion.  If you burn for something, like theater, and you need to feed that fire, then don't be afraid to give it a go in college.  Parents, I know, I know, "But you said yourself there's no money in theater!  You've failed to stress the hardships and limitations struggling artists suffer!  You don't even have an IRA!"  True.  But I'm not saying you have to build your portfolio with this. I am saying it's a great medium to explore, and that few alienations are as lonesome as abandoned dreams.  Parents, how many of you are employed by the field of your undergraduate major?  Of my StM classmates I'm in touch with, almost none are entrenched in careers directly related to their undergraduate majors.  Auditioning for a few plays in college does not commit you to a depressive bohemian life.  Being a successful banker and holding a BA in theater are not necessarily mutually exclusive.  However, pursuing your passion at the next level does dilate your opportunity to seize the intended fruits of higher education, which is - EDUCATION.  Too many people look toward or reminisce on college as the greatest and final days of youthful bacchanalia.  But parents, if you want top return, in the form of real learning, on your investment in tuition, encourage your young adults to tackle their interests.  When the final bell rings and the degree is achieved, they won't starve.  Survival is a natural instinct, and success a conditioned habit.  They'll fall victim to the same traps and overcome the same obstacles you did at their age.  And they'll be fuller people for having explored their dreams and satisfied their curiosities.