Take an improv class!

"In 2015, I shook off the trauma and sadness to start anew. I completed the Second City Hollywood short-form program and, by mid-2016, I finished the UCB long-form program, too.

I fell in love with how thrilling and liberating improv felt, being a silly weirdo on stage. At the time, my life was very complicated, restrictive and somber, but improv was freeing, fun, and opened up my world. I even put my all into passing Improv 201, a.k.a. the hardest UCB class, which covers the “Game of the scene."

...

Now, four and a half years into teaching at USC, I’m thankful every day that I took improv — yes, the silly little hobby I used to be semi-ashamed of — because I sincerely believe it helped me to become the professor I am today.

In teaching, you’re the only one on the backline. No one else can teach your class for you. You have to jump in, whether you like it or not. Sometimes your students are scared of you. Sometimes they love you and imprint on you like ducklings. A lot of times, they want to hide from you.

As a professor, I don’t get to hide.

But much like improv, teaching is ephemeral. I see students for one semester, maybe two. A metaphorical moment off the backline. Then the semester ends, the scene ends, and you start all over again."

-- Excerpted from my personal essay, "Improv & Dungeons & Dragons"