The best of luck to you in this endever. One is never quite ready to take on design the first or many times after that no matter how educated or skilled because at some
point it comes down to hands on education in taking from the
plot this is what a 6x9 should do and in reality, this is what it does. At some
point you have to jump in head first.
Once plans start to mesh with reality in making art - something that can happen to anyone no matter how experienced or well trained. It is very dependant upon the person when not hedging one's bet with training and supervision, such trainings help a lot and add to the
pallet of lighting style you can paint with but this lack of official training will help him later become a better designer by way of experience in knowing what later to study and ask about.
At the same time, as
lighting designer and no doubt more, as with past postings similar to becoming the TD as a student about this school doing you no favors in putting you in such a position, it falls upon you to learn or ask everywhere you can what you don't yet know or understand and more than that ensure the
safety of everything and everyone in your new influence.
It is a good opportunity for him to tast design, it would be better if someone qualified was watching over him with direct advice and supervison on his designs but should be for the most part a good experience. Read a lot especially
McCandless before
hand. It's not the only way but a good basic and solid method of doing it.
Beyond this all, with your newfound duties, don't neglect your school studies. Getting into college with a good GPA will still get you into a better school than one impressed by your status now. The captain of the football team when not given a scholarship for it is still just a
foot ball player in exter carricular activities which will help but not mean as much to the admissions staff as a good GPA. Don't get tunnel
vision into the show must go on and your need to save the day. If and when it becomes the case that your studies seriously start to fall, you need somehow step back and put a
foot down. Otherwise it's likely you will repeat this on the five year program or the show must still go on, just without you by way of your parents or administators.
Just a warning or hope that you keep the scale and scope of the new responsibility in mind. Don't let it side
track you too far out of getting out of the place and getting into the college you choose.
Good luck, I mean it. Should be a wonderful experience. Unfortunate in my opinion you are having to do it, but still lots of stuff to learn from because of it that will no doubt help in the end.