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Aeriel Strickland

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Finalist

Bio

I am a singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and entrepreneur looking forward to perfecting my craft and offering my talents to the world. I am a hardworking 4.0 student who needs financial assistance to attend college because I come from a low-income family. I hope to complete my degree as a Business Marketing major and pursue a career as an underrepresented minority in music.

Education

Berklee College of Music

Bachelor's degree program
2023 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Visual and Performing Arts, Other
    • Visual and Performing Arts, General
    • Music
  • Minors:
    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
  • GPA:
    3.8

Milwaukee Lutheran High School

High School
2019 - 2023
  • GPA:
    4

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
    • Music
    • Visual and Performing Arts, General
    • Visual and Performing Arts, Other
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Arts

    • Dream career goals:

      Singer, songwriter, music producer

    • Lead Singer, Performer, Etc

      Independent Gigging
      2022 – Present2 years
    • Cashier

      Portillo's Hot Dogs
      2023 – 2023
    • Delivery Service for food

      DoorDash inc
      2023 – Present1 year
    • Roamer/Guest Services

      Summerfest
      2024 – Present10 months
    • Cashier

      Burghardt’s
      2022 – 2022
    • Server

      Mitchell’s Fish Market
      2022 – 2022
    • Cashier

      Home Depot
      2023 – 2023

    Sports

    Track & Field

    Junior Varsity
    2019 – 20201 year

    Cheerleading

    Varsity
    2015 – 20194 years

    Volleyball

    Junior Varsity
    2017 – 20181 year

    Awards

    • N/A

    Research

    • Bible/Biblical Studies

      High school — Student
      2019 – 2023

    Arts

    • Berklee College of Music

      Music
      2023 – 2024
    • Milwaukee Lutheran High School

      Music
      2019 – 2023
    • The Celebrity Experience

      Performance Art
      2012 – 2016
    • ATK Ministry

      Music
      Baby Jesus, The Life, Unhealthy Love Habits, and Dear Diary
      2021 – Present
    • International Performing Arts Academy

      Acting
      N/A
      2014 – 2015

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      National Honors Society — Student volunteer
      2021 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Godi Arts Scholarship
    Expression through music is my greatest passion in life. I have learned that writing my thoughts, fears, ideas, and aspirations in life, and the recording these thoughts and saying them have allowed me creative expression. My passion to write and sing have always existed, and during the coronavirus pandemic during prolonged a isolation period, my writing expression became more necessary. I graduated from high school in May 2023 as the class valedictorian with a 4.0 grade point average. My academic success was difficult however, as I was sent home for spring break during my freshman year of high school and I did not return to in person classes until my junior year of high school. This prolonged period of limited social interaction to avoid becoming sick or causing members of my family to become I’ll or possibly die from unnecessary exposure to COVID, made me extremely depressed. I began to write my experiences down so that I could get those thoughts out of my head, and then started to sing about those thoughts to express myself. Upon returning to in person classes during my junior year of high school, I was inducted into the National Honors Society. For my last two years of high school, I was present to act as a leader at school, lead my academy through song performance three times per week, and also participate in over 115 hours of community service. By working on and perfecting my writing, recording, and performance abilities, I was able to get into my dream college. I was accepted into the top music school in the country, which is no small feat as they have around a 50 percent acceptance rate. My dream of completing college at my dream school is uncertain as the cost of attendance is three times as much as state colleges. I dream of sharing my music with the world through song, and helping to create music for others with shared passion by producing others thoughts as a creative outlet as well. Obtaining my degree at my dream school has been a dream for the last two years while completing high school. Now, with my dream being a potential reality after the audition and acceptance process, I am seeking to find funding that will allow me to attend and perfect my abilities. I am grateful of your consideration of me for this opportunity to receive the needed support, as I come from a single parent household and my parent is disabled. My mother’s disabilities have caused a strict financial budget for our home throughout high school, and I need to find assistance to complete my goal of finishing college and then my even bigger goal of sharing my thoughts, gifts, and talents with the world.