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Anne Carlson

2,855

Bold Points

2x

Nominee

2x

Finalist

Bio

Hello! I am an undergrad at University of Indianapolis (UINDY) and am majoring in music performance (flute). I've gone to ILMEA all-district twice during my high school band career. I've also been in the Augustana Honor Band and the TRACC Honor Band. I was section leader my junior and senior year of high school. I played in the pit for the OHS musical, and it was a paid gig. I also did a solo performance with the OMS 6th grade choir, which was a lot of fun! I received the John Philip Sousa Award and was voted "Most likely to run into a burning building to save her instrument." I also love to compose and created two pieces for my school to perform. I was in the National Honor Society in high school and am currently in the Honors College at UINDY. In high school I was an Illinois State Scholar and I received the Illinois State Commendation Towards Biliteracy. I was on the high honor roll every year of my middle and high school career, and am currently on the Dean's List at UINDY. Alongside my undying love for flute, I am also an artist. I enjoy sketching and digital drawing. I like cooking and I love to bake. According to my dual-credit speech professor, I make the best cakes. I like playing video games with my little brother, and my favorite games are Pokémon and Minecraft. I started Taekwondo when I was five and got my black belt when I was 15. I'm a mental health advocate because of my own struggles with mental illness. I'm also an advocate for LGBTQIA+. Thank you and have a blessed day!

Education

University of Indianapolis

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Biology, General
    • Music

Orion High School

High School
2018 - 2022

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Music
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Music

    • Dream career goals:

      Music Performer and Teacher

    • Team Member

      Pizza Hut
      2023 – Present1 year
    • Tutor

      2020 – 20222 years

    Sports

    Marching Band

    Club
    2018 – 20224 years

    Awards

    • John Philip Sousa Award

    Taekwondo

    2010 – 202212 years

    Awards

    • Black Belt

    Research

    • Mental Health

      https://carlson-mentalillness-eng102.weebly.com/ — Researcher
      2021 – 2022

    Arts

    • Orion High School Jazz Band

      Jazz Band
      2020 – 2022
    • Orion High School Drama

      Theatre
      Newsies
      2022 – 2022
    • Orion Band

      Music
      2015 – 2022

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Through the Staff — Teacher
      2022 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      Rock Island County Animal Shelter — I would walk the dogs or hang out with the cats.
      2021 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Rock Island County Animal Shelter — I would walk the dogs or hang out with the cats.
      2018 – 2019

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Creative Arts Scholarship
    My first band director was terrible to me. They would bully me alongside my peers at every chance they could get. It was constant jokes about my so-called 'lack of talent.' It wasn't lack of talent, it was lack of trying. I wanted to quit so badly. I remember sitting with my mom in the car after a marching band practice, and we talked about me quitting. I was so tired of getting made fun of. My mom convinced me to just deal with it, so I did, but it got worse. The director would yell at me in front of the entire band. They would point out every mistake I made. They even screamed at me during a lesson because I didn't understand triplets. After that, every time I made a mistake I would hear them yell at me in my head. I would leave every lesson crying. The summer after that dreadful year became a turning point for me. That band director said that she was going to take a different job, and that we'd have a new teacher. I remember everyone else crying and getting emotional. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get a single tear to shed. My new band director came at the beginning of my sophomore year. Because of how badly my freshman year went, I was pretty messed up. I was so scared to make any mistakes. I was scared to play in front of anyone alone. I had a lesson with the new band director and I remember feeling that fear again. I was shaking when I played. She was encouraging and nice. She started building me up instead of tearing me down. I played a few bars, and then I relaxed. She hadn't yelled at me yet. I started realizing that she wasn't going to yell at me. When I made mistakes, I would stop and make comments about it. She never did. After that first lesson, she told me I was doing great and that I'd do amazing at the all-district competition. I left the room and I cried. I cried because no one had ever been that nice to me about music besides my family. She gave me the courage to try again, so I did. With her help, I became an amazing musician. One of my private teacher's once told me, "Stop treating yourself like you're still that freshman who can't play. You don't make those mistakes anymore. You're very good." That was a big moment of realization for me. Her words stuck with me as I continued my high school journey. Eventually, I started believing what she said. My band director and I have gotten very close over the past 3 years. She's been a constant encourager and motivator for me. I would take every opportunity she would give me. She's never said one bad thing about me or anyone else. She was the first person who believed in me, and that was what I needed to become a great musician. My favorite experience was getting to perform solo with the middle school choir. The choir director sought me out to play with them, and it was really fun. I liked seeing all of the kids surprised by my playing (apparently it was mind-blowingly beautiful to some 10 year olds). It was a great experience that I'll never forget.