Hobbies and interests
Cooking
Singing
Writing
Hiking And Backpacking
Music
Dance
Piano
Exercise And Fitness
Acting And Theater
Conservation
Comedy
Ballroom Dancing
Reading
Anthropology
Fantasy
Humor
Biography
I read books multiple times per week
Sarah Budds
4,385
Bold Points2x
Nominee1x
FinalistSarah Budds
4,385
Bold Points2x
Nominee1x
FinalistBio
Hi! I'm Sarah Budds, and I am passionate about comedy. I am a Comedy Writing and Performance major with a minor in Television writing.
I believe that comedy has the ability to impact audiences by initiating discussions regarding complex issues like mental health and intersectionality in an approachable way. Comedy can serve as a mechanism for personal reflection by allowing audiences to relate to commonly experienced human issues.
With this major, I will learn how to produce silly and entertaining content while addressing social issues and inequality which exist in today's world. Throughout my education, I struggled with ADD, a mental health issue that I hadn't previously known much about. Due to a lack of coping tools and medication, I suffered from a depressive episode that stunted my personal growth and how I valued myself.
Since then, I've learned how important it is to prioritize mental health and the education surrounding it. I was not unintelligent, but rather I didn't know how to succeed in an education system that was not catered to my thinking process. Comedy has taught me how to express my opinions creatively and utilize my differences to be innovative!
I am incredibly excited to begin the pursuit of my dream career and I would greatly appreciate any financial support in achieving it.
Education
Columbia College Chicago
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Minors:
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Undecided
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Career
Dream career field:
Comedy Writing/Performance
Dream career goals:
Performer/Writer
Cashier/General Staff Member
Rico's Açaí2021 – Present3 yearsStore Associate
Andy's Frozen Custard2018 – 2018Cashier
Harris Teeter2019 – 2019
Sports
Volleyball
Club2013 – 20174 years
Arts
Columbia College Chicago Improvisation Club
TheatreIn progress starting in Spring 20232022 – PresentActing Out Studios
ImprovisationQueen City Comedy Festival, Monthly Comedy Shows at Acting Out Studios, Various Improv Shows at the Blumenthal Theatre2016 – 2020Marvin Ridge High School
ActingThe Stinky Cheese Man, Little Shop of Horrors, Tracks, Smarty Pants, Avenue Q, Questionable, Bambi, The Real Housewives of Lysistrata, The Downhome Dealers, The Wishin' Tree, Clockwork, The Wizard of Oz2016 – 2020Second City
Sketch Writing Class2020 – 2020Marvin Ridge High School Improv Troupe
Improvisation TeamMonthly Performances at the High School, North Carolina Improv Conference2017 – 2020
Public services
Volunteering
Autism After 18 — Photographer/Cashier/General Help2016 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Austin Kramer Music Scholarship
The song that I chose for this application is "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys, (hear me out). I chose this song and eleven other seemingly unrelated songs for one reason, pure bliss. I could’ve picked a truly “inspirational” song, (ex. Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”). Instead, I wanted to be completely honest. No matter what kind of day I’m having, when I hear “Kokomo”, I must dance. Logic played no part in my playlist choices. I can’t fully explain why I chose these songs. What I can say is that for me, they spark an unbelievably happy feeling unlike any other.
Mechanism Fitness Matters Scholarship
Being fit has always been mandatory in my household. My parents explained that my two sisters and I had to participate in a sport throughout our middle and high school careers. I decided to try out track and field and quickly learned that running was not my strong suit. In fact, running is (this is not an exaggeration) the bane of my existence. Then came the volleyball years. I didn't mind volleyball...but I was terrible at it. I struggled with keeping the ball in the court because, as it turns out, I have an unsettling amount of natural strength. Medically speaking, I am a beast.
After a fruitless pursuit of volleyball and other various activities (yoga, videos of Jillian Michaels yelling at me to do jump squats, boxing, etc.) I found weight lifting. Objectively weight lifting sounds like torture. However, there is something empowering about getting strong enough to beat your own six foot three, ex. College rugby-playing father at arm wrestling. Aside from that obvious benefit, I started weight lifting at a point in my life when I was facing some depression. I had heard from several doctors that working out would not only benefit me physically but mentally as well. As it turns out, the doctors who spent years in school practicing may have been right.
I want to make it clear that working out did not cure my depression. However, I will admit that it has drastically changed how I go about my day. Nowadays, I can't wait to go work out. A sentence I never thought that I'd say is, "I CAN'T WAIT TO USE THE ELEVATED LEG PRESS!!!". In all seriousness, working out has helped me become stronger in multiple ways. I have so much more energy; I have a legitimate reason to buy squat proof leggings, I am physically fit again. I feel better. I could list how my body fat percentage has changed or how I get more steps on my walks, but the most notable benefit of working out has been my mood change. I am a much different person than I was before, and I believe that taking care of my body played a large part in that change.