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Sarah Budds

4,385

Bold Points

2x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

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 program
2021 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
  • Minors:
    • Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Bachelor's degree program
2020 - 2021
  • Majors:
    • Undecided

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Comedy Writing/Performance

    • Dream career goals:

      Performer/Writer

    • Cashier/General Staff Member

      Rico's Açaí
      2021 – Present3 years
    • Store Associate

      Andy's Frozen Custard
      2018 – 2018
    • Cashier

      Harris Teeter
      2019 – 2019

    Sports

    Volleyball

    Club
    2013 – 20174 years

    Arts

    • Columbia College Chicago Improvisation Club

      Theatre
      In progress starting in Spring 2023
      2022 – Present
    • Acting Out Studios

      Improvisation
      Queen City Comedy Festival, Monthly Comedy Shows at Acting Out Studios, Various Improv Shows at the Blumenthal Theatre
      2016 – 2020
    • Marvin Ridge High School

      Acting
      The 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 Oz
      2016 – 2020
    • Second City

      Sketch Writing Class
      2020 – 2020
    • Marvin Ridge High School Improv Troupe

      Improvisation Team
      Monthly Performances at the High School, North Carolina Improv Conference
      2017 – 2020

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Autism After 18 — Photographer/Cashier/General Help
      2016 – 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.