Meet Our Students: Sierra K. Schmidt

 

Sierra K. Schmidt

Preferred pronouns: she/her

Age: 19

Residence: Draper, Utah

From: Fairfax, Virginia

Major:

I am majoring in music because I play the piano and want to be an elementary school music teacher.

Academic goals:

My academic goals are to pass every class requirement for my associates degree.  I also aim to get a bachelor's degree in music. 

Dream job:

My dream job is to be an elementary school music teacher in Canyons School District in Utah or Bisbee Unified School District in Arizona.

Plan B:

• Plan B: Be a piano salesperson because I know a lot about piano makes and models
• Plan C: I plan to continue to sell music books on my eBay store, which is called “Music Book Liquidators”.  This business is going very well.  I have built a clientele of nearly 500 buyers from all over the United States and internationally.  I am a “top rated” seller on eBay.  I continuously receive positive reviews for my product, packaging, communications, good prices and fast shipping.

Why higher education:

Reaching my dream job of being an elementary school music teacher requires a bachelor’s degree.

Why SLCC:

With my special need, which is autism, I still want to live at home in Draper.  SLCC is very convenient and more diverse than my high school in Draper.  I do not drive myself yet but I can ride the train and take the bus to college.  I also never took the ACT in high school and SLCC accepted me anyway. I really like SLCC’s professional faculty, the great facilities, working WIFI, helpful staff and the disability resource center.

What motivates you or inspires you at school and/or in life: 

• My mother believes in my musical talent.  She encourages me to develop my skills to never give up. 
• At SLCC, Professor Lora Kelly really sparked my interest in the history and evolution of music.  Because of her I now play and enjoy a wider variety of piano music than before. 
• Professor Stephanie Smith is the best piano teacher I have ever had.  She quickly recognized how I learn piano, which is different from how others learn in many ways, and she helps me with challenging pieces in an encouraging way. 
• Dr. Craig Ferrin keeps the door open for me to play in a pop band, which has been one of my favorite things to do at SLCC.  
• Professor Thomas Baggaley inspires me to compose music as he does with his “Elacor” orchestra.  And now I am learning music theory rules that he and Professor Kelly teach me in hopes that I can compose someday, too.  Professor Baggaley’s “Come Fly With Me” song is one of my favorites; it pretty much sums up my life and passions.

Important life and/or career lessons you have learned so far: 

• From working at The Piano Gallery in Murray, the owner and salespeople have been great role models.  They are experts at piano models and very good with people.  Over the past three years, The Piano Gallery staff has given me opportunities to work part time at the store.  I help with music book organization & sales plus helping accountants with shredding old documents. The people at The Piano Gallery have shown me how to be a professional and how to be successful in the music field.  
• Also, my father has helped me keep my priorities straight.  
• Christine Schmidt, my sister, is very self-motivated, successful and nice; she proves to me that hard work and being a good friend leads to happiness.  
• At Corner Canyon High School, my cheer coach, Whitney Lunt, helped me develop personal discipline and school spirit.  
• Developing and Executing my Girl Scout Gold Award project, “Establish a Piano Lesson System in a Spanish Speaking Community”, gave me the self confidence and courage to tackle real life social issues.

Best advice you have been given or that you give others: 

My mother learned from me that every person can do something truly amazing, no matter his or her abilities or background.

Family:

• Father:  Steven Schmidt, Ph.D. (Chemistry), ExxonMobil retired
• Mother:  Anita Riddle, Doctor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering), ExxonMobil retired
• Sister:  Christine Schmidt, age 16, Corner Canyon High School junior

Hobbies:

• Air travel - I enjoy learning about aircraft models, traveling by air, and visiting new places.  I have been to 44 states in the United States and 10 foreign countries.  My favorite destinations are Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.
• Volunteer Trainer, Girl Scouts of Utah -  I teach camping skills such as putting up tents, making fires, tying knots, cooking outdoors
• Hiking - I’m glad my family moved here because of the beautiful Wasatch mountains
• PTA - I volunteer to help schools with teacher appreciation, community service, Battle of the Bands, tailgates