Full Name: Abigail Miller

What school do you attend?

Cookeville High School

Tell us about yourself.

I am a 15 year old sophomore at Cookeville High School. I am very involved in the performing arts, particularly chorus, band, dance, and musicals. I am also in my band’s leadership with the positions of historian and assistant drum major.

What is your greatest strength, and why?

My greatest strength is my ambition because it’s the reason why I work hard, achieve the goals I’ve created for myself, and have confidence.

What is your greatest weakness, and why?

My greatest weakness is my tendency to overthink. When I overthink, I begin to question what I’m doing, which makes me less confident in what I’m doing.

What skills do you need to learn to turn your greatest weakness into your greatest strength?

The skill I need to learn to turn overthinking to my greatest strength would be a larger sense of confidence. I’m already pretty confident, but realizing the situations when I just need to trust my gut would help.

What is the biggest challenge you have overcome, and what did you learn from that?

Learning to not let my anxiety get in the way has been a big challenge for me. Anytime I have to sing a solo, audition for something, or just say something in a large group of people I get very shaky, nervous, anxious, and more, but I just have to not worry about it and have confidence that I’ll do fine. All of this has taught me that if I trust that I will be okay and be confident that everything will end up okay.

Why do you deserve this award?

I deserve this award because musical theater is my passion and I will work hard to ensure that my future lies in that career. This trip would teach me so much and I would be able to use everything I learn from it for the rest of my life.

Who has been a role model for you, and why?

Many of my role models are fellow students who are very kind hearted and have many achievements. These people might be drum majors, members of leadership in band or chorus, or even people who have gotten leads in musicals that I’ve been in. Because these people hold titles or power or importance, I immediately look up to them, but I also look up to them because they are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. To be anything like some of these people would truly be a blessing.

What is the biggest mistake you made, and what have you learned from that mistake?

The biggest mistake I made was not trying out for a play after I didn’t make it into a play the previous year. I missed out on a lot of opportunities because of that, and could’ve been happier than I was at the time. That mistake taught me that you should always try again if you don’t succeed the first time, especially if you really care about it.

What activities are you involved in?

I am in my school’s Beta Club, choir, marching/concert band, and participate in my school’s musicals. I also dance, am in Girl Scouts, and participate in my local children’s theater’s fall musicals.

How are you giving back to others?

I am in my band’s leadership team, where we serve our band by helping out with anything and everything that needs to be done. I’m also in Beta Club and Girl Scouts, where we donate items, volunteer our time, and more to anything and anyone who needs our help.

Tell us about a personal achievement that makes you proud, and what you learned from that achievement?

A personal achievement that makes me proud is when I got the position of assistant drum major for my school’s marching band. The audition process lasted over six months and many people auditioned, so I learned that if you work hard, are passionate, and are dedicated, then good things will come.

How do you define being a humble person?

A humble person is someone who does not brag or go out of their way to talk highly about themselves. They would rather help others or listen to others than have things be about themselves. They listen to others because they want to listen, not so that they will be able to chime in.

How do you define servant leadership?

Servant leadership is serving the people that you lead and helping everyone out that you can. It is not a dictatorship. Rather, it is listening to the people that you lead, doing everything right beside them, and helping out as much as you can, all while having a smile on your face.

Is there anything else we should know about you?

I can not think of anything else that you would need to about me.