
Hobbies and interests
Acting And Theater
Advocacy And Activism
Astrology
Babysitting And Childcare
Animals
Board Games And Puzzles
Comedy
Concerts
Costume Design
Crafting
Cosmetology
Dungeons And Dragons
Driving
Directing
Environmental Science and Sustainability
Human Rights
Makeup and Beauty
Welding
Upcycling and Recycling
YouTube
Theater
Television
Shopping And Thrifting
Mental Health
Research
Reading
Novels
I read books multiple times per month
Micah Linskey
1x
Finalist
Micah Linskey
1x
FinalistBio
Wheaton College sophomore pursuing an Independent Major of Environmental Studies, minoring in Political Science and Theater. I intend to continue to attend Wheaton College in my undergrad, pursue an Environmental Policy Master's degree, and then go into environmental policy professionally. I hope to also work part-time in technical theater.
I lifeguard and teach swim lessons at the YMCA near campus and at home during breaks. I have an interest in public policy and social justice. Most of the time when I'm not at school you can find me listening to pop music, playing DND, trying elaborate makeup looks, or watching sitcoms.
Education
Wheaton College (MA)
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- Geography and Environmental Studies
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
- Geography and Environmental Studies
Career
Dream career field:
Environmental Services
Dream career goals:
Environmental Advisor
Lifegaurd Swim Instructor
YMCA2025 – Present1 yearStage Manager, Lighting design, sound design
Player's Ring2024 – Present2 yearsDeli Staff
Calefs Country Store2022 – 20231 year
Arts
Middle school, High school, college, The Player's Ring Theater
Theatre2016 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
HOBY — Junior Facilitator2023 – Present
NYT Connections Fan Scholarship
Madonna, Virgin, Are, Ewe
Prince, Bachelor, Baron, Chapel
Lord, The Apprentice, Kay, Stag
Tiffany, Carpenter, Queue, Junior
Yellow: Words pronounced like Letters: Kay, Ewe, Are, Queue
Green: An Unwed Man: Prince, Bachelor, Virgin, Stag
Blue: Pop Singer or Mentioned in The Bible: Madonna, Carpenter, Chapel, Lord
Purple: Members of the Trump Family: The Apprentice, Baron, Junior, Tiffany
Each word is specifically chosen so that they might be connected to other words (Tiffany and Kay = Jewelry, Ewe & Stag = animals, Madonna and Prince = 80's Pop stars, The Apprentice & Bachelor = reality shows, Lord Baron and Prince = men of power, etc).
For words pronounced like Letters I went through the alphabet, and wrote out every word pronounced like a letter. I then connected words that I could to words in other categories, to make sure each category wasn't to easy. Here we have K, U, R and Q as words.
For an Un-wed man:
- a Prince is the sun of the King, implies a certain amount of youth and naiveté, as well as often being unmarried.
- A bachelor is obviously a man who is not married, we have bachelor parties and the TV show about this.
- Virgin - A person who has not engaged in relations, often saving oneself for marriage
- Stag - A word used to mean bachelor, in England they have a stag party instead of a bachelor party
For Pop singer and Bible term I started from chapel/Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, and devolved some religious terms also related to pop artists.
- Chapel is a church like structure, where a religious service is hosted, Chappell Roan
- Carpenter was the career of Jesus and Joseph in the bible, Sabrina Carpenter
- Madonna was a word used to describe a virginal woman such as Mary, 80's super star Madonna used the term ironically
- Lord is a term used for God, Lorde is an artist who created the song 'Royals'
Finally for members of the Trump family I started from Barron and The Apprentice, which I had because I originally had a reality TV/television series that debuted in 2004 as a prompt.
- Barron is a noble bellow a Prince, Barron Trump is the youngest son of the Trump family
- The Apprentice a reality show staring Donald Trump, he was the apprentice
- Junior - Donald Trump Junior, eldest son
- Tiffany - Tiffany Trump, fourth child, second daughter, only child from marriage to Marla Maples
Charli XCX brat Fan Scholarship
Charli XCX’s album Brat is a hyper-pop, coke-fueled, energetic club music masterpiece that feels like a sonic explosion of glitter, sweat, and neon lights. From its pulsating dubstep beats to its unapologetically chaotic energy, Brat is an album that demands to be played at maximum volume in a packed club or during a late-night drive. It’s a celebration of hedonism, rebellion, and self-expression, wrapped in Charli’s signature brand of avant-garde pop. While the album was released earlier in the summer, I didn’t have a “brat summer” in the way many fans did. It wasn’t until late August that I truly fell in love with Brat, when its frenetic energy and emotional depth finally clicked for me.
One of the standout moments on Brat is the collaboration with Billie Eilish, “Guess.” I’ve never been a huge Billie Eilish fan, but this song is an undeniable triumph. Its infectious beat, cheeky lines and iconic music video make it an instant classic. The original 'Guess' track while still catchy, is nothing compared to the raw power of the duet. 'Guess' hypes me up so immediately when I'm down, its like a four-loco, in an album full of energy drinks. Guess just has a little extra something. I can already imagine it playing in gay clubs for years to come.
Not for nothing, but I think its clear why 'Guess' is the only track off "Brat and its completely different but also still brat" with a music video, and one of only three from the original Brat album. The high-energy fever-dream vibes of the music video, just celebrating underwear and women just really speaks to me. The way Billie pulls up in the music video, looking into the camera as she backs out of the building does something very gay to my brain. Also the fact that all of the underwear, of which there are piles and piles of in the music video, were donated to a women's shelter is so incredible.
“Guess” is a reminder of why Charli XCX is such a vital artist—she has an infectious blissful energy.
In the end, Brat is more than just an album—it’s an experience. While I may have come late to the party, it’s a party I’m glad I finally joined.
Wicked Fan Scholarship
I first encountered Wicked through the soundtrack to the Broadway musical, which I was able to see live in New York on MLK weekend of 2019. The musical’s vibrant storytelling, unforgettable songs, and themes of friendship, identity, and the nature of good and evil captivated me instantly. It deepened my love for The Wizard of Oz, a story I’ve been enamored with since childhood, and inspired my Halloween costume that year. My favorite song from the musical has always been “No Good Deed,” a powerful and haunting number that showcases Elphaba’s inner turmoil and determination. While “Defying Gravity” is often hailed as the showstopper, “No Good Deed” resonates with me on a deeper emotional level.
I've been on the edge of my seat waiting for the release of the Wicked movie since hearing rumors it might be in the works years ago. As more information poured in, and the cast and creative team was released, I grew even more excited. Jon M Chu, the to-be director of Wicked also directed one of the greatest stage to film adaptation in his work on "In The Heights", one of the first movie musicals of the modern era to both celebrate and relish the fact that it is a musical, and that didn't star enemy of theatre kids everywhere: James Cordon.
From the first stringy note of the orchestra played as image of the hat of the melted wicked witch of the west to the sight of Erivo flying away accompanied by an army of flying monkys as she belts the final note of defying gravity, I was captivated. In the three times I saw the movie in theaters, I stayed eyes glued to the screen, no need for a snack or a bathroom break. The breath taking film made me laugh, cry, and beg for Galinda to go with Elphaba, and left me simply thinking "Wow".
After my second viewing of the 2024 film I finally read Maguire’s novel, I was struck by its ambitious start. The book delves into themes of race, power, and the moral ambiguity of its characters, offering a darker and more politically charged take on Oz. I appreciated its critique of societal structures and its exploration of what it means to be “wicked.” However, as the story progressed, I found many of the arcs confusing and disjointed. The novel’s tone shifted dramatically, and what began as a thought-provoking re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz eventually turned into something I found borderline pornographic. I had to put the book down, disappointed that it strayed so far from the themes I had initially admired. While I respect Maguire’s creativity, the musical’s adaptation of his work felt more cohesive and emotionally resonant to me.
The movie adaptation is so phenomenal, from the gorgeous set and costumes, to the improvisational qualities and humor, to Grande and Erivo's stunning vocal performances. Despite my preliminary worries this adaptation is a dream come true. I eagerly await November 21st, when "Wicked: For Good" releases. From the exciting twists I cant wait for friends and new fans to react to, to the devastating beauty of Elphaba and Galinda's love story, to my hopes of a official recording of Nessarose's "Wicked Witch of the North" song, which is sadly not included in the 2003 soundtrack.
Bookshelf to Big Screen Scholarship
The "Wicked" film duology based on the beloved Broadway musical, which itself is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West", is set to be some of the greatest adaptations of all time. The first movie celebrated the magic world of Oz, the majesty and fantastical songs of the original musical. As someone who has loved the musical for years—so much so that I named my dog after the Wicked Witch of the North, Nessarose—I am thrilled to see how popular and successful the film has become already. My journey with Wicked began with the musical, continued into my love of the movie and later led me to the book, though my experience with the novel was more mixed.
I first encountered Wicked through the soundtrack to the Broadway musical, which I was able to see live in New York on MLK weekend of 2019. The musical’s vibrant storytelling, unforgettable songs, and themes of friendship, identity, and the nature of good and evil captivated me instantly. It deepened my love for The Wizard of Oz, a story I’ve been enamored with since childhood, and inspired my Halloween costume that year. My favorite song from the musical has always been “No Good Deed,” a powerful and haunting number that showcases Elphaba’s inner turmoil and determination. While “Defying Gravity” is often hailed as the showstopper, “No Good Deed” resonates with me on a deeper emotional level.
When I finally read Maguire’s novel, I was struck by its ambitious start. The book delves into themes of race, power, and the moral ambiguity of its characters, offering a darker and more politically charged take on Oz. I appreciated its critique of societal structures and its exploration of what it means to be “wicked.” However, as the story progressed, I found many of the arcs confusing and disjointed. The novel’s tone shifted dramatically, and what began as a thought-provoking reimagining of The Wizard of Oz eventually turned into something I found borderline pornographic. I had to put the book down, disappointed that it strayed so far from the themes I had initially admired. While I respect Maguire’s creativity, the musical’s adaptation of his work felt more cohesive and emotionally resonant to me.
The movie adaptation is so phenomenal, from the gorgeous set and costumes, to the improvisational qualities and humor, to Grande and Erivo's stunning vocal performances. Despite my preliminary worries this adaptation is a dream come true. I eagerly await November 21st, when "Wicked: For Good" releases. From the exciting twists I cant wait for friends and new fans to react to, to the devastating beauty of Elphaba and Galinda's love story, to my hopes of a official recording of Nessarose's "Wicked Witch of the North" song, which is sadly not included in the 2003 soundtrack.
In conclusion, the Wicked movie is more than just an adaptation; it’s a celebration of a story that has touched millions of lives. From the original book series, to the technicolor 1939 film, to Maguire’s novel to the Broadway stage and now to the big screen, Wicked continues to remind us that there’s more to every story than meets the eye. After all, Wicked has always been about seeing the world from a different perspective, and I can’t wait to see how this new chapter unfolds. One things for sure, I know the film will change my life 'for good'.
A Security Insurance Agency Scholarship
Insurance plays a vital role in our everyday lives, providing a safety net that protects citizens, families, and businesses from unforeseen financial losses. My father has worked at an insurance agency for my entire life time. I've seen first hand the soul-crushing work and anguish inside an insurance company, but also have seen personally the way insurance can be a saving force in modern day. This duality has shaped my perspective on its impact, highlighting its benefits and challenges.
One of the most significant benefits of insurance is financial security. For me, this has been especially evident in accessing mental health care. Without insurance, I wouldn’t be able to afford therapy, which has been crucial for my well-being. Health insurance has made it possible for me to seek the help I need without facing overwhelming costs. Instead of costing hundreds of dollars, each therapy appointment costs me about $20. Similarly, insurance protects against unexpected events like car accidents, home damage, or medical emergencies, providing a safety net that prevents financial ruin.
However, insurance is not without its downsides. While it has enabled me to access therapy, the process of dealing with insurance has often made my life more complicated. Finding an in-network therapist who is available and accepting new patients can be a time-consuming and frustrating process. I remember being in the worst mental state of my life, my mother searching constantly, calling every possible health solution. The feeling of not being able to afford to help your struggling child is a pain I cannot fathom, and I owe so much to my mother for her endless efforts. This delay in accessing mental health care can feel like an additional barrier, exacerbating the very issues I’m seeking help for. The administrative hurdles, such as pre-authorizations and claim denials, can make an already stressful situation even more challenging.
Personally I believe that insurance is a necessity of modern America, but that assuming there could be no alternative, is failure to see the potential for change. I believe that there are fundamental flaws with capitalism that are reading havoc in the lives of most global citizens. In a country with government payed healthcare, which provides a safety net for all citizens. I feel that health should be a right, a place where money should not exist as a barrier. All that being said, living in American capitalism without single payer health care, insurance is deeply needed to keep us afloat and alive.
In conclusion, insurance is a double-edged sword. It provides essential financial protection and access to critical services like therapy, but it can also introduce complexities that hinder timely care. My father’s career has given me a deep appreciation for the value of insurance, but it has also shown me the need for improvements in how it operates. Despite its flaws, insurance remains a cornerstone of modern life, offering stability and security in an uncertain world.