Addie Olson is a junior Statistics and Finance student at SMU. She is also a part of the SMU band and excels at both, academics and extracurricular activities!

Why did you choose your major? Did you always know this is what you wanted to do?   
I loved statistics since I took it in high school, and I wanted something to pair it with and business really interested me. And I really liked finance. The two go together really well! I didn’t really have any idea what I wanted to do until I took AP stats in high school. I'd been good at math and quantitative skills. With stats I could use them and apply them. 

What is your main role in band? 
I’m on the drumline and part of the snare line. I’m also junior financial officer – so I help with fundraising through various organizations to get money for what we need. 

What does your average day look like? (Class, practice, games, etc.)
I go to class or my internship in the morning, and then I at work at SMU outdoor adventures at the climbing wall, or I have band practice or percussion ensemble practice. Then I do homework. 

Do you apply what you learn in the classroom on the field/court?
Actually, I apply  what I learn on the field in the classroom. I take knowledge of starting something new and dedicating time to make it happen! 

What's been your biggest sacrifice trying to do it all (school, sports, family, etc.)?
I mostly sacrifice sleep. I love band, and I love my majors, so I don’t have a lot of free time, but it’s worth it!

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? 
I will have graduated college probably with a Master's Degree in Statistics, and hopefully I will be working at a nice, well paying job in a finance related field using finance and statistics.

Do you have any suggestions for how kids can balance STEM interests and music interests? Any courses you can recommend students to take before college?
That balance has been my whole life. I started with piano in 2nd grade, and I looked at music as an escape from the STEM, quantitative, side of school. They really balance each other out and keep me sane. You should take any AP class you possibly can – that helped me out a lot coming in with credits. Specifically, I really recommend taking BC Calculus.  

What was your favorite class growing up?
I loved AP Statistics in high school!

Are you a first generation college student? 
No - both of my parents have Master's Degrees, and my dad is working on his doctorate in biblical studies.

When did you start playing your instrument? 
I started playing piano in 2nd grade and percussion in 9th grade when I started high school!