There are always those people who never win anything. They consistently enter contests to win a new car or the opportunity of a lifetime, thoroughly convinced that they will not come out the winner. Why would one continue to enter these contests? Maybe they're holding onto the hope that it may just be their day to win that chance to have their 15 minutes of fame.
This was the case for Sarah Whiteaker.
Whiteaker sat at her home computer one lazy summer day when an opportunity popped up on her monitor: \Are you going to be a college freshman? Do you want your own reality show?""
For America Online RED, the AOL teen network, this meant airing a show called ""Project Freshman""-showcasing six college freshmen on their journeys through their first semester.
""I didn't really even know if I wanted to, but I never win anything,"" Whiteaker said. ""So I figured why not do it because I had the time, it was summer, so I filled out the application.""
Filling out that application was a wise decision for the UW-Madison freshman. Not only will she now have her own reality show online, but she will have the chance to enhance her skills when it comes to filmmaking.
Whiteaker, previously a student at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, has been involved in the making of a documentary on Asian youth in Milwaukee. She was also the president of the film society and ""thought it would be cool if I'd get to do that again and actually get paid for it.""
She made it through the first cut and was asked to send in an audition tape. Roseanna Bragg, a producer for the show, noted that ""this is essentially a job and we wanted to be sure they were responsible.""
Whiteaker's experience and honest personality helped her to become one of the final six freshman picked for the show, according to Bragg. From that point on, the producers and a crew went to Whiteaker's hometown and filmed her background story. Before departing, the crew gave her a set of equipment and sent her on her way.
Upon moving to Madison, Sarah became known for having the equipment with her. ""People when I moved in here to the dorm, they all knew me as the camera girl,"" she said.
Sarah takes time out as often as she can to film her personal diary, documenting her life here as a UW-Madison freshman. Other participants are from Notre Dame, Florida, Missouri, Marshall and Dallas Baptist universities.
It is all a learning experience. She said, ""it has been interesting"" though ""it was a little weird in the beginning having to carry this camera around.""
Friends and family have been supportive of Whiteaker throughout this process, and are excited to see the show air its first episode this Friday. Stephanie Whiteaker, Sarah's sister and a UW-Madison senior, thought the show will help set her apart and make friends on campus.
Whiteaker admitted she hadn't told her mom about ""Project Freshman"" until she was accepted and, ""had to convince them it was actually real to begin with.""
Likewise, Whiteaker's sister was concerned, citing that ""freshman year is hard enough already for everyone.""
It seems as though Whiteaker is up to the task, according to Bragg.
""She's really doing a great job. Everyone here really likes her."" Bragg, a producer from 2C Media, said.
For now, Whiteaker can say she is a winner, and possibly become Madison's next reality TV star.
