Courtney Johnson is a senior at Winthrop University with a passion of singing and design.

With less than two weeks to graduate with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design she reflected on scratching off one high off her bucket list, auditioning in Nashville, TN for The Voice.

Johnson is no stranger to the mic around campus as she sometimes opens up at Open Mic night with her guitar.

In fact last year she competed in the talent show and one first place!

Check out her Q/A about her audition which took place January 2017.

Shakora Bamberg: Tell me about your role at Winthrop including any leadership roles, recognition, and positions you held while a student at WU.

Courtney Johnson: I was the freshmen rep for Winthrop’s Interior Design Organization (IDO). Sophomore year I became the President of IDO and resigned my senior year. In that time when I was president, me and a few of my design friends did a Service Learning Project for Faith Assembly Church in Rock Hill. We redesigned one of their rooms and made it into a children’s theater. The local Rock Hill newspaper gave us recognition, spreading the word about Winthrop’s design program.

I was also a part of WU Def Poets for a semester and participated in a performance event called “Soul and Substance”. I also participated in the Homecoming talent show twice in which one of them I came in first place. Regular open mic nights the campus offered was my thing too.

SB: What is one thing that you love about Winthrop, why did you choose WU?

CJ: The size of this campus was one attractive quality. I’ve attended a huge campus in Texas and I didn’t feel like I belonged and I didn’t know anybody but the people I graduated high school with. At Winthrop, I know people just from doing open mic night, or the homecoming talent show. Even just hanging with a few friends introduced me to more people. It’s a lot more intimate on this campus and diverse. I also chose Winthrop because it had an accredited Design Program which is a huge benefit when I pursue my career.

SB: When did you realize that you wanted to be an interior designer? Where did this passion come from?

CJ: I actually never desired to be an interior designer, I wanted to be an artist. However, my dad did not believe that I could have a decent or steady income that way. So, to convince him to help pay for school, I told him I was gonna do Interior Design because that is a realistic career. I ended up liking it after the first semester and I still got to express my artistic ability.

SB: What is a typical school work day like for you?

CJ: I only have two classes on two days of the week. Even though, my classes don’t start till 2pm, I usually get up every morning, even on my days off, at 9am and I get to the studio by 11am and I work all day with 2 or 3 breaks in between until about 9pm. Some days I’m in there until 1am if I’m feeling productive or really behind in work. Most of my life is spent in the studio to be honest. If I’m not at work, I’m in the studio. And if I’m not in the studio, then I’m sleep. The work load has gotten better my senior year.

SB: How did classes at Winthrop and past internships help you prepare to become a polished interior designer?

CJ: My internships have definitely prepared me for the work load and type that I will experience once I graduate. It gives a sneak peek of what’s to come. Many designers that have been 4-6 yrs. out of school don’t know what to expect at a job like I would because I’ve had the experience.

SB: When you’re not busy what do you like to do for fun?

CJ: I like to hang with my design friends and go out drinking with them. I love spending time with my boyfriend and we watch movies together, we play pool often at the bowling alley, or we’ll shop together.

SB: Tell me what was in like auditioning for The Voice, paint a picture for your readers?

CJ: It was uplifting and unreal. I’ve always wanted to audition for a TV singing show better never could because of school. So when I finally made it the city for auditions, I was so happy and energetic. I wasn’t even anxious and it probably was because everybody in line was energetic and excited. It was a long line and I got there 2 hours before my audition time, but the wait went by fast and it probably was because I was entertained by the variety of people singing out loud and challenging each other with singing. Once I finally made inside and to the audition wait room it was like a family reunion.

Everybody was talkative with the stranger next to them, people were singing in unison to popular songs, other people were performing their audition songs to one another. It was completely transparent in there and nobody was timid. I didn’t make the callbacks but I did amazing on my audition song “Halo” on Beyonce.

I sang it with my voice and my body, I felt that song, I hit and controlled every note. The single judge that was listening to us didn’t look at anybody when they sang, but when I began my verse and started with a strong note, he took a glance up at me for like 2 seconds before looking back down at his computer. So I feel like I got his attention, but it wasn’t enough. They were looking for a certain voice and a certain look/appearance and I was ok with that. If it wasn’t meant to be then it wasn’t. I did it for the experience and to check it off my bucket list.

SB: What song did you sing?

CJ: "Halo" by Beyonce

SB: Were you nervous?

CJ: I was nervous, but not anxious. I had excited nerves.

SB: Where was your audition?

CJ: Nashville, TN

SB: How long did you wait?

CJ: 2hrs and 30min

SB: What feedback did you receive?

CJ: They provide no feedback in open call auditions

SB: Would you audition again?

CJ: I would if it’s in a city within 3 hours of my location

SB: If selected for round two, what would you have done?

CJ: I would have announced it all over my social media even though I should probably keep it to myself and I would sang an Ariana Grande song for the audition.

SB: What advice do you have for vocal talent who may be interested in this same opportunity?

CJ: None really. Just dress as yourself if you were going out with some friends to drink or have dinner. Other than that there’s nothing much I can tell you because it’s all about what the producers are looking for and nobody will ever know that.

SB: Who is your role model?

CJ: Somewhat Tori Kelly and Mariah Carey

SB: What advice would you give to the freshman class especially the young women entering the same career path as you?

CJ: You will have to sacrifice a part of yourself to be successful in this major. There is no easy way around it and laziness will break you down real quick. You will lose sleep over projects, you won’t have time for personal enjoyment EVERY weekend. Your attention to detail will increase, your confidence will be tested. It’ll all be worth it once you finish though.

SB: How would you tell these young women how to best prepare for college?

CJ: Just train yourself with discipline and time management. Know how to prioritize.

SB: What are your long-term career goals?

CJ: To become a well respected designer or a well recognized designer within a firm and be able to express my creativity as much as I can. I want to find a firm I can spend the rest of my career with and grow with as a team and as an individual.