Senior Michael Walker: Audio Engineer
At every event, there is always someone in sound booth cuing the music. At the Los Altos United Methodist Church, that person is senior Michael Walker. 鈥淚鈥檓 not really the guy in the studio,鈥 Walker said. 鈥淚鈥檓 more the guy at a concert that works in the mixed booth.鈥
As an audio engineer, Walker鈥檚 job is to create a mix of harmonious sounds with clips of instruments, voices and effects for the church and local events. 鈥淚 do a lot of things at the church, and one of the services is a more music-focused worship band,鈥 he said.
An aspect of audio engineering that Walker finds challenging is deciding when something is a finished product. 鈥淸As a mechanic], your job is very concrete,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou can say, 鈥楬ey, this engine runs. I did my job.鈥 In audio, however, there鈥檚 no concrete satisfaction standard.鈥
Walker has always been interested in technology. 鈥淲hen I was in sixth or seventh grade, I started volunteering and doing the cameras for live streams,鈥 he said. 鈥淚n freshman year, I started doing paid work as an audio engineer.鈥
In addition, Walker believes that his experience has helped him with college applications. 鈥淏oth of [my recommenders] were mentors of mine,鈥 he said.
Walker advises students to not spread themselves too thin with after-school jobs. 鈥淚 think the best approach to prepare yourself is to find something that you are good at and enjoy and then go incredibly in-depth and commit yourself to it.鈥