Cole Hansen is a member of marching band, pep band, musical, and National Honor Society.  He is also a student director in band.  Hansen plans to attend college and major in math.

Q: What’s your favorite memory of your time at Alder?

A: I’ve got to think.  My favorite memory at Alder… It’s so hard to remember. It’s been so long.  Honestly, one of my favorite memories was probably being in Mrs. Marling’s comp class.  I think it was the first semester, so comp one. She’s such a great teacher, and really getting to learn how to become a better writer. It was a lot of creative-ish writing.  That definitely had a huge impact on my junior year.  It’s a very general memory because it’s a semester, but it’s definitely one of my favorites being here.

Q: What are three things you can’t live without?

A: I can’t live without my friends.  I can’t live without my instrument.  I play the sousaphone and tuba.  I can’t live without my phone, I guess.

Q: What’s one thing people don’t know about you?

A: I’ve got to think about that, too.  One thing that a lot of people might not know about me is that I am a big college football fan. I’m not the most athletic person, but I love college football.  I love everything about it, watching it, the environment.  Everything football, but a lot of people don’t know me as a huge sports guy.

Q: How would you define yourself in three words?

A: I like to think I’m genuine,/just caring and real towards people.  You could say I’m kind of a perfectionist. I want stuff to go well. I want to get good grades.  And then probably empathetic. I just really care about making sure a lot of other people feel good about themselves.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

A: I’d say the best piece of advice I ever received, it’s kind of a mix.  Recently, this year, I’ve thought a lot about it. Mr. Hennig, the band director, tells us a lot about how younger people look up to you. As you mature, you become the role model for them. I recently saw a quote that I think Elvis Presley said. It’s something like, people don’t look up to you for the things you own.  They look up to you for your character.  That’s definitely been a big thing for my personal goals. I’ve seen that a lot in my senior year.  I hadn’t thought about that.  It’s definitely not the most common.  It’s not like, chase your dreams type thing. For me, it’s definitely learning to be a leader. That’s a big quote for me, especially this year.

“It’s not how much you have that makes people look up to you.  It’s who you are.”

Q: If you made a documentary, what would it be about and why?

A: I’d say, I’d want to make a documentary, honestly, about our marching band. I think a lot of people have stereotypes and certain thinking about band. Maybe you think it’s really easy, but in reality, there’s a lot that goes into it.  I probably would focus a lot on band camp and practices each week.  Everything that goes on behind the scenes that you don’t see on a Friday night.  I think bringing that to light would be really cool.  I haven’t really thought about that, but there are definite stereotypes. There are, for sure.

Q: What is the last piece of content you consumed that made you cry?

A: That’s a good question.  I genuinely don’t know off the top of my head, but there was probably some really sad movie that I saw that made me cry.  I’m not huge emotionally when it comes to movies and stuff. That’d be something I’d have to think harder on. 

Q: What is a song you can listen to on repeat?

A: Probably “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers.  I don’t know why, but it’s a song everyone really knows.  I love listening to that over and over again.  

Q: If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would it be?

A: Hmm.  I’d probably switch lives…  I’ll just go ahead and say I’d switch lives with Mr. Hennig.  Just to see what it would be like to lead a band and stuff. I’m not interested in going into music, but I definitely have always wondered what it’s like to lead an entire group.  He just does so much for our band.  To be able to experience that myself would be pretty cool, I think. 

Q: What is your dream place to visit?

A: Probably somewhere coastal.  Either the Pacific, an island like Fiji or something.  Or I’d love to go to Europe and visit places like France. 

Q: What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had?

A: Probably getting student director for the marching band.  I definitely knew I had a chance, but I wasn’t sure that I was going to actually get it.  That was probably the biggest surprise I’ve had, especially recently. 

Q: What 3 people living or dead would you like to make dinner for?

A:  I’ll just throw three random names. Ryan Day, the coach of the Ohio State football team. I never thought about this question before.  Sorry, this is a weird question for me to think about. Let’s say my grandparents, who live on the other side of the country.  I’ll just say the president. I don’t know.   I never really thought about that before. 

Q: What was the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?

A: Most adventurous?  It might sound weird, but the most adventurous thing I feel like I’ve done…  I haven’t done as much as I wish I could have.  But honestly, freshman year, it was probably stepping up to do musical.  Because I’m not in choir, I don’t really sing or dance that often.  So it was a completely different environment.  So I guess that was really adventurous, because I just wanted to try it out.  And it was something completely new to me.  And I did enjoy it, but it definitely was like, wow, I don’t do this often. 

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: I think just being a friendly person that people enjoy talking to. And I’ve helped a lot of my friends and people just feel like they’re known. And I just want people to remember me for the impact I had on them.  Because I’ve really wanted to make an impact on people.