RIDGECREST — Though she is only 10 years old, Skylar Carson has her whole life figured out.

Carson just won Concordia Parish’s Student of the Year award for the fifth-grade division, but that’s all a part of the plan.

“I kind of have everything planned out,” she said. “I’m going to go to performing arts school in New York, then I’m moving to Hollywood to become an actress, a dancer and a singer.”

Carson also has very definite ideas for her living situation when she moves away.

“I’m going to have a house in New York for singing, because there are lots of singers in New York,” she said. “A house in Hollywood for acting, obviously, and a house in the Bahamas for vacationing.”

The movie star-to-be even has a retirement plan.

“When I turn 40, I’m going to go to a college near Hollywood and teach science,” she said.

Carson’s plan allows her to do everything she loves — from her love of drama to that of science.

And she knows she must prepare early — the fifth-grader is already involved in Concordia Parish Dance Studio, where she both takes classes and teaches them, she plays piano in Concordia Parish Academy’s after-school program, and she is an actress for Natchez Little Theatre.

“I practice every day,” Carson said. “Piano for two-and-half hours a week, singing for two hours and acting for probably three hours, since there is so much you have to remember.”

And she spends a good bit of time studying her favorite subject: science.

All that hard work, Carson said, is going to pay off.

“I’ve had this planned out in my mind since I was like 6,” she said. “I’m ready.”

Teachers noticed her love of arts and school subjects, Carson said, and helped her apply for the student of the year award in December.

“They told me that I should apply, and I was like, ‘What?’” she said. “I didn’t think I would get it.”

When she heard she won, Carson said she immediately told her parents: Derrick and Godfrey Carson.

“They were excited,” she said. “My mom said she was proud of me, and they took me out to eat.”

Carson said she attributes her outspoken attitude and drive to achieve her goals to her parents, both of whom encourage her.

“I’m really outspoken,” she said. “I’m just 10. People don’t expect kids my age to get really affected, but we are.”

For Carson, winning student of the year is the first in what she hopes will be a long line of Emmys, Grammys and Oscar awards, but Carson said she was truly surprised that she received it.

“I mean, there are so many smart kids in our parish and they chose me,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it.”