When he was 2 years old, Derek Niemchick, freshman, would do anything to make people laugh. Not much has changed since then.

“I was always entertaining and doing voices or stupid stuff,” said Niemchick.

Even when he was in elementary school plays, he was always dubbed “the goofball.” And when he was asked to read aloud in class, his peers looked forward to hearing the funny voices he would make up for the characters.

Since then, Derek has taken his talent for making people laugh to a new level. Just this year, he has started doing stand-up comedy at various venues.

“I’ve always been telling jokes and being a goofball, but I finally took it to the stage,” Niemchick said.

One night, while at The B.O.B., he heard comedian Emo Phillips perform.  After the show, Niemchick was able to talk to him and received a piece of advice he says he will never forget.

“If you do [stand-up], don’t use profanity,” said Phillips. “If you do, they’ll be laughing at the words, not at you. So don’t do it.”

With this advice in mind, Niemchick decided to talk to the emcee after the show about how he could get involved. After being put on the soonest date available, Niemchick began to run through materials with family and friends to see if it was “crowd worthy.”

Even though he had never done stand-up comedy before, he said that he was not nervous.

“I’ve never had stage fright, or problems in front of large crowds,” Niemchick said.

After a successful first performance, Niemchick was asked to return for another performance. While this performance was not as good as his first, he did not let that stop him.

“I told myself, ‘50 percent [of the crowd] will be drunk by the time they leave, so they won’t remember me,’” said Niemchick. There are the loyalists who are there every week, but only five or 10 who might remember [you]. You have a new palette every time you go.”

Finding assurance in that, he began to prepare for a third show, which Niemchick said “was one of the best nights.”

Since then, Niemchick has done four other shows at The B.O.B., as well as shows at several churches, at The Laughing Club in Kalamazoo, Schuler Books, and for the Haiti Benefit on campus.

But despite his talent in comedy, his real passion is acting.

“Even if I’m just hanging out with friends, and any time I do a joke, I’m usually imitating someone.”

This has proven to be an aspect of the freshman that his fellow residents of Van Osdel Hall have truly appreciated.

“There have been days where I have been down, and his humor has made my day a lot better,” said Kyle Szucs, freshman. “It is really cool to have someone in our hall who can do that for me, who can take a really crummy day and turn it into something better.”

Unfortunately for his friends, next year Niemchick will not be returning to Cornerstone. Instead, he will most likely be transferring to the New York Film Academy or the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. At either of these schools, he would like to get his bachelor’s in acting or possibly communications. However, at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he would have to be invited back for a second year, depending on how well he does his first year.

But if attending those schools does not work out, Niemchick still has plans.

“In about a month, I’m starring in a movie that’s being made right here in Grand Rapids,” Niemchick said.

The film is being submitted to several film festivals, including the San Antonio Film Festival, where the winner receives $100,000.

While much of Niemchick’s future is still unknown, anyone who knows him is certain that he is on the road to glorious fame.