NILES — Matthew Karsten has traveled around the world, first as a self-proclaimed “military brat” and later as an employee on numerous cruise ships. Now, the Niles High School Class of 2009 graduate is hoping to travel to Hollywood to be on the TV show “American Idol.”

The Allendale, Michigan, resident has made it to the final round of WOTV Idol. If Karsten projects his voice over his 19 challengers in the Grand Rapids-based contest Oct. 1, he could earn himself a “Silver Ticket” that would let him perform in front of the show’s executive producers in hopes of making it on the screen.

Karsten found out he made the cut days after auditioning for “American Idol” in Detroit. Although he did not make the cut then, he said he was happy to have had the opportunity. It was the 28-year-old’s last chance to do so — the “American Idol” cutoff is 29.

“I’m outrageously confident, mostly because I’m a blind optimist,” he said with a laugh about his chances on winning WOTV Idol.

Despite his confidence, Karsten has not been a frequent performer in years. He is currently a flight attendant and a yoga instructor.

He has had experience being on stage before, however. When Karsten’s family moved to Niles as he entered seventh grade, he took up the trumpet in band, joined the show choir, took a guitar class and performed in musicals.

Then the Young Americans came to town. The organization’s outreach program is made up of performers that travel to schools to engage their students in music, dance, performance and culture. Its co-founder is Bill Brawley, a former Niles resident.

Karsten enjoyed it and decided to audition to be one of its performers. He said Desiree Dennis-Dylan, singer and songwriter Bob Dylan’s daughter, noticed his “big heart” at the audition and invited him to join.

“I grew up here in this town, and I’m proud of where I’m from now because I never would have met the Young Americans,” Karsten said. “I never would have had those opportunities.”

Karsten said he enjoyed performing with the traveling group, but he never had a chance to be an individual performer. His Idol auditions gave him that opportunity.

“They encouraged us to share original music, so I was like, ‘If I have an opportunity to share original music, I’m going to do it,’” he said. “So, I busted out some songs.”

The song that earned him a Top 20 spot was “Alive & Well,” a song he wrote for his grandfather and other members of the military for their courage.

His song for his Oct. 1 performance is “Hey Kid,” a song, like “Alive & Well,” that he wrote while in college not for an audience but as a private outlet of emotions for himself.

“It’s a reminder to me how much courage it takes to go out and do those things,” he said. “It’s something that you can easily take for granted and you can change. To have that kind of courage, you either have to not know any better or have a lot of strength.”

Karsten calls his songs “reminders” of where he was, who he was and what he was feeling as a college student.

Karsten rehearsed “Hey Kid” last Thursday at the Grand Rapids Art Museum with other contestants. He said being able to sing as himself, and not part of a group, has eased his nerves.

“When someone says, ‘Get up there, and put on what’s in your closet and sing what’s in your heart, something that’s just you,’ I’m not intimidated by that at all,” he said.

Karsten fans can watch the performer don his guitar and sing live at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Elevation at the Intersection in Grand Rapids by tuning into channel My ABC WOTV 4.