Profiles of Tenacity: Harrison Hastings

Harrison Hastings is a fourth-year advertising and psychology double-major from Houston, Texas. Hastings serves as the director of strategy for Talking Dog Agency, a corporate partnership intern at Athens Rock Lobsters and is an AKQA Future Lions Competition participant.

Why did you choose your major? 

Advertising provides the ideal intersection between analytical strategy and creative execution. Rather than restricting me to a single discipline, it allows me to flex and build my strengths through a multidisciplinary lens. I pair this with a degree in psychology because understanding human behavior and motivation adds a layer of complexity to my analytical process that provides practical value in my personal and professional life.

What does tenacity mean to you? 

Tenacity is recognizing that obstacles are part of the process, not the end of it, and pressing forward with the belief that nothing standing in your way will alter where you’re going. It’s avoiding complacency when things come easy and keeping steady when they don’t. It’s having the confidence that betting on yourself is the only real option, and the rest is just proving yourself right.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to other Grady students? 

Find short-term goals to keep yourself busy. There is a lot of waiting between major life milestones, whether professional or personal, and you need to find ways to stay busy. Experiencing a bunch of micro wins in between the big ones will keep your attitude positive and prevent you from burning out.

What or who has had the biggest impact on your life? 

Talking Dog has easily had the most significant impact on my time at UGA. Beyond building new relationships and connections, it has given me real exposure to professional work and client interactions that confirmed I was pursuing a career in which I would feel fulfilled. It has given me leadership opportunities and pushed me to grow in ways that extend beyond my classes. My experiences in Talking Dog have prepared me for my next steps after graduation.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in the past year? 

My biggest accomplishment this past year isn’t a single achievement — it’s a series of them that reflect a larger shift in my lifestyle and mindset. I’ve worked to become healthier, both physically and mentally, doing things for myself in an intentional and self-driven way. I’ve pushed through challenges to prove to myself that I’m capable, earning opportunities that took months of effort and finding genuine happiness along the way.

What is your favorite place on campus and why? 

My favorite place on campus is Room 411 on the fourth floor of Grady. It’s quiet, has whiteboards perfect for brainstorming, ambient lighting, and TVs I can mirror my screen on. It’s like a luxury study room and the ideal place to focus and get things done.

What advice would you give to your future self? 

I’d tell my freshman self to avoid stressing about the reasons not to do something. Just say ‘yes’. You have to figure out what you don’t like just as much as what you do, and the only way to do that is through experience. Every opportunity, good or bad, teaches you something worth knowing.

Editor: Anyi Morfaw, abm40431@uga.edu