Profiles of Tenacity

Tenacity to me means to defy the odds while being resilient and persevering through adversity. Tenacity is not always pretty but it is necessary because it teaches you things you may not have known about yourself. When you are equipped with tenacity you have more grit and leverage to dominate those challenges you may face. Also on the contrary, when you are tenacious it reflects in your work ethic and sets you apart from everyone else.

Most people think of tenacity as dogged determination to stay the course no matter what. For me, tenacity has been more about finding the courage to continue growing personally, academically and spiritually even when that growth requires inconvenient or painful change. I don’t like to be wrong, but I have learned there is freedom in admitting mistakes and finding a new path forward.

Tenacity to me means the strength to do what scares you, to take chances and fight for your future. Personally, I see my tenacity in being a first-generation student. I didn’t always think I would be able to go to college, however fighting for yourself, being determined and knowing that the future is just over the horizon, makes the hard work worth it.

My biggest accomplishment has been believing in myself and my abilities more. Sometimes, I can be hard on myself and become doubtful of my gifts and skills. I’ve learned to give myself grace and that really goes a long way.

Everyone in their own way is uniquely talented. We all got into this college for a reason. Remember, your peers are not your enemies. Even if one person achieves something and another achieves something else, you are also doing incredible things or will do incredible things! Support each other’s successes and learn from those you may envy.

“For me, tenacity is the ability to recognize my goals and stop at nothing to achieve them. I am always learning, adapting, changing, and trying to be the best version of myself, but progress does not come without rejection, failure, or a change of plans. My biggest accomplishments have been made possible through my perseverance at times when it felt like all was lost.”

“Tenacity, to me, means defining what kind of life you want and making it happen. Even when the path changes and the steps to get there aren’t clear, you don’t sit back and just hope it’ll work out; you take action to make it a reality.”

I am most fulfilled by international stories – I love learning and experiencing different ways of life, and the various forms of storytelling that follow from that. Most importantly, I’m invested in changing the media landscape in a way that provides more visibility and competitive wages and education to those in creative industries in developing countries, which often fall victim to exploitation by Western streaming services or production companies.

Get involved! Always say yes to new opportunities. Everything is a chance to learn something new or make a friend.

Enrolling in the New Media Certificate program has been the most transformative experience of my time at UGA. It introduced me to a world where technology merges with creativity, and exposed me to career possibilities previously unknown to me. Notably, I secured an internship at Delta Airlines through connections I made during a field trip to their headquarters.

My most memorable Grady experience was actually visiting the big three talent agencies during the Grady Los Angeles program. I had heard a lot about talent agencies, and how they were a common place for people to start in the entertainment world. But they also felt oddly mysterious to me, so getting to be inside the buildings themselves was a cool opportunity.

Don’t stand in your own way! Rejection and judgment are scary, but they shouldn’t stop you from putting yourself out there and taking risks. It will all be okay in the end.

If you have the passion, if you have the drive, and you care deeply, you will make it. Don’t compare yourself to a classmate or a professional who is 10 years ahead of you in the field. But, to get to where you want to be, you have to push yourself past what you’ve already done. Take every opportunity and assignment, get feedback and connect with your professors.

My family legacy and future self motivate me a lot. As a first-generation student of color who is the first in a family line to take physical in-person graduate classes, I want to be more than just a journalist/creator/entertainer/entrepreneur checking boxes. I want to be the knowledgeable head of the household who is a scholar of the world.

You can’t mess up what is meant for you! I’ve always felt burdened by the potential mistakes I can make as a young professional. College is the first time many of us are entering the corporate world, and it can feel like every move directly impacts our future. This simple mantra reminds me that everything will unfold the way it is supposed to, regardless of any missteps I make.

Surround yourself with successful people who want you to succeed, too. These are people who are more experienced than you and who want you to learn from their experiences.

All of my Grady classes in undergrad and graduate school have prepared me for my capstone campaigns classes, which have provided an amazing opportunity for real-world experience while still in school. In my undergraduate campaigns class, I was able to work with a real agency to create a full campaign for one of their clients and bring together everything I had learned in all of my coursework. Additionally, through connections I made in that class, I was able to land an account service internship with that agency during the following summer.

This world is so extraordinary, but we don’t take the time to understand it. People are the root of this. That’s why I love this industry. We have the potential to make real good change. Take the time to find the purpose behind a project or client, and watch that fiery passion start to fuel your work!

To be tenacious you must be persistent. Never stopping to reach your goal no matter what may stand in the way. For me, that’s chasing my dream of working in sports. Whatever video story or work-related experience is next, I want to give it my all. That attitude of never settling is the core foundation of tenacity.

If I could talk to my freshman-year self, I would tell her to take in every moment. Walking to class, getting coffee with a friend, eating at Bolton or even waiting for the crosswalk to turn for what feels like hours, is so special. UGA is truly the best school with the best people, so soak it all in!

Whether that’s with a piece I wrote or edited together, kind words, or just a goofy antic or joke, I wake up every day hoping to be a positive influence on someone.

Just over a year ago, I started writing the screenplay that would win 1st Place at the Broadcast Educators Association’s Festival of Media Arts Award for Best Narrative Feature Screenplay. I started out making every beginner mistake, but over time and eight different drafts, it has become something I am extremely proud of.

Really take the time to get to know the Grady faculty and staff. They go out of their way to help Grady students, whether it be making a networking connection for you, setting up wellness events, or simply lending an ear.

My biggest accomplishment within the past year has been continuing to trust in myself and my gifts which has allowed me to walk in my first New York Fashion Week Show and launch my creative consulting business.

“Commit to a club or organization. I’ve connected with so many people and received so many great opportunities from the connections I’ve made.”

“I chose advertising as my major because it combines my passion for creativity with the opportunity to influence and impact people on a large scale. My biggest life goal is to leave the world better than I found it. As an agent of social change, empowerment, expression and information, advertising can create awareness, persuade viewers and influence the world.” — Advertising Major

“I’m passionate about the conservation of public lands, which is originally rooted in an appreciation for the outdoors. It became a passion after I participated in the SPIA National Parks Program this past summer where I had the opportunity to visit 12 National Parks with incredible students and staff. I find public lands inspiring because they are a unique bipartisan issue that people of all political affiliations overwhelmingly support.” — Public Relations Student

“Grady College does a great job of making a lot of personal interests worth researching and discussing. People who work in academia want to help you and make you feel welcome. When you are good to Grady College, I promise that Grady College will be good to you.”

“I’ve always been interested in current events and felt that journalists have a unique responsibility to share otherwise untold stories with the public. In high school I loved working with the student body through yearbook and our news broadcast team, and knew I wanted to continue sharing people’s stories on a larger scale.” — Journalism Major

“I’m motivated by the idea of telling stories that matter, both to myself and my community. I’ve seen firsthand what it means to cover my local community and what it means to people.”

“I enjoy being able to capture moments on camera and give memories a place to live forever. I like the reaction people have when they see themselves from a perspective they never had before. Video and film are art forms that have the unique ability to transport viewers to another world or back to another time, so I like to make content that has the power to do that.”

“I think it’s so important to be honest with yourself about what pathway you want to take with your career. It’s easy to get caught up in what other people are doing and ultimately model your own path based on others’ opinions, but you need to stay true to yourself and stay confident in what is going to make you the most satisfied and happy with your life.”

“To me tenacity means perseverance. It means that even when things get hard you will continue to follow your goals.”

“Roadblocks are inevitable in life. Tenacity is all about how you encounter those roadblocks. Do you turn around, or do you try to push that roadblock out of your way? It’s about embracing an attitude of gratitude to learn immensely from those moments.”

Third-year journalism student Christian Conte said he is motivated by mentorship and giving back to others. (Photos courtesy of Christian Conte)

“Coming into college and not knowing what major I wanted to pursue was challenging. I had to have a persistent determination to reach out to people, apply for internships and clubs and dig for opportunities. I’ve faced more rejections than acceptances, but the important thing is that I never gave up, and I eventually found an internship leading to a job!”

Fourth-year public relations student Claire Hensley said her biggest accomplishment this year was working for the KPMG Innovation Lab. (Photos courtsey of Claire Hensley)