Meet Me: Shayla Nguyen
My fingers shook while I wrote “Monster by Nicki Minaj” on the karaoke sign-up sheet. I mean, what could go wrong? As I stood on stage, my gaze was glued to my feet as the heavy beat dropped. The crowd hushed, watching me in slight confusion as I looked at everything but the 50+ faces in front of me. I cut through the silence of the room by rapping aggressively, my body language doing a complete 180. It felt like there was a gun to my head, commanding me to go all in. Word. For. Word. By the time I finished, the crowd hyped me up like it was my own concert.
Earlier, I had spent half an hour watching others perform, wondering, What if… I don’t play it safe? In my head, I’d been plotting my surprise act. I successfully baffled the audience–and loved it–not because I am oddly sadistic, but because it was fun, confusing (for the others), and an inside joke with myself. The kind of harmless chaos I live for.
My name is Shayla. Born and raised in Kinston, NC, I graduated from UNC Charlotte in May 2024 with a B.A. in Communications Studies and a minor in Psychology. Back home, I reached out to Magic Mile Media for an opportunity. Coincidentally, they announced a summer internship the NEXT day. Right then and there, I knew I had to take further initiative.
Working hands-on in a media company was an opportunity that excited me. Creativity fuels my brain like nothing else can. While technical skills are important, I would love to get better at quick thinking, communicating effectively, and brainstorming solutions. My goal is to learn how to build rapport that turns colleagues into collaborators.
Once I finish my internship, I plan to find a position within a media company or a PR firm. I’m also interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in Accounting. A big move? Maybe. But like performing on stage, all it takes is one bold choice to remind myself what I am capable of.
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