Why did you decide to run for homecoming court?
I think for me, running for homecoming court is much more than just the opportunity to be on court or the type of recognition it is. It’s more of a chance to represent the student body. Being a senior, this is my last couple months here on campus — having the opportunity to finish out what I started here on campus in saying that I’m able to walk on that field this weekend and represent a multitude of different and diverse students. That’s, in a sense, why I ran for Homecoming Court. When I walk out there this Saturday, it’s not for myself and it’s not for my family, but it’s truly for the students here on campus and the students that I’m able to represent who come to this great university.
What makes LSU special to you?
That’s a very difficult question. There are a lot of things, as generic as that probably is, that make LSU special. I think the thing that makes LSU so special to me is it’s been rooted in my history. Growing up, LSU was that school that I dreamed of coming to. It was that place that on Saturday nights where — if we were lucky to have a ticket — we got to come up and watch the Tigers play. But now that I’m here and now that I’m fixing to leave, LSU is so much more than that. LSU has made me into the man that I am today; it’s made me into the professional, the adult I am, and it’s given me responsibility, and the list of different traits and opportunities that LSU has given to me is unimaginable.
What has your LSU experience been like?
Nothing short of easy or simple. When I first started at LSU, I jumped in headstrong, got involved in as many things as I possibly could. I was led by many amazing leaders on campus and learned a great deal from them. When I had the opportunity to become the leader, I jumped at it with open arms. Here at LSU, they really embrace your leadership. They embrace your opportunity for growth and strength, and that to me has shaped my time here because I had my ups, downs, struggles and accomplishments. Every single year, there was a different thing that I was able to accomplish, and also a different lesson that I was able to learn practically each day.
What is your favorite LSU memory?
My favorite LSU memory would be when the last football season — it was actually for Homecoming — all the students were in the stands and we beat [Ole Miss] by a very short margin. The students stormed the field. It was something that you always see on TV, but you never think or imagine you would also be involved in something like that. It was a memory that I will never forget of being rushed onto the field and celebrating that special victory.
What do you hope to give back to the campus community?
At this moment, I hope to give back to the students who think that LSU is just a college and here at LSU you’re just a number…I hope to give to those students the opportunity to see that, here at LSU, you can be who you want to be. You can make those memories and make those accomplishments if you set your mind to it. LSU is a very large university, but with a large university also comes a great deal of opportunities. While I’m still a student, I hope I can inspire students who are coming in as freshmen and sophomores to say, “You know what? There are a lot of opportunities here at LSU — I’m not just a student here, I’m not just a number. I’m actually a leader on campus.” And hopefully later on in life, once I’m making a nice bank account with a nice job, I hope to be able to financially give back to LSU. They’ve given so much to me and I would love to be able to give so much back to LSU throughout my life.
Why did you decide to come to LSU?
Very simple — my aunt and uncle brainwashed me. I decided to come to LSU because as cheesy as this is, it felt right. I came on campus, I did tours and I toured multiple other universities that I’ll leave nameless. I came and stepped foot on campus one more time before it was time to make my decision and something just felt right — something felt like this was the place that clicked. This was the place that I belonged. Now that I’m fixing to graduate, I can honestly say that was a completely true feeling. I would have been a fool to not have chosen LSU.
What’s your favorite class?
It’s gonna have to be two — one was more academically based and one was more physically based. The physically based one was in a theater class that I took my freshman year, my very first semester. It was live acting, and you had to memorize monologues and get up with your fellow classmates and do random scenes, which was really cool because most of the class weren’t even theater majors. So it was cool to watch all these people from different walks of life on campus interact with each other and find a new outlet to express themselves. My other favorite class, with more of an academic approach, was a Women’s and Gender Studies class I took with Dr. Mona Rocha. It helped shape my mind into more of an understanding of equality across the campus, in men and women, races, sex, religion … the list goes on and on. It was really cool to get to interact with multiple people and hear multiple viewpoints.
What’s your favorite tailgate food?
Corn dogs. It became a thing last year when other schools started bringing back the whole “LSU is a corn dog” situation … I don’t even know why they call us that. But at one of the tailgates I was at, they decided to bring corn dogs to the tailgate. It was probably the best tailgate food because all you had to do was just pick it up and you could go on with whatever you were doing.
Who’s your favorite LSU athlete?
I know this is probably stereotypical at this time, but I will say the infamous Leonard Fournette. But I’m gonna say it more so for the type of athlete he is. Yes, he’s an amazing athlete on the field, but he’s also an amazing person off the field. He’s very much about it being a team effort, giving away the recognition to his teammates rather than himself. I think that speaks a lot for him, for the football team and for LSU. Altogether in this, we’re one big school, we’re one big team. He truly does exemplify it.
What’s your favorite sport?
Again, stereotypical: I am a very big football fan. I love college football. It’s funny, I’m not the biggest sports fan, but come Saturdays, I have ESPN on…my family usually makes fun of me. But I really do love college football. I think it’s a great way to show sportsmanship in a university.