Senior Javay Frye seems as if she’s done everything there is to do at JMU — as a double major AND minor (hospitality management and media arts and design as well as general business and creative writing), she’s had a full course load every semester. On top of all the classes, Frye’s been a first year orientation guide, an orientation peer guide and a student ambassador, along with being an active sister of Delta Gamma. With all of her activities, we figured she’d have some advice for the rest of us.
What do you want to do?
The end-all-be-all is to become CEO of the Walt Disney Company. That is what I’m going to do — that is the end. That is where my career is going to go. Along the way, I want to be a screenplay writer, I want to make amazing films, but at the same time I want to be an event planner for the film industry, plan movie premiers and award ceremonies, parties and live the life. We’re young and we’re cool and I’m hip, so might as well do what I love.
What are you involved in on campus?
I am involved in Delta Gamma, I am a student ambassador and I am on the advisory council for Women for Madison. I was in a lot all throughout, but it had to dwindle down because when you get to senior year you realize that, wow, you need time to plan what you’re going to do when you graduate because the real world is a-knockin’. You better answer the door.
How much sleep do you get on average per night?
Five hours if I’m lucky. Last night I got three, but I drank my coffee this morning and I ate breakfast so I’m pretty good.
When you need a break during the day, what do you do?
I get on BuzzFeed because I’m addicted to it, and I find articles that relate to my friends and I post them on their Facebook walls.
What is the best part about JMU?
I think the most rewarding thing is the experiences. You experience so many different people, so many different opportunities, so many life-changing moments that you wouldn’t be able to get at another university … There’s no other university that just cares so much about their students while they’re here and after they’re gone.
Around this time four years ago you just found out that you were accepted here. What would you tell yourself?
I would definitely tell myself to pack less clothes, but also to try a little harder. Just a smidge. No one knows what they want to do and the plan is going to change, but just plan to do more than you would ever want to because if you don’t, you’re going to look back one day and say, ‘I could have done so much better, and I wouldn’t be in this predicament.’ So if you just put in a little more effort, you can set yourself up for a lot more greater things.
How many clothes did you bring?
I brought my whole wardrobe. I had over 30 pairs of shoes, and literally everything else in my closet. It was crazy.
Where did you live?
I lived in Garber, in the Village, and I was in a quad, which is one of those big rooms that has four people in it. So it’s a lot of stuff to bring for one room with four people. My bed was the highest in the room because I had to raise it so high to fit all my stuff underneath. It was crazy, but so worth it. I was so well dressed.
Who are some of your role models?
At JMU, I’ve gained so many. The top ones would have to be Mollie Zenz, who works in the Orientation Office, she is my mentor and such a role model to me. She is amazing in every way. My boss at the Alumni Office, Paula Polglase, she is unbelievable and amazing. She’s a mom, she’s like my mom at school. She literally yells at me if I’m slacking off in school, she keeps me on track and she encourages me. I was so afraid to apply to grad schools and she was like ‘do it. Just do it. Literally.’
Who is your style icon?
OK, depending on what look I’m going for, like if I’m trying to be a top-notch chick, Olivia Pope from ABC’s “Scandal”, hands down! Always aim to look like Olivia. Homegirl’s always looked amazing. Even when she was kidnapped, she looked bomb. And then just Charlotte Russe, in general. Charlotte Russe is my style icon. Charlotte Russe is not a person, it is a store, but the store is my style icon. It is also my whole wardrobe.