It’s a fresh school year, so why not have a fresh new face for Campus Celebrity?! This week’s celebrity is Mikey Burson! Mikey is one of the most genuine, funniest, outgoing, and hardworking men I’ve ever met, and most people agree!
Her Campus: Hey Mikey! So why’d you choose to come to VSU?
Mikey Burson: Hi Kenya! Thanks for having me on your show [laughs]! I chose to come to VSU because I had heard a lot about their theatre program and how great it was. A friend from high school was going here, which made my transition a bit easier, but I also did some research on the department, found out they take the occasional trip called Pro-Con to NYC for networking and work shopping purposes, and that sounded really awesome to me and was actually a small factor when I was making my decision. Haha!
HC: What are you involved in on campus?
MB: Well, I’m a theatre major, so I try to be heavily involved in the department. So apart from being in the occasional production, I work our Box Office, help any way I can. I also double as the President of the Rho Epsilon Cast of Alpha Psi Omega, our National Honorary Dramatic Fraternity. This is my first year being an officer, so I’m still getting used to that. I also triple as a Resident Assistant for Housing & Res. Life, so there’s a lot of work involved with that as well.
HC: Impressive! How do you manage everything on your plate, from all the things you’re a part of as well as your personal life?
MB: I’ve had to learn the hard way that you really need balance when it comes to being involved with a lot of things. Like instead of focusing all your time and energy on one thing, it’s healthier to find some kind of balance. I’ve had to learn to focus on and be more in the moment. When I’m doing theatre stuff, or in rehearsal, I’m in rehearsal! Or when I’m working, I’m in full RA mode. But I also have to find time for myself as well, so when I’m hanging with friends, I’m hanging with friends, you feel me dawg?
HC: I feel you… dawg [laughs]. What has been your best experience so far?
MB: I’d have to say my best experience was the time I traveled with our theatre department to NYC for Pro-Con. Pro-con is set up for us to network with alumni and others in the industry, as well as attend awesome master classes with some fantastic casting directors, etc. It was my first time in NYC, and I saw some amazing shows, met some amazing people, ate some amazing food and it really gave me some confidence when it came to thinking about the future and being a struggling actor. It also opened my eyes to other areas of the theatre industry in which I could totally see [myself] being just as happy pursuing. One of the best moments of the trip was when I went with some friends to see my first Broadway show, The Phantom of the Opera. I was able to randomly meet a super sweet girl who ushered for the Majestic Theatre, where Phantom plays, and simply because I was able to make that connection, we received our own little private tour backstage, and got to meet and chill with The Phantom of the Opera in his dressing room. Yeah… It was the best first B-Way show anyone could possibly have… Haha!
HC: That sounds so inspiring! By the way, who inspires you and why?
MB: My mom and dad certainly inspire me. They’re just really strong people to me. They’ve seen a lot. Done a lot. Made a lot of mistakes. But at the end of the day, they’ve always been very family-oriented people, which is why I think I am as well. Other than them, I’ve found that Macklemore and his music really inspire me as well. And Jessie J, my favorite female artist, is absolutely an inspiration to me, partially because she majored in Musical Theatre in college, and also because she’s practically perfect in every way, and any argument is invalid [laughs].
HC: What made you want to be an RA and why?
MB: I love this question! I really wanted to be an RA because my RAs freshman year made a very positive impact on me, and I decided that one of my life’s ambitions was to positively impact the lives of others. I began realizing that every little tiny thing you do affects someone in some way, so I decided that I would try to impact people positively as much as possible, and if I impact them in a negative way, then I have failed. Being an RA isn’t the easiest position, but it is unbelievably rewarding to see how positively you can impact people and not even realize you did it!
Mikey with some fellow RAs
HC: What’s it like being a theatre major, an RA, President of APO, etc.?
It’s certainly not the easiest life to lead! I stay really busy, but I’ve learned different ways to keep myself focused and organized so I can juggle everything. This time two years ago… No ma’am. I wouldn’t have been able to do it [laughs]. But now I color code my planner, set reminders in my phone, and try my best to stay on top of everything. There are always going to be slip-ups, because hey, no one is perfect.
HC: Planners are the best! So, what makes you truly happy?
MB: Ooh… Good question… I’d say things that make me truly happy are being with my family and friends! Seeing other people truly happy! Seeing people being supportive for one another! Knowing I have a huge support system behind me, even if I forget every now and then! I’m also kind of a hopeless romantic, so seeing people together who I feel are just meant to be! Oh! And doggies!
HC: Who can resist puppies?! If you were nominated as a superlative during your last year at VSU, what do you think it would be?
MB: I don’t know… I’d really like a superlative like “Most Loyal,” “Most Likely to Make Your Day,” or even “Most Likely to Be on TV/Broadway/Live In New York.” Something that would assure me that people believe in me and what I do and stand for.
HC: What is your major accomplishment from being at VSU so far?
MB: I can’t really hone in on one thing I’ve accomplished since being here and call it my major accomplishment… I’m proud of all of my accomplishments! Everything I’ve done and experienced since being here at VSU has made me who I am today, and while I constantly strive to change, it’s not to become a better person, it’s to become a better version of myself, because I certainly wouldn’t change who I am! With that mentality, one could argue that my major accomplishment was coming to VSU.
Last semester, Mikey started a campaign for “I Won’t Stand For It.” Hundreds of students came to support!
HC: Okay, last question: what do you want to do with your life?
MB: I want to do a lot, as long as it makes me happy! Of course, being a successful performer would make me super happy, especially in certain roles. But I’d also be really happy being a Casting Director, hopefully for Telsey + Company in NY! Either way, I definitely want to live in New York eventually! My hopeless romantic/southern boy side would also prefer marriage someday… But we’ll see how things go professionally for me! Haha. Still, people are always changing, especially in college, so what might make me happy now, may not make me happy by the time graduation comes! And that’s fine! Either way, I’m definitely doing things that bring positivity to my life and hopefully the lives of others!
Mikey exemplies such great qualities which make him a great leader: Being friendly, positive, open-minded and, above all, kind to others. Next time you see him, say hi!