Whether you’re a VSU student or not, it’s always cool to know who the head of an organization is and what their story is about. Find out about our wonderful president, Ariel Hairston!
What made you want to start a Her Campus Organization here at VSU?
Well the publications on campus were all academic based at the time, and I wanted an organization that caters to women who want to write for a magazine one day rather than a newspaper. I have been subscribed to Cosmopolitan for going on two years now and I just love it! I read Seventeen and J-14 A LOT growing up and always thought it would be cool to write for a magazine company. The moment I found out about Her Campus, I took advantage of the incredible opportunity. It gives the women on campus a voice and also allows for aspiring journalists to write about what truly interests them.
What motivates you to keep going?
Definitely my girls! I love each and every one of them. They work so hard and take Her Campus Valdosta very seriously. They love it just as much as I do! I’m the leader of this train, so if I stop, we all do. Therefore stopping is not an option! Plus, I truly enjoy it. What motivates me the most is all the fun I have while doing it!
How does it feel to be a president of an organization that has just begun?
It feels amazing because I see so much potential in it. In the 8 weeks we’ve been at VSU, we’ve made a major impact on the students here. We have built a reputation for being a consistent organization (writing every week is HARD work!) and keeping everything fun and interesting. The fact that it’s brand new and that I founded it puts less pressure on me. I wasn’t appointed president by a previous exec board. This was all ME. So I have no prior standard to live up to, but I plan to end my term strong so that the next president can make it even better!
How do you handle time management?
Oh man. Spring semester I was taking 5 classes and also doing a marketing internship with Spotify. Editing 22-24 Her Campus articles every week definitely added to the stress, but I have a 3.9 so I wasn’t worried about my GPA falling, and I was already pretty good at time management. The key has been ORGANIZATION. And setting a gazillion alarms! I set an alarm for everything! [laughs]
What do you expect out of current and prospect members?
I expect hard work and dedication, first and foremost. My members will tell you: I don’t play! If you miss more than two meetings, you’re on probation and can’t write until the next semester. Same goes for missing more than two articles. However, my girls will tell you that they love it and we have a lot of fun! You write about whatever you want to write about, so it hardly ever feels like work. As one of my writers Kersha said, presidents seemed to either be feared or walked all over. And she thinks I have a great balance between the two. I agree.
Where do you see Her Campus VSU within the next year?
I see us being one of the most successful organizations on campus, honestly. Hopefully there will be more diversity; since I’m black, I attracted mostly black students. But I am trying to bridge the gap next year so that the whole school will get involved and we can have a more diverse set of members/readers! Goals goals goals!
Who is your role model?
Obviously, my mom. But since that’s so common, I’m going to say between Vashtie Kola (Va$htie) and Rocsi Diaz. I love Va$htie because she is a respected female videographer who every artist only dreams of working with! And Rocsi started out on radio, moved to 106 & Park, and now she’s on ET! People like to talk down on Rocsi, but that girl has a job that I dream of having one day! Working for ET is a huge accomplishment. I wouldn’t mind following in the footsteps of either celebrity; they’re females who earned their respect through their skills. That’s role model status!
What is your favorite hobby during your down time?
This is going to sound super random and lame, but I love listening to music while playing spider solitaire [laughs]. I’m pretty quirky, I know. I play with 4 suits, so it’s pretty challenging, and it’s sad because according to my stats I’ve played almost 400 games! But it’s the music I’m mostly into, and I just use spider solitaire as a pastime while listening. Everything else seems distracting; I like to focus on what’s playing.
When are you graduating?
I am graduating in May 2015, which means I will need a new president for Fall 2015! *wink wink*
When you leave this earth, what is one thing you want people to remember you by?
My dedication to the things and people I love. I only accept my best, and so you’ll only get my best. I don’t halfway do anything in life, whether it’s in my career or within my relationships. I want people to know that even at my weak moments, they always got the best Ariel I could give them.
Thank you Ariel for all of your hard work and dedication! As a Her Campus member I am truly proud of you and I hope you continue to be great!