This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Vanderbilt chapter.
Name: Jasmine Lawrence
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Year: Junior
Major: History with a concentration in Global and Transnational Studies
Minor(s): Human and Organizational Development and Corporate Strategy
Campus Involvement: I currently serve as a Resident Adviser, soon to be Head Resident in Moore College, a Tour Guide (check me out on Vanderbilt’s website giving a virtual tour!), Vice-President of the National Black Law Student Association, Vanderbilt Ignite (formerly Vanderbilt Adventist Christian Fellowship), Publicity chair for both The Original Cast and the Caribbean Student Association, program coordinator for Common Denominators, program co-chair for the Interfaith Council, and last but certainly not least, I am a Posse Scholar.
Wow. I had no idea how involved you were. While I think that all of these positions are highly interesting, I think I want to know more about your involvement with The Original Cast. What is it exactly and how did you get involved?
The Original Cast is the premier Broadway revue group here on campus and we do shows/productions where we take songs from different musicals and ascribe our own contexts to them. This typically includes changing the song lyrics and the basic storyline, while leaving the instrumental portion untouched. I auditioned last semester, which is pretty late compared to the other members of the cast. I was actually inspired to audition by a fellow Vanderbilt student during a chance meeting at a NY sendoff party. Long story short, we bonded over our love for Broadway shows and he suggested that I audition for The Original Cast. Performance and theatre was something that I was heavily involved with in high school, so I decided to audition when I returned to school this past August and I haven’t looked back since.
What has been the most rewarding thing about being a member of The Original Cast?
First of all, I love that our cast is so small and tight-knit, because it allows us to foster a strong sense of community which allows for our high level of trust in one another. It has also allowed me to return to my roots, so to speak. As I mentioned earlier, I was very much involved in theater in high school, and performing is truly one of my passions, so being able to join a team where I work with others to bring my passion to life is really a dream come true.
I know that you also take great pride in serving as an RA/HR in College Halls. What led you to apply for the position?
I’ve always been told that I am a very supportive and encouraging person and I am usually the friend others come to when in need of a listening ear or a mediator in their lives. I felt as though my interpersonal abilities could translate into creating a community here at Vanderbilt that closely aligned with what I think the ideal Vanderbilt community should be. Through my work as a tour guide, I constantly share with prospective students how wonderful Vanderbilt is and I feel as though the RA position was necessary to ensuring that my vision for a supportive community was tangible. I want to make sure that the students here are having as wonderful a time as they possibly can and that they feel supported in all avenues so that Vanderbilt can remain as great as it is. Also, I love being in College Halls because I really connect with the idea of extending that utopian community that is built at Commons to an upperclassman residence hall, and allowing our older students to continue experiencing that type of environment up until their graduation date.
What is your favorite thing about being an RA?
I have enjoyed creating programs that expose students to larger issues about relevant things in our society and bringing those issues to the forefront. Events that provoke thoughtful discussion in our community and create a conversation that can be continued outside of the Vanderbilt community are ones that I really value. The autonomous nature of the College Halls community is really conducive to this type of programming because students here feel as though they are free to voice their honest opinions, leading to more robust and beneficial discussion.
You’re also pretty famous around campus for your amazing singing voice. When did your passion for song develop?
For as long as I can remember, I have loved to sing. Some of my earliest memories are of me singing in my crib around the age of two, so obviously, it is a huge part of my life. When I was younger, I would sing in choirs and things like that, but it wasn’t until I received singing lessons due to frequent vocal strain that I began to develop my technique and became able to use my voice in a multitude of ways. From that point on, I would jump at any opportunity to sing, including enrolling at the premiere performing arts high school in the nation. It was there that I began to take the art of singing seriously and I really blossomed as a result of that.
What is your favorite thing about Vanderbilt?
Although it can be argued that there is a “mainstream” Vanderbilt, I don’t think that students are necessarily forced to subscribe to it. There are a variety of options and communities here at Vanderbilt where one can really find their fit and I think that was what really attracted me to Vanderbilt. It wasn’t large enough for me to feel lost, but not small enough for me to feel trapped either. You really have a chance to explore here and find your true interests.
What are your career aspirations?
I am all over the place when it comes to this area, but I originally wanted to be a lawyer, whether it be entertainment or corporate law. I am leaning more towards entertainment and consumer products now, which is more media based, but I would love to do both. In a perfect world I would do everything that my heart desires, including becoming a Broadway actress, but due to my immense dedication to the jewel that is the LSAT, I think that I am going to stick with entertainment law for the time being. As long I am able to stay within the entertainment realm, I’ll be happy.