Jeremiah Evans, first-year college student with a major in Mass Media Arts, is doing an excellent job balancing his personal, social, and academic life. We sat down with the Memphis native and got the exclusive on his love life, career aspirations, and more! Don’t be surprised uf you find yourself a fan of Jeremiah, he’s quiet the catch and making moves to better the future for us all!
Her Campus: So Jeremiah, how has the experience of your first year in college been thus far?
Jeremiah: So far, it’s going just how I planned. Of course, as a freshman, there were some things I did not expect, but it’s going real good so far.
Her Campus: What didn’t you expect?
Jeremiah: People said that there were going to be parties everyday… I thought that was a lie. There is something to do EVERY DAY. One thing that is making my experience so good is that I got involved in things (on-campus organizations). I think that if I wasn’t involved, I would have been bored a lot.
HC: What clubs and organizations are you involved in on campus?
J.E.: I’m involved in Think Safe, King’s Talk, and Student Government Association. I also have a few upcoming projects like this on-campus TV series I’m working on and I just auditioned in a play. And oh, next year I want to be apart of the Broadcast Club. [Laughs] So yeah, i’m trying to get as involved as possible.
HC: How did you determine what your major would be?
J.E: I realized how interested I was in working with television and acting. I’m a Mass Media major. When I first got here, my mama said, “You need to take up Computer Science, they make a whole lot of money.” I was like, “Ok mom.” I just did it for my first semester, and the class was good, but that’s not something I can see myself doing 10-15 years. So, I looked at Mass Media, people who majored in it and what they’re doing now and the jobs mass media have to offer, and I was like, “That’s exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
HC: That is so good. When you were in the process of applying to college, how did you know that CAU was meant for you?
J.E.: Well, I applied to about 4 or 5 schools before I got accepted to CAU. I went on a tour around April of last year with my senior class was the first college I toured ever. I was like, “I love this.” Atlanta has what I really want to do and what I am passionate about – which is acting. And Clark is just… I’ve heard so many good things it. Why not?
HC: Ok! What was the transition like for you from Memphis to Atlanta?
J.E: In Memphis, you don’t see much individuality. In Atlanta, you do. The transition was smooth. Atlanta is more sociable – which is a good thing.
HC: Did you have to leave any boo’s back in Memphis?
J.E: Nahh. Me and that special someone parted ways before I got here.
HC: Did the break-up have anything to do with you coming to college?
J.E: Nahh.
HV: Ok. Well, I’ma leave that alone.
[We both are awkardly laughing]
HC: Did you attend a predominantly black school prior to coming to an HBCU (historically black college/university)?
J.E: Yes. It was a predominantly black school. There were a few people of other ethnicities, but everybody was from the same place and same hood.
HC: What is the greatest aspect about attending an HBCU to you?
J.E: The greatest aspect is to see what black people can really do, how great we really are.
HC: *Whispers* “black excellence”
J.E: Definitely black excellence. Because the picture we’re painted to society really isn’t that good sometimes. At an HBCU I see what we’re really capable of.
HC: Yesss! What’s a talent that you have that most students don’t know you have?
J.E: A lot of people just know me for football, because I play football. But, acting is one. A lot of people don’t know that, but they will soon. It’s coming. Another talent that students don’t know I have… I can learn very quickly. So, if it’s something I want to learn how to do, I’ma learn how to do it. I can’t sing or dance the best – those are the things that I can’t learn.
HC: What’s a fear that you have?
J.E: To fail. Well, no… That’s not a fear, because you have to fail to succeed. I’m scared of RATS. But outside of that, I’m scared to end up where I started – having to go back to Memphis and hear, “I don’t know why he thought he was going to do all these things he said he was going to do.” That’s the biggest fear, to prove everybody right.
HC: Are there any challenges you are facing or have faced as a first-year college student?
J.E: Yeah. A challenge that is really helping me grow as a student and as a person is knowing when to party and when it’s not time. Priorities – doing what needs to be done first and then having fun. I start doing the important things first. As soon as I get out of class, go study, do my homework. If you do the important things first, you can’t lose.
HC: What is something that students on CAU’s campus don’t know about you?
J.E: Ummm… what they don’t know about me is i’m a huge J-Cole fan. I’m a realist. I really pay attention to what’s going on in the world. I love animals. I just love to interact with new things and new people. Ummm… yeah those are some things people don’t know about me.
HC: Are there any plans for a summer bae,since the school year is ending?
J.E: Imaginary boo? It’s complicated when it comes down to girls on this campus. I guess everybody think somebody trynna play them and it just shows that this generation is scared to love. Well, not to love, but just scared to commit to someone without fearing that they’re gonna “look stupid,” basically. This generation fears too much. So nah, I ain’t got no plans.
HC:You mentioned that there are a lot of trust issues in our generation. What do you think contribute to those trust issues?
J.E: Things that happened in people’s past. See, I’m 19 and I know that if I’m cheated on, it might happen again sadly. People are not perfect, some are good and some are bad. You don’t know what you’re gonna run into. You just gotta keep on hoping you’ll run into the right one. You can’t keep on putting a shield up on somebody. You might put a shield up on the right one.
HC: What you think is the right way to approach a woman that you are interested in.
I’d go up to her respectfully and introduce myself, “Hey, how are you doing? I’m Jeremiah.” Then, I’d offer her a handshake, ask for her name and from there I can only hope the conversation is going well enough for me to ask her out on a date. Just approach her as the respectful guy I am and not be too nervous. I might not have the right words at the moment, but you gotta just let it flow and be normal.
HC: Are you shy?
J.E: Ok… I aint gonna lie, approaching a girl is harder than you think… that’s the thing. I can talk and have normal conversation for days, but I’m not gonna say shy… but… shy might be the word. Not big shy? But…
HC: Little shy? *both laugh*
J.E: Just a little shy. I’m not the most bold when it comes down to just approaching an attractive woman. I’m still working on it, i’m still working on it.
HC: Awww… so cute. What kind of young ladies are you attracted to?
J.E: I’m attracted to girls that respect themselves, basically. Like… I be seeing girls walking to class with not that much on, booty shorts on, their whole body just out. Girls who just go to class, and go to their dorm, go to class, and go to their dorm… I don’t like that. Not a girl who likes to party, party, party every weekend, but likes to get out sometimes. I like a respectful girl who is also respectful to a man. Some girls think that they have the right to belittle a guy because they’re female. Of course beautiful, nice personality… I’m so attracted to personality. I just need somebody I can be myslef with, basically. And oh, I’m setting the record straight- a girl can be pretty, yet be unattractive atthe same time. Again, personality goes a long way.
HC: I am sure you have many young ladies after you with this great sense of fashion you have going on. Who’s yuour style inspiration and why?
J.E: I’m not even gonna say a particular person, I’m just gonna say my upbringing. The environments I lived in… I didn’t look like this. It was very bad, and my mentor told me, “Dress the way you want to be approached.” People tell me I look nice all the time, and that’s how I want to be addressed. This time last year, I didn’t dress nothing like this.
HC: If a lady could surprise you with a gift to express her interest in you, what would it be?
J.E: Girls be giving gifts these days??? [Surprisingly shocked] Umm… Of course, nothing ordinary. For example, for Valentines Day, all the girls would get the same thing – roses and chocolate and chocolate. I don’t exactly… but something out of the ordinary.
HC: What are your aspirations?
J.E: The biggest life aspiration, the reason I even came to college, I want to just change people’s lives. I want my words to fit the people who had the same upbringing as me and hopefully I give them the same hope that helped me out of the hood. I want to go around the country and talk to kids before the struggle takes them.
HC: I hear you mention “where you came from.” What do you mean by that? Are you referring to a struggle?
J.E: Yes, all my life, all my 18 years in Memphis was nothing but struggle – which isn’t a bad thing. I’m glad because it shaped me into who I am now. It shaped me into a hard-working and appreciative person. I appreciate my mama a lot for all the things she has done for me throughout my life.Even when she didn’t have much to offer, she still made sure we ate every day and had somewhere to stay, basically. Even when it wasn’t the prettiest places, it was still somewhere – that’s all that matters.
HC: She raised you with good character, I can tell. Do you plan to remain at CAU for the rest of your college years?
J.E: Oh yeah. I can’t see myself nowhere else.
HC: What advice would you give someone who is currently struggling, and they want to come to college to better themselves and better their circumstances – what would you tell them?
J.E: Do it for the people who want to see you make it and for those who don’t. You never know who you’re inspiring. My home boy didn’t have the brightest future. Now he’s in college and inspiring his little brothers and sisters – he’s inspiring his own mama. His family didn’t believe that he would make it to where he’s at right now. I went back home for Christmas Break and I was suprised to know all the little kids were looking up to me as their role model. It’s amazing cause now they’re saying they want to go to college. I feel like I’m doing something and it only gets better from here.
It was truly a pleasure getting up close and personal with this southern gentlemen. To stay up to date oon all things Jeremiah, follow him on Instagram @jaee_evans , Twitter @lunedagreat, and/or SnapChat @lbm_jeremiah.
-HCXO
All pictures were taken by HCCAU staff and Jeremiah’s personal Instagram page.