Vashaun Brandon ’16

Name: Vashaun Brandon

Major: Marketing

Year: Senior

Hometown: Halifax, Va.

Relationship Status: Single

What activities are you involved in at CNU?

“I’m a Student Ambassador for the Office of Admission, President of Student Academic Advisory Board, Director of Marketing for the National Contract Management Association, and I’m also involved in Blue Crew, which we are trying to revamp this year.” 

Why did you pick CNU?

I was actually on a tour at (another school), and my friend and I decided to Google nearby colleges and CNU popped up. We came and did a walk-on tour, and even though it was rainy and cold, I loved it. When I finished the tour, even though I loved it, I thought it was a no. But I did some more research, looked on the (CNU) website, applied, and ended up coming here. 

Why do you love CNU so much?

Oh wow. I love CNU because it has made such an impact on my life. I don’t know about other people, but coming here has been kind of a culture shock. When I first came here, I honestly thought people were faking how nice they were. [laughs] It’s just different from what I’ve grown up around and all that I’ve been through. It’s something that is indescribable, honestly. 

So where would you see yourself after you graduate?

After I graduate, I of course want to go into marketing, but I really enjoy graphic design, marketing, so I really want to work in that field. I also really want to do voiceovers on the side. But as far as location I’m not sure. I’d like to live in the city, but I grew up in the country and enjoyed it, so I don’t know.

What do you mean voiceovers on the side?

Voiceover acting. I don’t think I want to do animation movies for cartoon characters or anything, but I could do maybe movie trailers or commercials.

Are you the next Morgan Freeman?

I don’t think I would replace Morgan Freeman, but maybe, well, I kind of think I sound like James Earl Jones so who knows? Haha.

When you were little, what did you want to do careerwise?

Oh, I had a lot of interests when I was little. For some reason, in 4th grade I can remember I wanted to be a construction worker, and that evolved into me wanting to be a teacher, to being a policeman. But then, when I was going into middle school, I really wanted to work with computers, so I thought I wanted to do computer programing, engineering. And I’ve always been into art, but I never wanted to do art as a career, just on the side. Get into high school, I took a graphic design class and basically took my interests of art and computers and put them together, and that’s basically graphic design: doing art on computers. And so I fell in love with that. But that wasn’t something I wanted to do as a career, just something on the side. I actually wanted to be a veterinarian at one point. I love animals; we had lots of pets growing up. So it’s kind of evolved over time, but now I really enjoy marketing and graphic design and business.

What is something that makes you happy?

Seeing my mom happy makes me happy. She’s done so much for me and my family over the years and you know, a lot of the things I do are to make her happy because that’s important to me. Another thing that makes me happy is when I see my siblings do well. I’ve spent most of my life trying to be a role model for them, and it makes me happy when I know they’re doing well.

Do you think your siblings will come to CNU?

I don’t know. I’m pretty sure they’ll consider it, but wherever they end up, I’ll be happy.

If you could change anything about your life right now, what would it be?

Right now? I would honestly make more time in the day. I’m really glad I got involved on campus because its helped me grow in a lot of ways, and if I could change anything it would be to have more time in the day to do things I love doing.

Is there anything else you would want people to know about you?

I would want people to know that I’m someone who is genuine and someone who is straightforward. I love to laugh and I love to joke around. I love to dance as well, haha. I really like music, even though I can’t sing or play instruments, but I would love to learn. I’m just really chill. I go with the flow, you know?