Meet Cody Carroll, a senior majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Geography. Upon first impression, it’s clear that he has a style all his own –but what life experiences, what involvement on and off campus contributes to this demeanor? Her Campus Virginia Tech sat down with Cody to learn more about his current endeavors in cultivating the local music scene, co-founding a high-end footwear line catered to young, career-oriented woman with his fraternity brother, Troy, and many other projects that define the essence of being well-rounded, well-traveled and well—interesting.
For good measure, both interviewer and interviewee had the tendency to drift topics, but the seamless intermissions and side conversations help communicate what Cody strives to do with his life: seemingly anything and everything, all effortlessly.
How do you define your personal style?
I pick what I want, and I don’t care about having used stuff; I think it adds character. I care about the story behind the piece of clothing; I don’t mind if it’s slightly pushing boundaries.
My style is also very seasonal. In the summer, I dress more preppy. In the fall and spring, it’s more layering. In the winter, it’s mostly dark clothing.
What makes you unique?
I’ve come from many different facets of living. My first year was in the Corps of Cadets, while my second year I was an RA and pledged my current fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. I guess I’m a walking contradiction. My dad was in the army so I moved around a lot, living abroad for 11 years, with five in Italy and six in Germany.
How did living abroad affect you?
It affected my overall openness and equal-ness.
What other activities or organizations are you involved with?
Currently, I’m in Tau Kappa Epsilon, having pledged TKE my Sophomore year, and for a year I was a SGA senator. I’m also involved with the Environmental Coalition and with SOHL— Students of Hip Hop legacy.
I’m a cofounder of a high-end fashion shoe design company: Challet. It was started by my fraternity brother, Troy Vasquez, when he went abroad and met a similarly-minded, business-oriented fashionista. He brought me in because I was extremely interested in the fashion industry. All the things were coming together at the right time.
Tell me more about your involvement with this fashion brand?
I’m the Head of Conversations, which is basically connecting people of different talents and similar purpose, and as Creative Director, I operate in the sense of marketing and content, including management of the website, photography curation and our Instagram account. I pitch ideas with having just launched a few weeks ago, but it’s basically Troy’s project, so he makes final decisions as this is his third business.
Images courtesy of ChalletWorldwide Instagram.
What is your involvement in revitalizing the alternative music scene in Blacksburg?
I would say mostly hosting; that’s my role right now. I was going to open my house initially because I have a basement that has the space for housing bands and that’s what I did last semester in my apartment. I was working at Yoga Jam festival and there was a need to host, and I saw everything coming together again, and now I’m hosting and booking shows.
This last Saturday I had SOHL bring three rappers from the DMV area. We didn’t anticipate the number of people who showed up; it was insane, over 200 people were at my house. It was maximum capacity, and people still were trying to get in!
[With this experience] you’re building up the community and the feelings of why they’re there. It’s all about the culture of appreciating the artists and the space.
What’s the story behind the house? [For context, there’s a rich tradition in naming venues in the house show scene.]
We have two cats living in the house. It’s also describing the venue as sort of dingy and imperfect space, but I’m up front about it, and with calling it “The Litterbox,”—it gives it a fun vibe. I’m not trying to make it something that it’s not; the subtly, honesty and the power of it speaks for itself.
But it’s mostly about my cat. Raury is named after the rapper Raury, and he’s the love of my life. The type of rap is bending the genre, it’s revolutionary and there’s so much purpose. He’s [the rapper] not the most popular person, but he does something unique and it represents the time of when I got him. I got him last year, two weeks before Halloween.
Images courtesy of TheLitterboxVenue
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
I met this guy over the summer where I was living and interning in Boulder, Colorado. What he said stayed with me and goes along with how I feel. Saying, “focus on the location first, you are very about everything that is around you above all else. You’re going to find most comfort in a single home, open for people or open for yourself.”
So, I want any job that interests me, it doesn’t have to be in my major or my field, I just try to continue to build up different skills to be prepared for various things. Location-wise, I would want to go more West or overseas, since I lived abroad for so long.
The definition of open-minded and demonstrating the superior eye for capitalizing on opportunity, follow along with Cody as he carves out his place in this community and hereafter.