By snoadmin
Hundreds of college and high school students rounded up at the Beach Auditorium Wednesday morning for the Boost Mobile’s Game Behind Game panel, where five successful professionals in entertainment, music and sports shared their personal experiences and tactics to excelling in competitive fields. The event was sponsored by the USU Program Council.
The entire event consisted of individuals who struggled for their careers, each telling his or her stories in order to inspire the crowd.
The event opened with Boost Mobile Project Manager and former Laker Girl Stacey Stewart and Boost Mobile Marketing Director Darryl Butler.
Moderator Beverly Smith, media director in sales and editor at large for Vibe magazine, started the discussion. The group of panelists consisted of Butler, Mark Scoggins, vice president of marketing for Magic Johnson Enterprises, Ava DuVernay, celebrity publicist for “American Idol” contestant and actress Jennifer Hudson, entertainer Derek Watkins (also known as Fonzworth Bentley) and Krystal Shipp, NASCAR public relations professional.
During the session, students were given the chance to ask the panelists for advice about employment after graduation, being taken seriously by large corporations, credible Web sites to get their careers started and their personal motivations that kept them on their path.
Scoggins said how hard work is a crucial aspect to being successful and that everyone on stage started at the bottom. He said only those who push and network with the companies get results.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” he said. “Put the boyfriend or girlfriend on hold, pick up the phone, call somebody and articulate yourself.”
Bentley said students should become active when being spoken to. He pointed out that out of the hundreds of students in the crowd, only a few were actually taking notes. He said writing is one of his great motivations and that “the note pad is to tell you: What did you do for your dream today?”
However, junior kinesiology major Nonye Nzenwa challenged the panelists about Boost Mobile marginalizing young people to gain profit and sales.
“Overall, I appreciated the panel, but I felt it was superficial and it didn’t get their point across. To me, the company is exploiting the youth to make money,” she said.
Butler responded by saying every company does need profit, but Boost is taking a different approach and is asking only for improvement within the community and for shaping the direction of young people.
Some of the audience members participated in a challenge to win a Boost Mobile phone by giving the best pitch about themselves. Senior music major Francisco Ramirez was one of the winners.
“I think it’s great when people of the business give free insight. You can never pay for that. We go to school and learn how things work. They [panelists] give actual insight on why they work,” he said.
Ava DuVernay ended the event by telling students, “I tell myself that I am valuable. It’s not about getting the job. The company would be lucky to have you.”
