Communication major Indyah Bryant, 鈥�19, is passionate about two things: finding out what makes people tick and telling stories.
But not just any stories.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize 鈥� storytelling is important. It can be used for fun but the person behind the camera has a lot of power.鈥�
At Meredith, Indyah developed her skills and knowledge to take that passion and make a difference in the world using her favorite medium: video.
鈥淰ideo is my thing. I love video. I want to make videos that educate people and make them want to get involved. I want to be able to express the injustices in the world.鈥�
As a video intern for Meredith鈥檚 marketing department, she was mentored by the lead videographer, who strengthened Indyah鈥檚 video and photo editing skills. In-depth conversations with the head of media services where she worked聽on campus taught Indyah about the value of both listening and sharing her own perspective.
鈥淚 find happiness in learning about others. I like seeing people for who they are 鈥� knowing them as an individual and the strengths they have 鈥� and not bringing myself into it. In telling a story I know who my focus is.鈥�
Minoring in sociology and criminology, Indyah has explored social justice through her classes and involvement in student organizations. Several experiences stand out, such as when students held a Black Out to protest police brutality, and a prison warden visited her class during Sociology Week and talked about inmates serving life sentences. And through her involvement with the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, she explored social justice issues from a biblical perspective.
Such experiences made her want to tell stories that educate her community and help to bring about positive change 鈥� something she聽already started to do while at Meredith. She made a video to educate viewers about police brutality and also did a mini video series for Meredith鈥檚 Black Student Union.
鈥淭he series was intended to promote the respect and self-love we should have as Black women. We don鈥檛 always see the beauty that is within us 鈥� we wanted other people to see us and educate them as to what we have to overcome because of our blackness.鈥�
Indyah never expected to attend a women鈥檚 college 鈥� in high school, some of her closest friends were men. Now she finds that her closest relationships and friendships are those she made at Meredith.
鈥淎t Meredith I聽created sisters who aren鈥檛 blood. We were聽trying to do big things in the world. We聽encouraged聽each other and tried聽to see the world differently 鈥� and we鈥檙e going to continue climbing because we鈥檙e on the same level,鈥� said Indyah. 鈥淏eing able to see my friends excel in something they鈥檙e passionate about is聽exciting.鈥�
As she approaches graduation, Indyah feels ready for the next step in her career as a communications officer at North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
鈥淢eredith聽prepared me to go into the field because of the internships I鈥檝e held here and the leadership positions I鈥檝e held. I love challenges and anything that will push me. As long as they see you trying 鈥� you鈥檒l be able to succeed in whatever you do.鈥�
