Former Student Government Association president discusses life as an alumnus
Antonio Scott- Photo courtesy of Antonio Scott
Sept. 19, 2020
Former UofM student body president Antonio Scott, who recently began his first semester of graduate school at the University of Maryland College Park, highlights his presidency, discussed his experiences after graduation and how he adjusted to campus closing halfway through his final semester.
Scott, 22, graduated from the University of Memphis in 2020 with a bachelor of professional studies in organizational leadership with a double minor in communication and African American studies. In undergrad he became the 2019-2020 president of the Student Government Association.
Scott is also a 2020 Carson’s Circle inductee, named for former vice president of student affairs Dr. Donald K. Carson. It is a highly esteemed award recognizing a selection of graduating seniors for their leadership and involvement at the university. Scott is now studying for his master’s in higher education, student affairs and international education policy.
Q: What sparked your interest or passion for organizational leadership and higher education?
A: “I actually stumbled upon organizational leadership when I got to the University of Memphis. All throughout middle and high school I wanted to go into broadcast journalism, and then I had some experiences when I came to the University of Memphis that made me want to change my major, and I really found that organizational leadership was interesting for me because it was like an interdisciplinary program. So it was like business management, public administration and counseling in one undergraduate curriculum, so that was really interesting to me. It was like I can go to college and take classes that I’m more interested in that are just a part of like one specific major and that was kind of cool to me. And it’s really interesting how organizational leadership has kind of given me a taste of a little bit of everything so I appreciated that.”
“I got really interested in higher education in undergrad through involvement and I actually stumbled technically into higher education which is a larger field, but directly through student affairs because that was something that I really enjoyed, being involved and working through student leadership and involvement. So student affairs was my kind of first introduction to higher education. Student affairs is only one facet of higher education, higher education includes the academic context like access and equity, so I guess just giving me a larger view of colleges and universities was something that I was interested in. So, I found a grad program in the area that I like and it is challenging, but I am liking it so far.”
Q: When the coronavirus hit in March, what, if any, were the challenges you faced not only as SGA president, but also as a student?
A: “I was thinking, everyone is going through this, so what can we do or what do we do? Honestly, it was one of the first times in my presidency where I was like I don’t know what to do. We didn’t want the year to end in March, in the middle of the spring semester, and we as an organization had to look at how we can continue to be the voices of students virtually, and ensure the students are being connected to certain resources on campus and in the community. How can we make sure students have everything they need whether that is financial assistance through the CARES Act or food through the mobile pantry. So thinking about different things that we can connect students to became our mission. And it wasn’t just the pandemic going on in the second semester, we started seeing instances of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, so there were like dual pandemics going on at the time, and as president of the student body that was a lot to deal with. There was a lot to be done and only so much that we can do.”
“As a student, I was really frustrated because I was of course a senior in my last semester of college. I remember there were days that I had to force myself to do work because the passion to learn, the drive, was not there because the coronavirus and anti-blackness racism was just sucking the life out of me every day. It was so so tough to get through the last semester. I had a term paper to write, lab reports, and major classes to finish. So, it was frustrating to go through this because I knew I had to complete these tasks. So it was just a lot. God is good, I made it through the summer, got a job as soon as I graduated with the school and worked with them over the summer. And then moving here, while it’s been difficult I’ve had the resources to get everything I need. Even though we’re in a pandemic, I’m still blessed to be able to say that these things did happened for me.”
Q: How did you balance student leadership and academics, and what advice would you give to upcoming student leaders about balancing the workload?
A: “Well, I feel like sometimes I had an unfair advantage because my mom is a teacher, and as I was growing up, school was always something that was interesting to me, that was fun to me, that I thrived in. We studied and read and that was our life as kids. I wrote book reports at home and at school. School wasn’t necessarily easy for me but it was easier because I was a professional at going to school.”
“When I got to college, when we talk about student leadership specifically, it gave me a realization that there needs to be some things done more intentionally. I would tell upcoming students to be intentional about how you use your time, because sometimes you can't manage your time, but you have to balance your time. You have to be intentional with whatever you do. Whether that’s writing down everything you have to do this week, compare that with all of the student leadership meetings you have to attend, and then looking at what type of tasks you have to do for the week. You don’t have to necessarily do that all in one day or all at once, but as long as you're accomplishing certain things throughout the day, then you will realize, okay my productivity is being increased because I am balancing my time. So I think just being intentional about that is one of my biggest recommendations because you will have a better understanding of what you are doing. And finding something that you’re interested in, that you’re passionate about that you want to pursue after college. Be all in in those things.”
Q: What was your experience like at the 2020 March on Washington held on Aug. 28?
A: “While there were so many Black people out there, and people that look like me in one of the largest demonstrations that I have ever been in, but there were so many other people there too, people of all different races. It really made me realize that 2020 has not only been a year for Black America, 2020 has been a year for the world. Everybody realizes what Black people have been going through and experiencing for our entire lifetime in American history. And it’s a shame that people are just now realizing that, it’s a shame that people are just now realizing all of those things that we’ve had to endure. But, thank you for waking up and now it’s time for us to realize that some stuff needs to be done and we have to do that together.”
“It was so fulfilling to see that amount of people committed to social justice, committed to racial equality, committed to saying the names of Black people who have been unjustly treated by police or by white vigilantes. It was just interesting to see the second March on Washington and to think about how historic the first one was. Hearing Martin Luther King III speak was really cool, hearing MLK’s granddaughter speak was really empowering, Al Sharpton gave an amazing address, and I loved that there were so many different community representatives who spoke, and different U.S. Reps, and it was really cool to see elected leaders and community leaders from all across the nation in one spot to talk about what we are going through and how we are going to fix it. It was a sight to see, you had to be there to experience the full weight of the moment. It was crazy to see this amount of people convened together in the middle of a pandemic. It was amazing to see D.C. in its purest form while everyone came to the city to literally March on Washington.”
Q: You are a 2020 Carson’s Circle inductee, explain what the Carson’s Circle is and what was your reaction when you found out about your nomination and induction?
A: “It was honestly an honor, so I was actually at my mom’s house, and I remember I started getting Twitter notifications, and that’s how I realized the nominations had gone out. It was really cool to see not only myself be nominated, but so many other people whom I have literally grown up at the UofM with, have worked and led with, and know that they are more deserving of the honor than I am. So, that was cool to be in their company in those nominations.”
“Then, about two or three weeks after the nominations went out, the awards ceremony happened, and it was crazy because It was like I got lost in cheering for my friends and when it came to our time I was cheering for the people who made it in before me, and then my name came up and I was like oh snap! In the back of my head there was a want, but for it to finally come true and to hear those things about me, it was so evident of the hard work that I have put in at the UofM, and that just made it all worth it to me. This was also a very historic year for the Carson Circle. There were about eight inductees, and all but two are white people. So, it’s just really amazing to see since we've just been able to attend the school since 1959, to until now that the Carson circle, the UofM’s highest student leadership honor is held mostly by black students. It is amazing to be in that group, and to have that type of influence. I hope that our footprint will be left on campus and other student leaders will not only learn from our footsteps, but also shine brighter. My honor wouldn’t be possible without all of the student leaders who trusted me as their mentor, and trusted me for advice and for their guidance especially in Frosh Camp and SGA. It is definitely a really cherishable memory, and one of the greatest honors of my life so far.”
Q: What are some of your favorite things to do for self-care and to combat stress?
A: “My favorite form of self-care is cooking; I love to cook. I grew up in the kitchen, my mom and my grandma taught me how to cook from a young age, and so being able to do that on my own reminds me of home. I just love seeing people’s reactions when they eat my food. I really really enjoy cooking. It reduces my stress because I am thinking, oh this is going to be good, and it just gives me a way to be creative and not necessarily talk about it, I can just do it.”
“I also really enjoy having a consistent workout routine. I run about a mile and a half to two miles in the morning and about five to six days a week, and that keeps me grounded. Also, being intentional about how much sleep I get at night, that helps me. I know that if I don’t get enough sleep, I am not taking care of myself, and I am not going to be as productive and efficient as I can be. Cooking, having a consistent workout routine, and getting enough sleep has definitely been my biggest form of self-care.”
Q: You recently moved to start your masters at the University of Maryland College Park, what was your experience like moving from Memphis to Maryland?
A: “It was very tough. Because the South and the Northeast are so very different, and it was a big adjustment to the amount of people. And Memphis food has always been on 10, and here the food is not that great. It’s okay, but it’s not like Memphis, because you know in Memphis there are many different places to go. So, that was the biggest thing because food is important in my life.”
“My graduate assistantship is also pretty interesting. I work in two aspects. I run a chapter residential facility for Greek life and working in risk management, so I work with the chapter council on COVID protocols so that’s something that’s interesting is that I’m working with our department’s COVID response, as well as hazing prevention, sexual assault awareness and dating violence, harm reduction and alcohol and substance abuse. Working with those types of elements within student affairs with Greek students is very interesting and it gives me a challenge and it is also a great way to balance my academic component of being in school and studying. I am enjoying it and getting used to the workload of grad school, and It’s challenging but I am liking it, and I’m learning a lot. I’m enjoying it.”
Q: What are your favorite things about Memphis?
A: “The historic nature of the city, and the involvement in the history of the civil rights movement and to be able to have the Civil Rights Museum is just so amazing. Also, knowing that Orange Mound, the first Black community built for and by African Americans is right here in Memphis. That’s not in New York, Brooklyn, or Atlanta, that is in Memphis.”
“Also, the food, the people, and the university. It’s really cool to see the relationship between the UofM and the city. Also knowing that there were so many opportunities outside the university that was so well connected through the university. So, I really love the UofM as being a big influence in the city, also just the amount of friends and relationships that I have gained through the city makes me appreciate what the city is, and definitely what city has done for me. I eventually see myself coming back and settling down in Memphis.”
This interview was conducted by Janay Jeans.