Bryana Warner: Finding her place to grow
Graduate Profile
Looking for a supportive academic community, Bryana Warner transferred to Governors State University (GovState) to pursue a degree in Business Administration. Drawn to the field of marketing, Bryana became a student worker in GovState’s Marketing and Communications Department (MarComm), where she brought her passion to the social media team.
As Commencement draws closer, Bryana looks forward to earning her degree and using it to continue to grow in the marketing and management fields.
GovState Newsroom: What attracted you to GovState?
Bryana: One of the main reasons I chose GovState was its proximity to home, which made the transition much easier when transferring here. Unfortunately, my experience at my previous university wasn’t the best, so finding a university that offered a welcoming and supportive environment was important to me. GovState provided that sense of community, making it a great fit.
GovState Newsroom: What’s your degree and why did you choose it?
Bryana: I'm majoring in Business Administration, kind of following my older brother's lead—but I've made it my own. I've always been more drawn to the marketing and management side of things, mostly because that's where I feel the most confident. With my experience working as a server and managing a restaurant, plus my background in art, I've found that coming up with creative ideas and actually making them happen just comes naturally. It's something I really enjoy, and it feels good to bring those ideas to life.
GovState Newsroom: What clubs and/or activities were you involved with? Any memories stick out with one of them?
Bryana: I was involved with Black Student Union (BSU) and it was enlightening. I am also involved with the Reading Jaguars (a club for casual readers or deep analyzers). The events are great and inviting. The community is welcoming.
I took an internship with MarComm and the experience has been great! I have done work with Jax on Valentine's Day creating a fun video letting our crushes at GovState know how much we appreciate them. I also assisted in getting footage of our Homecoming. I had to get in the crowd and not just get pictures of people posing, but to get action shots to capture the moment. I learned new people skills and how to operate a real camera. I went from just watching social media to knowing how to engage as a content creator. Learning my audience and what people want to see and will engage with the most to boost our school's social media presence.
GovState Newsroom: What are your dreams for your degree?
Bryana: My dreams for my degree are to pursue the marketing and managing field of business. I will also use my degree to assist my mother with marketing her baby carrier business, GoGoVie. I want to make a name for myself in the business world.
GovState Newsroom: What advice would you give to current and/or future GovState students?
Bryana: My advice would be to treat your grades like your bank account. Don’t allow your grades to go in the negatives! Stay focused and always strive for 100% on every assignment. Do all extra credit work because you never know how one point can change your outcome. And lastly, keep a balance between life, school, and work.
GovState Newsroom: How are you celebrating your graduation?
Bryana: I am celebrating my graduation with my family and friends. Normally, we will have a grad party at my house and my parents will cook and we will have outside games and activities.
GovState Newsroom: What’s the silliest or most memorable thing that happened to you during your GovState experience?
Bryana: My most memorable moment at GovState was my best friend's 21st birthday. We went out to eat and then came back to the dorms to party the night away.