Overcoming Challenges: Aysia Berry’s journey to finding her true self at Georgia Southern

December 18, 2023

Aysia Berry found direction and purpose at Georgia Southern University. Her journey was not an easy one. But her love of dance not only kept her on track but also fueled her determination to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology this December.

“My heart, my life, my everything has been the Latin Rhythm Dance Group,” said Berry. “This organization allowed me to express myself and find a moment of relief in the battle of undergraduate life.”

Her battle started when she kicked off her college journey in the fall of 2019. Months later the pandemic upended her life like so many others. She had to return home and complete classes online while working full-time.

“It was a tough period, and I failed most of my classes, taking a massive hit to my GPA,” she said. “By 2021, I was seriously considering dropping out and returning to school at a later time.”

Coming from a household with two cultures, her parents always encouraged her to go to college. Her father is Jamaican, and her mother has Jamaican-Cuban heritage.

“There was so much hope and expectation placed on me and sending me off to college was a production,” said Berry who identifies as Afro-Latina. Back on campus, she felt lost, alone and overwhelmed, which affected her mental health.

“Because my family has a different background, going to college was a completely new experience for us,” she explained. “I made many mistakes because I had no idea what I was doing. The most significant difficulty I faced was enrolling in college without having someone who had been through it before to guide me and answer my questions.”

Berry acknowledged she struggled with self-doubt and experienced moderate to severe episodes of anxiety and depressive attacks. She had additional problems when she changed her major from engineering to sociology. Eventually, she turned to staff in the Counseling Center, the Recreation Activity Center, the Office of  Career and Professional Development, and faculty in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for help and support. She noted the toll on her mental health “was the greatest hurdle I faced, and I spiraled until I sought aid from faculty members I consider gems. The professors in my major showed me another level of compassion that I was not used to.”

She also embraced dance — something she had enjoyed throughout her childhood. Competitions and leadership roles in the Latin Rhythm Dance Group helped her find her footing. She served as the troupe’s secretary for one year and president for three years.

“It also gifted me with my fiancé, so I am extremely grateful for the time I spent in this organization,” the daughter of immigrants said. Her favorite Georgia Southern memories revolve around the dance troupe, which include the first time they performed at the Doo-Dah Dance and Step Show, and when they won competitions in South Carolina. Joining the Caribbean Student Association also provided her with a safe and supportive environment, allowing her to connect with her Jamaican identity and interact with students who shared similar backgrounds.

“My life completely changed,” Berry remarked. “I became someone I did not even recognize, giving speeches, leading programs and events, and instructing groups as large as 50 people. We hosted two large-scale campus events and celebrated Hispanic/Latinx heritage at every event we could.”

After getting help, Berry could concentrate on her educational goals and enjoy her courses in sociology.

“The ability to study how society functions and develops fascinated me from an early age,” she said. “National Public Radio has been my morning listening routine since I began middle school. I enjoy learning how human society functions. This major has challenged my thoughts and opened my mind.”

As she approached graduation, Berry reflected on what she described as four years of “accomplishments, challenges and straight-up battles.”

“Georgia Southern and my experiences here have transformed me into a woman who is more confident, brave and willing to take risks to better my future,” she said. “I never used to dream and try to achieve them. But in coming to Georgia Southern, I found the resources, support and ability to conquer any challenges or new experiences that come my way.”

Berry acknowledged she will miss the relationships she cultivated at Georgia Southern but she feels ready to leave.

“For me, the commencement ceremony represents an outward expression of celebrating an interesting journey — the highs and lows — but still meeting the goal I have had since I was a kid,” she commented. 

As for her next step, Berry will be leaving Statesboro to start a job working with the deputy city manager of planning for Columbus, Georgia, Consolidated Government.