I am Zainab Adebola Awosanya, a graduate of Mass Communication, specialising in Public Relations and Advertising, in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies. My academic experience at LASU was rigorous and transformative, deepening my understanding of media, communication, and audience engagement while giving me a solid foundation as a content creator, digital marketer, videographer, and media agent.
What I'm proudest of is how I balanced strong academic performance with building real-world experience and a personal business. While studying Mass Communication, I maintained a great CGPA in the 4-point range while handling other responsibilities, alongside building my personal brand as a beauty and hair content creator. I didn't hold a formal leadership position, but I contributed to group projects, taking responsibility for content development, coordination, and timely delivery.
Overcoming stage fright was one of my biggest challenges, expressing my ideas confidently during presentations and public speaking sessions didn't come naturally, which felt especially ironic as a Mass Communication student. Navigating the broad nature of the course, which touches broadcasting, public relations, and digital media, also made it initially difficult to define a clear direction for myself.
My own growth and the desire to keep improving have driven me throughout, alongside creatives in the media space who've built strong personal brands and shown me that passion can genuinely become a career. Something most people don't know about me: I can be quite reserved and naturally shy at first, even though my work is creative and expressive, but I've learned to adapt quickly and deliver results, especially in fast-paced settings.
I intend to keep building my personal brand while gaining more hands-on experience in storytelling and communication, expanding my business into a recognisable name within the beauty and hair industry. My advice to current and incoming students: be intentional about your growth from the beginning, don't rely solely on what's taught in class, and step out of your comfort zone. As I remind myself often: growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.