As Ashley hands over the officer expectations and duties required of Callie, together, they conducted a short interview to reflect on their experiences and how the blog has shaped the spirit and culture of the MVs.
Callie was interviewed first:
Callie Ayala smiling with her favorite group of managers at the Virginia Tech Homecoming game against UNC; Source: Jacob Rojas
How long have you been writing for the blog?
I started writing fall of my freshman year, so 2 years?
What other related experience do you have?!
I worked as an assistant copy editor in training throughout my freshman year with the Collegiate Times. I also have been writing stories, some short and some long, in my free time since middle school.
What inspired you to become the PR Officer for the Marching Virginians/ take over the blog?
Working under the Collegiate Times, I realized I wanted something more geared towards band. They also made it very clear to me that because of my time conflict, marching band in the fall, I would have to work much harder than everyone else to actually make assistant copy editor. I understood that, but never really could get their schedule aligned with mine, and so I’m grateful for the experience they gave me as an editor. So, when Ashley emailed the band about starting a blog, whew, I was ecstatic! She seemed so passionate about the position and how much it branched connections from each section to each other. I love writing and I love people, what better way to express those two things than a band blog?
How do you think the blog fits into the overarching goals of the Marching Virginians?
I think that by having so many bloggers that all come from different sections and have different backgrounds makes the blog a diverse set of opinions that truly reflect those of the band.
Callie Ayala working at check-in for the Fall 2020 Marching Virginians band camp this summer; Source: Beau Wong
What about managing the blog are you most looking forward to?
Talking to all of the new bloggers! I want the group to be more active with each other so that we may be more inspired to write different kinds of posts.
What goals do you have for the blog?
I want it to become a source for graduating high school students, even if they’re not looking at Virginia Tech. I really hope we can further connect with high school band directors in sharing the blog with them.
Any additional comments?
Just that I’m super excited for the new season in the fall! Yay MVs (:
Followed by Ashley:
How long have you written for the blog?
I have written for the blog since it’s creation in 2018! In fact, I wrote both the blog’s first and second posts.
What other related experiences do you have?
Ashley Deans graduated Spring 2020 with a BSBA Major in Marketing Management at Virginia Tech. She is now at William & Mary getting her Masters of Business Administration; Source: Facebook
As a marketing major, I had lots of opportunities to get involved with communications roles. Some of those roles that I had in college included serving as the PR Exec for Virginia Tech’s chapter of the American Marketing Association, working at the CommLab on campus, and participating in summer internships that involved communications-based activities. In fact, after my sophomore year I had an internship where I was asked to do some blogging, and that was part of what inspired me to to start the blog at the beginning of my junior year. All of these experiences, including creating and writing for the blog, prepared me for my post-graduation job as the Communications Specialist for Duke University’s Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies.
What inspired you to become the PR Officer/start up the blog?
I was originally inspired to start the blog, because I saw that there was something missing in the band’s communications. While people in the area may be very familiar with the MVs as far as our shows and our school spirit, I felt that there was a lot more going on within the band that the public never really got to see. I wanted people to know what it really meant to be The Spirit of Tech. I thought that a collection of stories told by MVs would be an excellent way to share who we are!
When I started the blog my junior year, I actually wasn’t the PR Officer! I just had an idea, and thankfully the band’s leadership and the multimedia team let me run with it! Going into my senior year, I had already been managing the blog for a year, so I was very involved with the band’s PR. Running for PR Officer just seemed like a natural fit!
How do you think the blog has changed you as an individual and as a Marching Virginian?
It was really special for me, as an undergraduate student, to have an idea and work hard to make it a reality. Going through the initial process of creating the blog, finding bloggers, and publishing those first 10 or so posts was a lot of work, and we really didn’t know if it would be successful. Now, I think it is safe to say that the blog has been a huge success! As both an individual, and as a Marching Virginian, I think it was important for me to learn that even in a big organization I have the ability to make a difference.
Ashley Deans posing with her favorite group of guard ladies at the November 9th, 2019 Wake Forest game hosted at Virginia Tech; Source: Facebook
What about managing the blog was your favorite?
I loved seeing the variety of stories the writers would bring to me. The blog has covered everything from big MV fundraisers to small, touching moments of friendship within the band. By publishing all the stories that have been on the blog over the last 2 years, I have definitely gained a deeper appreciation for the band as a whole.
What did you hope the blog would accomplish?
I wanted people outside of this band to not only hear our music, but also hear our stories and therefore get a deeper understanding of who we are. I wanted members of the Hokie community to really see the strong friendships, commitment to service, and the million other little details that make us MVs.
Any additional comments?
Saying goodbye to the blog (and of course the band as a whole!) is definitely one of the harder things for me to do as I leave Virginia Tech. That being said, I know that it is being passed off to very capable hands, and I am incredibly excited to see how the blog continues to grow for years to come! I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that being a Marching Virginian has afforded me, and I know that I will always boast #MVs4Lyfe.
Ashley Deans posing with her pink flag; Source: Facebook