小蝌蚪APP

Douglas Elected SGA President

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Posted on April 25, 2023

Thomas Becnel

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Amya Douglas grew up performing in musical theater 鈥� everything from 鈥淟egally Blonde鈥� to 鈥淟ittle Shop of Horrors鈥� 鈥� and thought about leaving the Gulf Coast to study drama in college.

Then she took a recruiting trip to the 小蝌蚪APP.

鈥淚 remember the tour guide saying something I鈥檒l never forget,鈥� said Douglas, who graduated from St. Martin High School in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 鈥淪he said, honestly, our campus is so young that when you join any organization, you have the opportunity to make an impact. We鈥檙e still developing, we鈥檙e open to new ideas, and students play a big role in that.鈥�

Douglas moved to Mobile, majored in communication, and became active in the First Year Council and the Student Government Association. In high school, she had served as student council president. At South, she wanted to take advantage of her chance to make an impact.

She was elected SGA president and sworn in at this week鈥檚 SGA banquet. Her new role was part of her plan from the beginning.

鈥淒efinitely,鈥� Douglas said with a broad smile. 鈥淚t was a huge ambition of mine. In the end, I was unopposed, which was disappointing. I鈥檝e very competitive, so I wanted to campaign.鈥�

Camille Bonura, the outgoing president of the Student Government Association, knows her successor well. She remembers Douglas wanting to shadow her as she went about her official duties. No one had ever asked her that before.

鈥淥nly Amya,鈥� Bonura said, laughing. 鈥淚 was surprised, but not surprised. I鈥檇 seen the way she interacted with people in the Senate and the student body. I knew she wanted to become SGA President. I thought she鈥檇 be in this seat one day.鈥�

Dina Holland, principal of St. Martin High School, never doubted that Douglas would become a student leader at the 小蝌蚪APP. She watched her guide classmates through some of the most difficult days of the COVID pandemic.

鈥淎mya was amazing from the first day she stepped on our campus in the ninth grade,鈥� Holland said. 鈥淢ature beyond her years. Focused beyond her years. And absolutely the most gorgeous smile 鈥� she lights up a room.鈥�

Brooklyn to Ocean Springs

Her parents, Eon and Petal Douglas, are from the nation of Guyana in South America. Their daughter was born in Brooklyn, after they emigrated to the United States, and the family moved to Mississippi when she was 2 years old.

Amya 鈥� it鈥檚 pronounced 鈥渦h-my-uh鈥� 鈥� speaks with a neutral accent. No Brooklynese or Southern drawl. No Caribbean lilt, either.

鈥淥nly when I鈥檓 really mad, but every time I do it, my parents laugh at me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 used to joke with them about how they lived in Brooklyn and wound up in Mississippi. Looking back, I think that was a good idea. I enjoyed my upbringing, that鈥檚 for sure. We were right by the beach and near downtown.鈥�

The Douglas family has always been active in the Pentecostal church. During COVID, Amya read the Bible, front to back, back to front. At South, she leads a Bible study group.

鈥淥ne of the things my mom says is 鈥� well, it鈥檚 two things,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ne, 鈥楶ray about it.鈥� And two, 鈥楤e the head, not the tail.鈥欌��

In Ocean Springs, Douglas grew up in the arts community. She looked forward to the Peter Anderson Festival each year. She started painting and became active in musical theater.

鈥淚n elementary school, I was really shy,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted something to pull me out of my shell.鈥�

Douglas, a soprano, sang in 鈥淟egally Blonde鈥� which remains one of her favorite musicals.

鈥淭he best part I ever got was one I never got to perform,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was Audrey in 鈥楲ittle Shop of Horrors,鈥� but because of COVID, we didn鈥檛 get to do it for an audience.鈥�

Finding Her Way at South

At South, Douglas chose to concentrate on digital film and TV production in the Department of Communication. She worked as a camera operator with an ESPN+ production crew for Jaguar football games.

Douglas became a South Strong student ambassador and joined the Green Jags environmental group. She volunteered with the PASSAGE USA program for students with intellectual disabilities.

During her sophomore year, she also worked as a resident assistant in Azalea Residence Hall.

鈥淚 was like an older sister to 47 first-year students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey would text me at all hours of the night, mostly about their personal lives. But I can鈥檛 complain. I know it helped a lot of them. And I鈥檝e stayed in touch with all of those students.鈥�

The campaign she prepared for SGA president had a 鈥淟egally Blonde鈥� color scheme. She printed up pink business cards. She wore three different pink outfits during her candidate video.

鈥淧eople said, 鈥榊ou look like Elle Woods from 鈥楲egally Blonde,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 said, 鈥楾hanks, that鈥檚 what I was going for.鈥欌��

As SGA President, Douglas wants to meet with students and do a lot of public outreach. She also wants to focus on accessibility for students with disabilities.

Douglas plans to graduate from South in May of 2024. Law school is one of her options. She isn鈥檛 sure about practicing law, but does think she will work with public policy or enter public service.

She enjoys talking with people, listening to problems and answering questions. That鈥檚 the easy part. Sitting through meetings isn鈥檛 as much fun, but she has a secret for staying sharp.

鈥淚鈥檓 a question-asker,鈥� Douglas said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what gets me through meetings. I鈥檓 always interested in something.鈥�

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