My name is Mikayla Riggins. I am from Marietta, GA, pursuing a double major in Supply Chain Management and Marketing with a collateral in Information Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I strive to approach everything I do excellently, whether in academics, leadership, or service. I firmly believe that hard work and dedication are the keys to creating a meaningful impact on the world. Education is one of the most powerful tools for personal growth, empowerment, and societal change. I have experienced its value firsthand through my academic journey and commitment to helping others access its opportunities. This past summer, I worked with Odyssey Atlanta, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking educational barriers for underprivileged children and empowering them to pursue college and fulfilling careers. During my time there, I witnessed the transformative power of education as I built meaningful relationships with students, helping them prepare for the upcoming school year. Seeing their excitement and ambition ignited by shared learning experiences reinforced my belief that education is key to breaking systemic cycles of poverty and unlocking potential. On a personal level, education has been the foundation for my growth and aspirations. Academically, it has shaped my career goals in supply chain management, a field that connects people and processes to create efficiency and innovation. I value how education provides technical knowledge, the ability to think critically, and the ability to solve complex problems. It has equipped me with the skills and confidence to pursue opportunities such as my upcoming internship with HD Supply, where I will contribute to the Environmental Health and Safety team. Education has also been a catalyst for leadership and service in my life. Through roles such as Vice President of Recruitment Counselors for the University of Tennessee Panhellenic Council, I have mentored over 150 women, helping them navigate the recruitment process with confidence and connection. My involvement in Women of Haslam has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals who value inclusivity and mentorship in professional spaces. These experiences have shown me that education is not just about personal success but also about empowering others to see their potential and achieve their goals. Ultimately, education has brought immense value to my life by equipping me with the tools to grow, lead, and serve. It has inspired me to advocate for equity, mentorship, and opportunity for others, and it continues to guide me as I strive to leave a lasting, positive impact on every community I touch. Education is more than knowledge—it catalyzes change, opportunity, and a brighter, more inclusive future.

My name is Mikayla Riggins, and I am a multicultural student from Marietta, GA, pursuing a double major in Supply Chain Management and Marketing with a collateral in Information Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I strive to approach everything I do excellently, whether in academics, leadership, or service. I believe that hard work and dedication are the keys to creating a meaningful impact on the world. My passion for education, leadership, and service has shaped my aspirations. This past summer, I worked with Odyssey Atlanta, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking educational barriers for underprivileged children and empowering them to pursue college and fulfilling careers. During my time there, I witnessed the transformative power of education firsthand. I built relationships with students, helping them prepare for the upcoming school year and watching them connect through shared learning experiences. Seeing their ambitions ignite reinforced my belief in mentorship, equity, and access to education as critical tools for breaking systemic cycles of poverty. Academically, I am a motivated and goal-oriented student who values education’s role in personal and professional growth. My commitment to learning has guided my career aspirations toward supply chain management, a dynamic industry that connects people and processes to drive efficiency. I recently secured an internship with HD Supply, where I can contribute to their Environmental Health and Safety team. Beyond the technical skills I will gain, I am passionate about fostering inclusivity and challenging stereotypes in male-dominated industries. I hope to show that diverse perspectives, collaboration, and innovation are essential for success. Leadership has always been a core part of who I am. I have held numerous leadership roles that have shaped my ability to guide and empower others. I am a proud member of the Kappa Delta sorority, where I served on the executive council during my first year as a Panhellenic Delegate. In this role, I could add a new sorority to our council and vote on essential bylaws, fostering growth and inclusivity within the Panhellenic community. Now, I serve as the Vice President of Recruitment Counselors for the University of Tennessee Panhellenic Council, mentoring and supporting over 150 women through the recruitment process. This experience has deepened my love for mentorship and strengthened my leadership skills as I work to create a welcoming, supportive environment that inspires confidence and connection. Additionally, I am a member of Women of Haslam, a club dedicated to empowering women entering the business world. This community has allowed me to connect with other driven, like-minded women passionate about breaking corporate space barriers. It has further solidified my belief in mentorship and inclusivity in professional environments. Ultimately, I aim to leave a positive, lasting impact on every community I touch. Whether through advocating for education, empowering individuals to see their potential, or breaking barriers in professional spaces, I lead with compassion, integrity, and purpose. My experiences have shaped me into a confident, ambitious individual, ready to embrace challenges and inspire others to pursue their dreams. By striving for excellence in everything I do, I hope to pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

This past semester, I was recently elected to serve with our Panhellenic Council as the Assistant Vice President of Recruitment Counselors. In this position, I will start as the assistant and become the Vice President next semester. In this role, I help lead our recruitment counselors through the Primary recruitment process. I have to create manuals that uphold all of the class lessons we have learned, approve sponsorships for these women, help plan our retreat, and teach the recruitment counselors how to lead the young women through the recruitment process. I have learned how to effectively work with our recruitment team and prepare for 2024 primary fall recruitment. I have to help ensure all operations run smoothly and everything is conducted on time. As a leader within our Panhellenic community, I have learned the importance of embracing diverse viewpoints and perspectives. I am incredibly excited to teach our recruitment counselors next spring semester and give them the proper tools to help them succeed outside of the classroom. It has been impactful to be taught how to be my individualized leader, and now I get to give back to my community by teaching these young women how they can be their leaders. I am excited to help lead this upcoming recruitment and the next one. I have learned about my leadership practices and my Clifton strengths and how they work hand in hand with one another. Last, I am excited to be able to help lead the entire Panhellenic community through this process, and I can not wait to work with everyone in our community. This past semester, I have been heavily involved in my sorority, Kappa Delta. I served on the executive board and was committed to my sorority's endeavors. I attended weekly chapter meetings every Monday at seven. Continuing, I helped serve and give back to our philanthropies, the Girl Scouts of the USA and Prevent Child Abuse America. In my chapter, I also give back to our community by completing six hours to fulfill my obligation to Kappa Delta and serve the Knoxville Community. These opportunities have influenced my major and what I want to do with my career. My future aspirations are to leave a mark in the fashion world. I plan to graduate college with honors and leave with extensive knowledge in marketing and merchandising. My professional goal is to be the next CEO of Vogue or the next Sarah Blakely, founder of Spanx. I want to own a fashion company and work with women from various backgrounds and cultures. The company's mission would be to design different styles and trends for women in multiple life stages and help shape our society. According to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, only 14 percent of the top 50 fashion houses in the world are run by female executives. I want to change this trend. I want my fashion company to be an incubator for female designers that encourages support for one another because being a woman can be challenging in society and the workplace. I encourage and support continued education for women to help break the glass ceiling in the fashion industry. I want to help build schools and continue to pave the way for women nationwide to receive an education. My personal goal is to continue and encourage women to accomplish their goals.

One might say depression is not real and rather what someone blames their problems on when things do not go their way. If it were up to me, I would say that they are wrong and that depression comes in some of the most questionable and difficult ways. Mental health has influenced the society that we all live in today. It has caused people to break but it has inspired others to bring light to a very important subject. As a teenage girl, who goes to a high school where social media is the one thing that everyone thrives off of. Social media made me think that everyone was happy and did not struggle with anything because in my mind everyone on Instagram was happy and perfect, but this contributed to my thinking outside of social media. For example, my mom is known as “Mrs. Vanderbilt”, she had me when she was nineteen, worked her butt off, and went to Vanderbilt University; She got a well-paying job and my family and I are blessed to live in a beautiful home and an amazing community. As the oldest, I felt the pressure that I had to be just like her beautiful, intelligent, amazing, and most of all hardworking; But, in reality, I tried so hard to be her but I lost myself in the process. I took all of the hard classes and still take them, just so I can be like her and please others around me. I did not know that this reason would also play into my mental health. Now, do not get me wrong I love my mom and would do anything for her, but trying to be someone and not be yourself is one of the most impossible, yet heartbreaking things someone can do to themself. This played a part and it helped contribute to my mental health in sophomore year. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I would lock myself in my room, not talk to anyone, yell at the people I care most about, sleep until the late afternoon, and slack off from school. Some days it would be bad, where I would try to fake sick, so I could stay at home. Furthermore, I would not eat because I wanted to be a size zero like some of the girls around me. Covid-19 hit at the peak of my depression, and it was challenging the first month. I thought Covid would make me hate life more and become more depressed, but in reality, it opened my eyes to those around me who struggle with mental health issues, as well. It showed me that I was not the only one struggling. This inspired me to talk to others around me, and help to be there for others. When things started to open back up, I started hosting a bible study where people can come from my team. I hosted one every Thursday night at the coffee shop around school, and on the first night, ten girls came. We were able to talk about mental health and be able to figure out ways for people to overcome their struggles together. We continued this for five months, and now these girls are happy and living their life to the fullest. I would have never thought that a little bible study group and my mental health problems would help bring ten girls out of the darkest places. In addition, my struggles and insecurities led me to find two of my passions: Social Media Marketing and Journalism. I want to work in these two fields, and help bring light to mental health, sports, and fashion, which are some of the things that I love. Hopefully, one day I will be able to write about these for Vogue Magazine or be the president of Social Media for Vogue or a major sports team. I did not know that my mental health would inspire me to now be the president of FCA, a writing editor for my school yearbook, and an editor for my school newspaper that my friends and I are launching this school year. I am telling you all of this to explain that your struggles and insecurities can lead you to some of the most beautiful endings, and they do not define who you are. It is not always about how you start, but it is about how you finish. My mental health during my sophomore year was one of the hardest things I have experienced, but it played the biggest part in my future goals and what I aspire to do in my life.

One might say depression is not real and rather what someone blames their problems on when things do not go their way. If it were up to me, I would say that they are wrong and that depression comes in some of the most questionable and difficult ways. Mental health has influenced the society that we all live in today. It has caused people to break but it has inspired others to bring light to a very important subject. As a teenage girl, who goes to a high school where social media is the one thing that everyone thrives off of. Social media made me think that everyone was happy and did not struggle with anything because in my mind everyone on Instagram was happy and perfect, but this contributed to my thinking outside of social media. For example, my mom is known as “Mrs. Vanderbilt”, she had me when she was nineteen, worked her butt off, and went to Vanderbilt University; She got a well-paying job and my family and I are blessed to live in a beautiful home and an amazing community. As the oldest, I felt the pressure that I had to be just like her beautiful, intelligent, amazing, and most of all hardworking; But, in reality, I tried so hard to be her but I lost myself in the process. I took all of the hard classes and still take them, just so I can be like her and please others around me. I did not know that this reason would also play into my mental health. Now, do not get me wrong I love my mom and would do anything for her, but trying to be someone and not be yourself is one of the most impossible, yet heartbreaking things someone can do to themself. This played a part and it helped contribute to my mental health in sophomore year. I suffered from depression and anxiety. I would lock myself in my room, not talk to anyone, yell at the people I care most about, sleep until the late afternoon, and slack off from school. Some days it would be bad, where I would try to fake sick, so I could stay at home. Furthermore, I would not eat because I wanted to be a size zero like some of the girls around me. Covid-19 hit at the peak of my depression, and it was challenging the first month. I thought Covid would make me hate life more and become more depressed, but in reality, it opened my eyes to those around me who struggle with mental health issues, as well. It showed me that I was not the only one struggling. This inspired me to talk to others around me, and help to be there for others. When things started to open back up, I started hosting a bible study where people can come from my team. I hosted one every Thursday night at the coffee shop around school, and on the first night, ten girls came. We were able to talk about mental health and be able to figure out ways for people to overcome their struggles together. We continued this for five months, and now these girls are happy and living their life to the fullest. I would have never thought that a little bible study group and my mental health problems would help bring ten girls out of the darkest places. In addition, my struggles and insecurities led me to find two of my passions: Social Media Marketing and Journalism. I want to work in these two fields, and help bring light to mental health, sports, and fashion, which are some of the things that I love. Hopefully, one day I will be able to write about these for Vogue Magazine or be the president of Social Media for Vogue or a major sports team. I did not know that my mental health would inspire me to now be the president of FCA, a writing editor for my school yearbook, and an editor for my school newspaper that my friends and I are launching this school year. I am telling you all of this to explain that your struggles and insecurities can lead you to some of the most beautiful endings, and they do not define who you are. It is not always about how you start, but it is about how you finish. My mental health during my sophomore year was one of the hardest things I have experienced, but it played the biggest part in my future goals and what I aspire to do in my life.