Arial Kyles: Balance
“It’s my last season, so I’m really soaking it all in and having fun.”
A native of West Memphis, AR., Arial Kyles is a senior in the Veterinary Medical Technology Program in Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. As the fall semester is now underway, Arial is finding the perfect balance between being a Vet Med student and holding the eminent honor as one of the Color Guard Captains in the Famous Maroon Band.
“I’ve been in Color Guard for four years, but this year, the most important thing to me is time management. While the full band practices for one hour on weekdays, Color Guard practices for two, and due to class, I miss two days of practice each week.”
Arial interviewed for the Vet Med Tech program at the end of the spring semester. A highly competitive interview and selection process, she was confident in her interview and overjoyed when she learned of her acceptance.
“I was excited and so happy. I felt like my interview had gone well. There were lots of smiles and laughs from the faculty, but I was still very nervous, but really happy at the same time.”
In addition to her interview performance, Arial credits that confidence to her campus involvement over the years. A member of I.D.E.A.L. Woman program in the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, she has spent a large part of her college career in the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success, participating in a number of student organizations and experiential learning experiences, like the Office of Pre-College and Opportunity Programs’ LeaderSTATE summer camp, where she served as a camp counselor this past summer.
“HCDC has definitely made me feel more welcomed and confident in who I can be and who I am. They give a lot of events and opportunities, which helped me to grow as a person in all aspects of life, from professional to social. People like Davenport (Le’Roy Davenport) have really helped me to navigate academic and financial struggles. His actions showed me he really cares about his students.”
After graduation, Arial plans to apply for vet school, and she also plans to use her first year in the Vet Med Tech program to become involved in organizations that are relevant to her career plans, like the National Association for Black Veterinarians; but in the immediate future, she is thrilled to begin her final football season with the band. Reflecting on her favorite performances of the past, like the “Rock the Hump” field show performed in Oxford for the Egg Bowl in 2022, she eagerly anticipates this year’s season opener, where MSU hosts Eastern Kentucky at home.
“It’s exhilarating. I’m always nervous right before, but the moment you hear the drums start, it’s so exhilarating and purely fun. I love game days. It’s absolutely beautiful.”