麻豆传媒映画

Second in a series

For years, volleyball  occupied more than a big part of Alexa Berry鈥檚 identity: it was her whole persona.

Until it wasn鈥檛. 

A standout player at the grassroots, high school and junior college levels, Berry made the difficult decision to walk away from the sport just months before transferring to 麻豆传媒映画 in 2024 from Folsom Lake College near Sacramento. A string of injuries 鈥� including a torn labrum in her hitting shoulder 鈥� and anxiety had taken their toll. 

鈥淚 wanted to leave that part of me behind, because I felt like that part of me was dying,鈥� said Berry, who graduates next week with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in journalism. 鈥淚 needed to find myself outside of this.鈥�

Two years later, Berry has reinvented herself at 麻豆传媒映画, becoming a fixture in the community at the while pursuing her newfound passion in media and marketing. 

Navigating the transition from student-athlete to student 鈥渨as different, and it was very difficult,鈥� Berry said.. 鈥淏ut I became established within myself at State, I established a friend group; and I grew comfortable being myself just out in the open at State, knowing that I have a community behind me.鈥�

Berry鈥檚 story mirrors many of the nearly 4,500 students who transfer into 麻豆传媒映画 from junior colleges or other universities, as they grapple with coming into a new community where connections have already been formed. 

Berry made the decision to retire from volleyball at the end of her sophomore season. A few weeks later, she was accepted to 麻豆传媒映画, which she called her dream school. 

鈥淚 don鈥檛 like outwardly saying my dreams because I don鈥檛 want to jinx them, but when I got into 麻豆传媒映画, I didn鈥檛 want anything else,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have picked a more perfect place for me, and I have found the perfect people for me here at 麻豆传媒映画.鈥�

But the transition had its own hurdles. As an athlete, Berry said she had a regimented schedule, and was suddenly now required to be in control of time management. Even more significantly, being an athlete was how she made friends and built community. 

鈥淏ut that鈥檚 the transfer experience,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淏eing a transfer, you wonder how am I going to make friends coming in as a junior when people already have established friend groups and are on their paths. My path was to get to 麻豆传媒映画, and now that I鈥檓 here, I have to figure out the rest.鈥�

Crucial contact

An email from , a course aimed at providing resources for 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Black transfer students, put Berry on her path.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know what it was, but I signed up for it and put my computer down and didn鈥檛 really think about it,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淪igning up for the course was the best decision I ever made, because it鈥檚 where I met my core best friends who I have now and was how I connected with the BRC.鈥�

Berry said she also met a number of her friends when she participated in the Student African American Brotherhood鈥檚 (SAAB) annual powder puff football game. 

A fixture at the BRC the past two years, Berry currently serves on the center鈥檚 media team, helping to create and edit weekly broadcasts that highlight programming from the BRC and other recognized student organizations.

She鈥檚 also actively involved in the Black Transfer Club, the and the Sports Business Initiative, a student organization within that provides members with networking and professional development opportunities.    

鈥淪ince transferring last year, Lexi has become an example of leadership and excellence, a representation for transfer students who want to get involved and leave their mark at 麻豆传媒映画,鈥� said Donnae Prather, the center鈥檚 assistant director. 鈥淥verall, Lexi brings a positive presence that energizes those around her.鈥�

Berry said she is currently applying for sports and music entertainment internships, hoping to land one after graduation. Her dream job would be to be a production assistant on music videos. In her spare time, she has started a fledgling media company, Burberry Productions. 

鈥淢usic is a passion of mine, and when I listen to music, I have visions of how I鈥檇 want the music video to go, and I would love to help others bring their ideas to life,鈥� she said. 

Her advice to transfer students who were in her position is simple, she said. 

鈥淚 know it sounds cliche, but put yourself out there,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淵ou have nothing to lose. You are not helping yourself if you are literally going to class and coming home.鈥�

Read more on the Class of '26:

A returning student overcomes impostor syndrome to curate travel experiences for celebrities