Introduction:
Hello, I'm Hannah Grace Mayfield! Welcome to my website! My major is News Media at the University of Alabama, and I have a passion for photography and reading! I plan to gain my bachelor's and my master's degrees in news media by 2027 with a minor in photography. I am currently part of Alice Magazine, a women's magazine at UA as the photo editor. I am also a part of the Crimson White newspaper and have been published many times in print and online. Both of these extracurriculars have helped me to become more proficient in different types of photography.
A Personal Narrative:
I decided to get a job in the summer of my junior year of high school. My mom suggested Chick-fil-A and I didn't think too much about it, but decided to apply. I showed up to my interview dressed nicely and ready to share my life experiences so far. I was hired on the spot and the adventure of my life began. Working in food service is an experience that I would recommend to everyone because it can teach so many unique concepts. Going into my job, I was a shy girl who was not great at talking to people and worried about everything. While working eight-hour shifts in the blazing heat of the drive-thru, a person might think that I complained and grumbled my way through my year and a half working there. On the contrary, I made my closest friends, learned so much about talking to customers, and even found the love of my life. I slowly but surely got better at communicating with others, dealing with conflict, and working well under pressure. Going to work became an anxiety reliever for me which in turn helped me with school and my other extracurriculars. I would not be the intrinsically motivated and positive person that I am without my experience at Chick-fil-A.
My Passions:
I plan to become a photojournalist in the future. I discovered that I loved photography in the year of self-isolation during the pandemic, and I have been improving ever since. My favorite type of photography is fashion photography which focuses on the clothes and makeup of the person whom I am shooting. I have been writing my entire life. I write many narratives based on my life as a woman with anxiety who believes she has so much life to give to the world. Both of these passions come together to form my major, but I have many passions beyond those academically. I love making beaded jewelry and have experimented with selling it online in the past. This has taught me patience and allows me to flex my creative muscle in a way other than photography and writing. I also lift heavy weights every single day and am very dedicated to this routine that brings me so much happiness and helps me grow as a person both physically and mentally.
My Core Values:
Upon starting college, I discovered that I am a very family-oriented person. My parents, little sister, and dog keep me going and have shown me how to be kind to myself and others in the eighteen years that I have been alive. They also took me to church from a young age where I developed my relationship with Jesus and learned that I must be kind to others always. One of my favorite quotes is from the live-action Cinderella movie and it says "Have courage and be kind." This is a quote that I live by, through not judging others and always testing my own limits.
My Strengths and Areas of Improvement:
I am a very driven person who has never been motivated by external factors. I am always compelled to do the things that help me become a better person by my own mind and heart. I consider myself a very loyal person, though I could be a bit better at trusting people. I am improving myself by making friends and putting myself out there more at college. I strive to be an attentive friend who can always be counted on to be the responsible one and the shoulder to cry on when someone needs it.