Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Davis.
Hi Sydney, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was always a really creative kid. My parents always had me in some activity that allowed me to express myself. Whether I was taking music lessons, participating in an after school program, or playing sports, it was always something. I’ve always had a passion for music. I sang my first solo at a Christmas concert in 5th grade, and the rest was history. I took music production classes in high school, and if there was a choir or chorus program for me to become apart of, you better believe I was signed up.
On the other hand, I also loved reading and writing. I was always writing stories, buying new magazines, and I’d run through 500-page books in a day. It was my love for story-telling that pushed me to pursue journalism in college. I attended Georgia State for a little while before transferring to the University of Arkansas and ran track and field at both universities. One of my favorite parts about running track was the fact that it connected me with so many people. Each of my teammates came with unique perspectives and stories to match; As a journalism major, that was right up my alley. Long-term, I always pictured myself somewhere in the middle of the two passions as a music journalist. When the pandemic started, I returned home to Georgia and, outside of finishing school, found myself with a little extra free time.
Being home with family was so nice, and I was reminded of all the things I loved as a kid – tv shows included. I also noticed that my friends and I were starting to get bogged down by all of the sad news that was being circulated. So, In between watching episodes of Disney Channel’s Cory In The House and looking for a silver lining in the pandemic, I started my own good news newscast. It’s called ‘Sydney In The House’, and I started posting them to my Instagram as IGTV segments. People have really seemed to enjoy them, and it has allowed me to do and share what I love while still social distancing. They’re usually around 5 minutes, and each week, I report 5 -7 good things that have happened in the world. Now, I’m in the process of transitioning it to YouTube, so it can reach more people. I’m also adding in some pop culture news, so that’s exciting too.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Journalism isn’t an easy career. You have to always remember to be on your toes, and if being an athlete has taught me anything, it’s that the path to success is never linear. When I transferred to Arkansas, I was 13 hours away from all my friends and family, and juggling school and sports wasn’t easy. Finding a balance between all three was difficult at first, and I was always looking for new ways to make the transition smoother. I had to really lock-in on my goals and throw myself into the things I was passionate about, while pushing myself to keep moving forward. Even though I graduated in May, I’ll always be a student of life. So, I really value the lessons that the world of sports and journalism have taught me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a journalist, producer, and creative. I’m most proud of the way one small idea has grown into something much bigger. If there’s one thing we’ve come to appreciate this year, it’s being able to touch and hug on our loved ones. I’m so thankful that Sydney In The House has given me the opportunity to touch others in another way, until the latter is safe to do so again.
My favorite episode was in June. I think we were all struggling to find the light while the protests were happening and the pandemic was picking up. I did an episode in dedication to George Floyd. It shared 8 minutes and 46 seconds of positive news that had happened since the protests began three weeks before. The messages I received from people detailing how it had impacted their day really warmed my heart.
I think what sets me apart is my creative mind. I’m always coming up with new ways to reach our audience. I even sing my own theme song for the show. I love that I’ve found a way to integrate all of my passions into one entity: journalism, helping others, and music.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneyinthehouseshow/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sithshow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJLG7nycn2AjDEtqN9bnl7A
