Kayla Virag

When I was in elementary school, I always thought that I was a fat kid. Small comments from coaches about how I was never as strong and lacked endurance to medical concerns from doctors, resulting in almost needing a prescription for growth hormones, all eventually got to me. So, from age eight to ten, I binged YouTube videos on “How to become skinny.”
Video after video ranged from starving yourself to fruit-only diets or hours of cardio daily. All of it led to an ambitious self-created fitness plan during snack and recess times. Granola bars, meal-prepped lunches, laps around the track, pullups on the monkey bars, the goal was to quickly become as strong as my coaches wanted. But it was never good enough; coaches would still shame me.
Looking back, I regret listening to those influences because I lost moments of being a kid. I never truly played on the playground or even traded the “good snacks” at lunch; instead, my school was a gym and additional training facility. Thankfully, I’ve grown since then and realize that my body is sufficient. More YouTube gurus are promoting fueling your body, rest, and, more importantly, self-love.
The reason this experience was so instrumental is that we see the same type of impact in advertising. Campaigns often run to influence our decision-making. By majoring in marketing, I have a fighting chance to change the lives of others by exposing them to positive messages.

Earning an MBA and Master’s in Marketing will allow me to push past the average college student and go into more research on marketing. I want to have connections with experts so that I can collaborate and partner with them. In addition, I want to be able to use my knowledge to lead a team in the future to make an impact in the industry.

I am a gymnast on the Rockwall-Heath gymnastics team and on the Richardson Gymnastics Club Team. I am also in the Heath JV orchestra. Outside of school, I enjoy judging gymnastics as I am a certified judge and serving at my local church.