Nyla Sams is a second-year business administration student at Florida A&M University from Long Island, N.Y., and she is managing to take full advantage of her undergraduate journey.
Sams is a full-time student and partakes in numerous organizations on campus and in the community as well as on a national scale. She serves as a senator for FAMU’s Student Government Association and has interned with both the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Florida’s Children’s Home Society. She also sings in the FAMU Gospel Choir, has been a speaker on TED talk in Boston, became a social advocate for McDonald’s Future 22 program and has most recently been crowned Miss 1963 of The Power House Chapter of The Collegiate 100.
Sams made it a point to get involved and leave an impact on her campus despite coming into college in the midst of the global pandemic. SGA was the first of many opportunities she sought out since she arrived at FAMU.
“I made it a goal to make a name for myself on campus and leave a memorable legacy,” Sams said. “I remember seeing all the previous SGA and Royal Court campaigns and immediately knew I wanted to be a part of those organizations. I didn’t even know what I would run for; I just remember thinking, ‘I wanna do this.'”
Sams keeps her personal legacy at the forefront of her mind and takes advantage of many of the inclusive opportunities FAMU has to offer. With partaking in so many different activities on campus, Sams has found that her community has both made it possible to be successful and has bettered the trajectory of her overall undergraduate experience.
“Because I do so much, the only way I have been able to attain my goals is because of the people around me,” Sams said. “I’ve learned that when you want to do a lot, you can’t do it alone. You need a team and to be willing to show them constant gratitude for their efforts in supporting you.”
Sams would encourage all Black students to attend an HBCU, not for the degree but for the overall life transformation.
“My experience so far makes me want to encourage everyone to go to an HBCU because I have experienced so much personal development already without attaining a degree,” Sams said.
Sams’ hope for being an impactful campus figure has already begun to come to pass. Her work ethic is admirable among her colleagues and peers.
Karen Moses, a second-year business administration student and Sams’ former campaign manager, believes Sams is a deserving individual who gives maximum effort.
“Nyla is one of those people who go above and beyond behind the scenes without feeling the need to broadcast her efforts,” Moses said. “She is definitely the engine and backbone of her own and many others’ success.”
Audrey McNair, a senior political science major and Sams’ pageant member, has been sharpened by Sams since working alongside her.
“Nyla is inspirational,” McNair said. “Working with her and seeing all she does every day and the effort she puts into everything she’s involved in just pushes me to do more for my community and self.”