By Olivia Stankiewicz, Advancement Intern ASU
ASU-Beebe spotlights alumna Megan King regarding her continued education and career goals.
Megan King grew up in Cabot, and graduated from Jacksonville Christian Academy. Upon graduation from high school, King initially went to an out-of-state college, but soon realized that it was not the best choice for her at the time.
Consequently, she chose to come home and attend ASU-Beebe. King stated, “ASU-Beebe was such a great option. Apart from being close to home and a financially sound choice, the environment was welcoming, the class choices were abundant, and the professors and students alike were welcoming and helpful.”
King started classes at ASU-Beebe in the spring of 2008. While here she was involved in band, choir, and was the president of Delta Psi Omega, a national honorary dramatics organization. She also worked at Upward Bound and in the Learning Center tutoring fellow students.
King’s favorite memories from ASU-Beebe include, meeting her current partner and the moment she realized that theater could be a real career. King graduated with an Associate of Fine Arts degree in spring of 2010.
Upon graduation King attended the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith where she received her bachelor’s degree with a major in theater and a minor in psychology. She completed her education with a Master of Fine Arts degree at the Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Playhouse MFA Acting Program in Cleveland, Ohio.
After completing her master’s, King moved to New York City in 2016. The MFA program she attended provides each graduating class with a showcase debut in New York City, and a small stipend to help with moving expenses. This program also enabled her to acquire her Actor’s Equity Association Membership.
King considers her greatest achievement since graduation from ASU-Beebe is the personal growth she has experienced as a human being. She went on to say, “I’ve learned the importance of humility, empathy, and a willingness to learn and take correction. I’ve learned that failure is a means to success and creative growth. I’ve learned that self-worth and self-confidence is independent of creative achievement, and most importantly, I’ve learned that life is a gift and too brief to spend in fear and worry. Best of all, I’m still learning and growing.”
King’s ultimate career goal, thus far, has been to work in the arts in some capacity. King stated, “I’m not sure where that will eventually lead; however, as an artist, I’ve found that allowing your career to evolve in ways you aren’t expecting is a necessity.”
Within the arts she has had the pleasure of acting and performing in a professional setting, creating her own work, and passing on her love of performance to others via workshops.
Currently, she is using her degree in a non-traditional setting as a real estate agent in New York City. Her degree has provided her with the interpersonal skills needed for most any career. King hopes to eventually teach in a professional setting and continue performing. She said, “I also hope to continue recognizing new paths as they open, especially the unexpected ones.”
“The successes our former students have achieved in their professional and personal life, after their time here at ASU-Beebe, make them exceptional role models for current and future students,” said Rose Mary Jackson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement. “We value our alumni and take great pride in the opportunity to highlight them.”
Arkansas State University-Beebe Alumni Stories is a project of the Alumni Association with the goal of sharing and preserving the ASU-Beebe historical and educational experiences of former students. If you are an alumni and would like to share your story, contact Institutional Advancement at (501) 882-8855.