There are times when a name can be more than a name.
Sometimes, it can take on a life of its own. Just ask University of Maryland Eastern Shore student Ayanna Zenzele-Rushing, who faculty and students alike know by her moniker “Gem.”
“It was a nickname I fostered that reflects my personality,” Zenzele-Rushing said. “I’m a Gemini and I love gemstones. I shortened it to Gem and it just kind of stuck after that.”
Zenzele-Rushing also made her own impact during her five-semester journey on campus, which concludes as one of 202 students confirmed for their degrees during UMES’ Winter Commencement on Dec. 13.
The Baltimore native’s path to UMES was a unique one as she came to Princess Anne following a gap year. Prior to attending college, Zenzele-Rushing received a liberal arts associate degree at Bard High School Early College, priming her for an accelerated experience.
That experience included being a tutor, being inducted into the exclusive Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and pursuing her passion for storytelling as a digital media studies major.
Zenzele-Rushing said her penchant for storytelling was fostered through her theater background that began at the age of five.
“I really enjoy conveying stories, especially stories of black and marginalized communities, that aren’t portrayed as much in the media or are portrayed as a monolith,” she said. “This experience allowed me to learn so many new things, like editing and screenwriting, to strengthen skills that will allow me to make an impact within the field.”
As the curtain closes on her time at UMES, Zenzele-Rushing has mixed emotions about her abbreviated stint in Princess Anne but is appreciative of what she was able to achieve in that window.
“It’s bittersweet because it feels like I could be here longer but I know that UMES has more than prepared me,” she said. “It is different not having the full four years, but it’s been a transformative experience and I’m more than grateful.”
Zenzele-Rushing, who aspires to become a filmmaker, added that her time at UMES has allowed her to make a name for herself.
“It’s what you make of it,” she said. “I’ve met really genuine people – faculty and students alike – who really care and help you better yourself. It’s been a transformative experience.”
