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Sheryl Scott in a plaid jacket.

Gaining the Skills to Make Her Dreams Come True

By Taylor Sexton

Gaining the Skills to Make Her Dreams Come True

By Taylor Sexton

When Sheryl Scott, ’10, first stepped foot on Meredith College’s campus, she was a reserved young woman looking for a supportive and safe community. With her parents by her side, they told her they felt “she could do anything here.” Thirteen years later, Scott has a career she’s passionate about at Walt Disney Television.

“I grew up thinking that TV rots your brain, but media is such a barometer for culture and can allow people to see things they wouldn’t have otherwise seen. It has the power to change and save people’s lives,” said Scott.

When Scott began at Meredith, she had a vague idea of what she wanted to study. During one of the first few days on campus, she was drawn to a flyer calling for auditions for an on-campus production. After auditioning and being cast, Scott pursued a major in theater and hasn’t looked back since.

I’ve been able to fall forward and trust that my feet would catch me, knowing I really didn’t have anything to lose. The worst answer I feel I could get in navigating life is ‘no,’ and that’s just an opportunity to try something else,” said Scott. 

Scott felt supported by the students and faculty on campus, and her Meredith friends became like a family to her. The encouragement she received from her professors made her feel like they had her back and she didn’t have to face her education journey alone.

“I felt like things were accessible to me. I might not have tried out for a play, studied abroad, or found my way to dancing with [Professor of Dance] Carol Finley if I had gone to another school. I was met where I was, which was the starting place for growth,” said Scott. “It was truly invaluable to be challenged in a way that worked for me.”

Scott has been with Walt Disney Television for four years and has moved around a lot within the company. After completing her two-year training program called The Executive Incubator Program, she landed a full-time position as the Manager of Series at ABC Signature.

“It took me a long time to find my way here, but I’ve entered the industry at a really pivotal time. There are more conversations about how we can create equitable spaces and opportunities for underrepresented groups to be seen, heard, and hired. I hope to find my way to having a seat at the table where I can be integral in making that happen,” she said. 

The soft skills Scott gained at Meredith proved to be crucial to helping her succeed. They helped her navigate several industries and strengthened her ability to learn quickly.

Scott said she feels lucky to have landed the position at Walt Disney Television, and her time at Meredith gave her the confidence to apply for jobs she didn’t think she would have a chance of getting.

“I’ve been able to fall forward and trust that my feet would catch me, knowing I really didn’t have anything to lose. The worst answer I feel I could get in navigating life is ‘no,’ and that’s just an opportunity to try something else,” said Scott. 

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