Today we’d like to introduce you to Aj Surrell.
Aj, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The performing arts have always been a part of my life! From taking my first dance class when I was 3, to stepping onstage for my first musical my freshman year of high school, and even choreographing for a nationally televised parade, the ability to tell stories through song and movement have truly transformed me into who I am today. When people ask me about my story, I often tell them that I am alive today because of the arts. While in college, I went through a tough time after being assaulted by a classmate. I would have days when I would feel my brain start to go to a really dark spot, and I would turn to the arts. I would open up my music book and practice a new song I was working on for an audition and process a lot of my emotions through the characters that I was portraying, or I would head to the on-campus dance studio and move through what I was feeling. Having the ability to experience the arts truly saved my life.
A few years after this experience, I was exposed to what can happen when the arts are made accessible to everyone! I was interning at Stages St. Louis and asked to help put together their sensory-friendly performance of 101 Dalmatians. This sensory-friendly production, I learned, was just like any other production of the show, except that there were small adjustments made in the performance to make sure that those with sensory needs, such as individuals with autism, were able to enjoy the show in an environment that was best for them. After this performance, I heard parents in the lobby talking about what a positive experience this was and sharing that they have never been able to take their child to a show because it’s been too overstimulating, or they were often asked to leave during the middle of the show. This moment, where we were able to create a space where everyone had the opportunity to access the healing power of the arts, changed my life. A mentor from this show said to me “while not everyone may have a mental or physical disability, everyone has mental health to up-keep and maintain” and this quote still resonates with me to this day, and is the voice behind the mission that I have to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table.
Over the last 5 years, I have had the opportunity to work with incredible teams to create accessible arts opportunities for individuals with disabilities in St. Louis, and educate performing artists on how to create accessible arts opportunities in their own communities. I love bringing this educational opportunity to middle and high school students in particular with the goal that, even if they don’t pursue a career in the arts in the future, they have this basic accessibility training in their heads and know how to ask the question “how can I make this a space that everyone feels welcome in” for their respective future careers. This passion has led me to some incredible opportunities! Currently, I have the honor of being Miss Missouri Volunteer 2024, which has provided opportunities to bring accessible arts education to communities across our state. I also was able to represent Missouri, and access to the arts, on a national level last month at the Miss Volunteer America competition.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not always been smooth, but I’m so thankful for every step of the journey! Like any great mission, there’s always going to be people who look at it and ask “why is this important?” or “why should I care about this?” I, and the teams I have worked with, have faced this a few times in the realm of creating accessible arts opportunities. As a storyteller, I always make sure to share the stories that I have experienced of what can happen of when the arts are made accessible to all, and remind the companies and schools that I have worked with about the life-changing opportunity that is in front of them when they decide to give an accessible arts performance a try for their school or company.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While creating accessible arts opportunities, and the arts in general, are my greatest passions, professionally I work in the world of social media and content creation as the Social Media Specialist at Lindenwood University, and on the side as a content creator for brands across the country. Online, I would say that I’m known for my bright colors and fun that I bring to the content I create. I like to call myself a human connector, and I’ve made that my brand online as well as I create content that connects me with the community that I love to call home. I have a video series called “Spark a Conversation” where I’ll travel to different events happening across St. Louis and interview strangers about the event, the business hosting the event, or just any question that has to do with the theme of the video. This is one of my favorite types of content to create, and a way that I’ve connected with many incredible people. When it comes to my work as a content creator, I’m most proud of the impact I’ve been able to make in my community through connections that I’ve made online. Having the opportunity to support so many of the large and small businesses that make up St. Louis, the city that I’ve called home for my entire life, means the world to me. I love to not only use my online platform to bring awareness to wonderful events and people in our city, but also to causes that mean a lot to me, such as accessible arts, or local nonprofits I volunteer with, such as CARE St. Louis.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The Covid-19 Crisis is truly when I first discovered my love for social media and content creation. In December 2020, I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Advertising and Public Relations, with a minor in Digital Marketing, from Lindenwood University. Pre-pandemic, I enjoyed the degree program that I was in, but I truly had no idea what direction of my field I wanted to dive into after graduation. When the pandemic hit in Spring 2020, I was in my senior year of college and postponed my graduation date to Fall 2020 in order to take an internship with Walt Disney World. While my internship was cut short and I was sent home after just 8 weeks, that time when I was stuck at home and not taking any classes was when I truly discovered content creation, how powerful my voice can be online, and how friendships and connections can be made online. Out of sheer boredom, I started making Disney Princess-themed makeup videos in my room and posting them on TikTok. They blew up almost overnight and to this day I still have over 60,000 online followers who have followed my journey in life since then. Through TikTok I made friends who were also part of the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s been great to watch them live life, find new jobs, go through new relationships, and still text and catch up from time to time to this day! Once I returned to school in Fall 2020, I diligently pursued a professional career in social media marketing, and it still the path that I’m on today, and hope that I’m on for as long as I can be! That’s all due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and I’m really thankful for that time in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ajsurrell.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajrosie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.surrell.7/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-surrell-542a3315b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ajrosie6187
- Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@ajrosie?_t=8oAChTcdifv&_r=1
