Orientation Guide Spotlight: Ryan Hughes
“I think this experience has revived something in me that died a long time ago.”
That’s not something you expect to hear in a room full of freshmen.
It was late at Frosh Camp, during one of our fireside chats in one of those moments where everything slows down and people start being real. There aren’t scripts and there’s zero pressure, just people opening up about whatever they’re carrying.
When he said that, the room went quiet.
And I remember sitting there thinking, “This is it. This is why I’m here.”
Because a year earlier, I was the one just trying to figure things out. I was the one walking into college unsure of where I fit. And now I was part of something that could actually change how someone felt about themselves.
That moment stuck with me and defined everything I’ve done since.
Built on Family, Grounded in Perspective
I don’t think you can understand why that moment mattered so much to me without understanding where I come from.
I grew up in Bartlett, just outside Memphis, in a house where family was everything. My mom, Janna, is the kind of person who makes you feel heard no matter what. If I was ever unsure about something, she would remind me that it was my decision and that she’d support me either way.
My dad, Danny, balanced that out. He kept it real. If I needed to be pushed or called out, he was the one who did it.
And then there’s my older brother, Ray.
He is six years ahead of me, so I spent a lot of my childhood trying to keep up. I was definitely the annoying little brother, always wanting to do whatever he was doing. We played everything — baseball, basketball, football — and it usually turned into some kind of competition.
But I looked up to him. Still do.
That mix of support, honesty and competition shaped how I see people now. It’s why I care about making others feel included but also pushing them to be better.
The Feeling of Belonging
When it came time to choose a college, I didn’t have a perfect plan.
Memphis wasn’t the only option. I looked at other schools, and even went through orientation elsewhere. But it felt different (and not in a good way). No one really reached out. I didn’t feel seen.
Then I came to Memphis.
My own orientation wasn’t perfect on paper. I had just gotten my wisdom teeth out, and yet the people made it different. Then OGs — Suzie Perry and Zoey Huff — made me feel like I belonged.
They were genuine. They made it feel like it was actually cool to be there.
That stuck with me.
There were practical reasons too. It was close to home, more affordable, and I didn’t want to put extra pressure on my parents. Even though they said they’d support me anywhere, that mattered to me.
But if I’m being honest, the feeling of belonging — well, that’s what made the decision. I just didn’t realize yet how important that would become.
Choosing to Show Up Changed Everything
Here’s the part people don’t expect.
I got to Memphis. And I didn’t really take advantage of it at first.
My first semester, I treated college like a place I visited. I’d go to class, then go straight home. Do my work, stay in my routine. I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I also wasn’t growing.
Looking back, I know I wasn’t getting everything I could out of it.
The shift didn’t come from some big realization. It came from opportunity.
Orientation Guide training started picking up. Frosh Camp came into the picture. I joined a fraternity that was rebuilding from the ground up, something that required real commitment.
All of a sudden, I had a reason to stay.
And once I stayed, everything changed.
I started meeting people from all kinds of backgrounds. Some students knew exactly what they were doing. Others had no idea where to start. Some were first-generation, just trying to figure out college.
And I realized something simple: you never know what someone is carrying.
That’s why I don’t lead with titles and experience. I try to get to know people first. Then, if I can help, I share what I’ve learned.
That mindset has carried into everything I do — orientation, SGA, my fraternity. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about being present. Being someone people can trust.
Finding My Direction by Helping Others Find Theirs
At one point, I thought I had everything figured out.
I came in as a computer science major. I liked parts of it, but something didn’t feel right. It didn’t connect with what was starting to matter most to me.
Those conversations and the impact with students made me realize I didn’t want to sit behind a screen all day. I wanted to do something where I could see the difference I was making.
That’s what led me to health sciences.
I’m still figuring out the exact path, but I know the direction. I want to help people in a real, tangible way.
If I could go back and tell my freshman self anything, it would be simple: everything that’s supposed to happen will happen. Just keep showing up.
Because the biggest change in my life didn’t come from a perfect plan.
It came from one moment, one conversation, one decision to stay a little longer — and realizing that being there for other people is what gave my own experience meaning.
