Tony has acquired many skills and talents during his matriculation at Clayton State as a Communications and Media Studies major. He started his educational career at Gordon College in 1999 and has decided to complete it here at Clayton State because of its better professors and larger campus. The professors who have eagerly accompanied him down this academic path include former Clayton State professor Dr. Godlasky, whose refreshing passion for teaching ignited his lust for learning. “Dr. Spence acts like a guide-he doesn’t spoon feed you and is willing to let you express yourself.” Lastly, it was the encouragement from Drs. Bonner and Clark that made him want to learn as well.

After describing this laundry list of all-star professors, he naturally spoke about his love of the film classes offered here. He attributes these classes and professors with showing him his path.

After graduation, he plans to work for an accounting firm and develop a new film in the spring and the fall will hopefully find Tony Berry at Georgia State pursuing his Masters in Communications with an emphasis on Film/Video & Digital Imaging.

When his time is not monopolized by watching film or contemplating the effects of media on society (and vice-versa of course), Tony enjoys reading, writing, spending time with his friends and of course, offering advice to anyone in need of it. The Griffin native, who affectionately referred to his hometown as “the place where dreams come to die,” thinks about his legacy here. He hopes to leave his words of wisdom, including the belief that the most important thing any of us can do is what is in our best interest, even if it does not seem like it is in our best interest. In retrospect, he laments that he had the whole college thing backwards. He wishes he would have “taken things less seriously in the beginning, and then more seriously in the end.”

He is known for his wit and wisdom, but Tony cannot take sole credit for his ability to tell a story at just the right moment, in just the right way, to just the right person. He collects these stories. He collects quotes to hammer a point home whenever his friends seem to turn on the listening filter when asking advice about a relationship or school problems. Flipping through Facebook at all the million and one quotes, he stumbles across a few of his favorites and wants to share them with the students of Clayton State University.

“No race can prosper till it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.” -Booker T. Washington

“One Man can not hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him.”- another Washington quote

But perhaps the most personal of them all, are those uttered from his mother’s lips, “Most situations in life come down to laughing or crying, and that’s why I laugh in the face of adversity.”

Graduation is typically the most exciting and saddest time in any student’s life. It is a time to reflect on your mistakes, rejoice in your accomplishments, and give thanks to all of those who have played a part in the movie of your life. Tony is no different.

“I honestly don’t know how I feel about graduation. I truly think the apt title for this event is commencement because it truly is the beginning of one thing as another ends. It’s just another step in life…a part of a larger plan. It’s an accomplishment that I am proud to have done. Also, I would like to thank all of those individuals that have helped me along the way, family (mom and siblings), my friends (both old and new), and those former P. boys (you know who you are). Thank you, I truly feel blessed to have you in my life.”

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