Spotlight: Brielle Aguayo, the photographer worth 1,000 words

By Bryce Johnson •

 

Throughout the summer, Brielle Aguayo, senior communication major and The Current’s art director, worked as a photo intern at the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

She took photos of construction sites of upcoming complexes, a soup kitchen, restaurant and a yoga class. Some of her photos were featured on the front page.

“I have loved being a photo intern at the Sun Sentinel. I’ve been able to not only enhance my skills, but shadow photographers that have given me valuable advice when it comes to taking photos, which is really meaningful to my career and future as a photojournalist,”  Aguayo said.

Aguayo first got involved with The Current as a freshman through the communication practicum classes. Before becoming art director, she was a reporter, photographer, opinions editor, features editor and graphic designer.

“I’m in charge of the layout and the design of the newspaper. Within that role, I was able to redesign the layout of The Current and take photos and still report. And I love doing it every single day,” Aguayo said.

As a graphic designer of The Current, Nicole Gomez, junior art + design major, works closely with Aguayo to design the newspaper.

“I definitely learned how to be a better leader from her, just from shadowing her as I work,” Gomez said.

Megan Fitzgerald, associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts, is the communication program director and Mako Media Network faculty adviser. Alongside working with Aguayo in The Current, Fitzgerald taught her classes like Introduction to Print Journalism and Feature Writing.

“I think she’s a good reminder that a smile and a positive attitude can really get you places, take you far, because even in the most stressful times, she keeps her positive attitude, she keeps her smile and she keeps going forward,” Fitzgerald said. “She’s just such an integral part of the team. I can’t even imagine us doing the paper without her, and her skills have just grown exponentially.”

Chris Delboni, director of MMN, agreed.

“We just selected her for the first MMN ‘top pick’ award this year. Brielle is bright, dedicated and enthusiastic — a true team leader. The Current would not be what it is without Brielle. Her passion for journalism always moves me,” Delboni said.

Aguayo remembers when Delboni started at NSU two years ago. It wasn’t easy at first to hear the critiques on her articles. But ever since, Aguayo said Delboni has been her biggest motivator.

“I’ve dealt with so much self-doubt and not believing in myself or thinking I’m good enough. So the fact that she [has faith in me], because I look up to her, means everything to me,” Aguayo said.

The first article Aguayo wrote for The Current was, “More than meets the eye: The maintenance guy,” which spotlighted a maintenance worker in The Commons, in September 2021.

Brielle Aguayo’s mother, Karen Aguayo, said this article is her personal favorite.

“She acknowledged him and how hard he worked, and that touched my heart,” Karen Aguayo said. “See, that’s my daughter, helping someone be recognized for their hard work.”

Danna Bertel, NSU alumna and former features editor of The Current, took the Practicum classes with Brielle Aguayo. Bertel remembers when Brielle Aguayo was hired as an editor while still in Practicum.

“I’ve loved working with Brielle. She was so nice to me when we first met. She was very friendly, and I think it’s just been a great time working with her,” Bertel said. “I just looked up to her because I felt like she was always so engaging.”

Brielle Aguayo also has a photography business, @photography.by.brielle on Instagram.

“My goal and dream is to work as a photojournalist for a large mainstream daily newspaper, which I really hope will happen because I love taking photos, and I want to continue that passion throughout my career and life,” she said.

Fitzgerald has faith that Brielle Aguayo will achieve her dream and become a professional photojournalist.

“I have no doubt that she will do whatever she sets her mind to, because I’ve watched her do it,” Fitzgerald said. “She’s fiercely loyal, and when she commits to something, she commits with her whole heart.”

William  Aguayo, her twin brother, remembers how she took pictures for her high school yearbook.

“I’ll never forget, my mom and dad bought her her first real camera. She loved it. She still has it to this day,” William Aguayo said.

Growing up, Brielle Aguayo liked video games, reading, watching movies and being with her family.

“She was my best friend growing up in early childhood. So we were very, very close because elementary school and middle school was a little rough for the both of us, especially me,” William Aguayo said.

One of Karen Aguayo’s favorite memories was in a parking lot when her daughter was 8 years old. They saw an elderly man having trouble walking off of a curb.

“She jumped out of the car. She went and took this elderly man, stranger guy that she didn’t even know, grabbed him by the hand. It makes me in tears just because this is just the person she is,” Karen Aguayo said. “And she took him and walked him down the step. And then he felt so relieved, and she felt good in her heart because she helped him, and that’s how she is.”

Brielle Aguayo is also part of the Razor’s Edge Shark Talent Scholars Program and Sigma Delta Tau. In Sigma Delta Tau, she is the director of alumni engagement and a “big” to two members, meaning she mentors them and acts as a big sister.

Teresa Arroyo, sophomore marine biology major, is one of her “littles,” or mentees, in Sigma Delta Tau. Arroyo remembers seeing her at the sorority’s Bid Day and going out to Starbucks with her.

“I’ve learned a lot about college in general, and being a part of a sorority, it’s been helpful having her as a guiding light, so I don’t go in the wrong direction,” Arroyo said. “She’s been able to really help transition me into a new step, and having her as a best friend right there has been really great and something that I didn’t necessarily have in the past.”

In Shark Talent, Brielle Aguayo is on the executive board for the social committee and promotes the arts around campus. She also takes photos for Shark Talent Showcase.

“This past semester, I submitted my work for the gallery, and I got in,” she said. “I submitted two pieces of two dances that were done. And it was awesome to be able to do that, because I’ve never seen my photography physically on a wall.”

Jaclyn Matheos, junior marketing major, is in Shark Talent with Brielle Aguayo. Matheos is also her other “little” in Sigma Delta Tau.

Brielle Aguayo was one of the few people who made Matheos feel comfortable when she came to NSU.

“She basically made me who I am because she helped me grow,” Matheos said. “She never failed to make me feel comfortable. And I don’t know what I would do without her, and I don’t think I would be here without her. And that is me being serious because she has helped me through a lot.”

Brielle Aguayo has also helped Mako TV and Mako Radio, the other outlets of MMN.

For Alex Hernández, Mako Radio station manager and senior double major in international studies and national security, Brielle Aguayo helped her DJ and take pictures during her interviews.

“One of the biggest interviews that I ever had was this one for HARIZ, who is an indie singer. And Brielle was the one that was taking the photography for it. She was so organized, and she made everybody feel so comfortable. She just brought a good energy,” Hernández said. “I’ve learned to respect her as a coworker, but I’ve learned to appreciate her even more as a friend, and I hope that she knows that she’s so loved all around the office.”

Joyce Moed, associate lecturer in DCMA, frequently works with Brielle Aguayo as The Current’s faculty adviser.

“I feel like I know two different sides of Brielle, like as a student and also as a friend,” Moed said.

Moed has taught a course with her in almost every semester since she was a freshman. The first class was Public Speaking.

“Whenever she spoke, everybody really listened to her, and it was quiet in the room when she was speaking because she has a way of really getting people interested in what she’s talking about,” Moed said.

Brielle Aguayo is thankful for everyone who impacted her at NSU, including Shark Talent, Sigma Delta Tau and Mako Media Network.

“My senior year is going to be a hard one because I don’t know how I’m going to leave so many people who have literally changed my life,” Brielle Aguayo said. “I thank the NSU community for always supporting us, and I want people to know that journalism matters and that there are student journalists who are willing to tell stories, so please listen to them.”