Freshman Smalls performs on America’s Got Talent

Jayla Smalls, a freshman marketing major from Detroit, Michigan at Southern University has blo wn several students’ minds when she decided to step out on faith, and pursue her dreams of singing. Jayla’s journey began on August 21 as she made her way to the show “America’s Got Talent” in Los Angeles California.
Smalls took to Twitter on August 19 to announce her new journey, and to ask for support from fellow SU students to participate in voting and help get her choir to the final round of the show, using the hashtags, #Su20, #Su21, #Su22, and #Su23.
Smalls has been singing for years and is beyond excited to have the opportunity she has now. “I began singing at the age of six, but I didn’t really begin taking it seriously until the ages of thirteen and fourteen,” she said.
Jayla begin singing in the Detroit Youth Choir at the age of fourteen. After singing in front of different judges, and traveling to different cities, the choir has now had its big break with an appearance on “America’s Got Talent” on August 27. She explains, “The process was so long and draining. We had to sing in front of so many people it became nerve racking, but it all lead up to this very moment, and for that I’m so grateful.”
Her contract was signed before coming to Southern, but she is still an on-campus student, and is completing work through her Moodle account in the midst of watching her dreams come true.
Freshman Larry Haynes says he saw Smalls continuously pop up on his Twitter timeline and was extremely proud of her and everything she had accomplished. “The opportunity she got happens only once in a lifetime. So many students have talent here on Southern’s campus, I’m happy she was one of the ones that could show hers off,” Haynes expressed.