By Angelique McKowan

Kent State sophomore Andy Gala swore to himself that he wouldn't get nervous.

"But I am," the pre-med student said as he stood outside the TV2 studio, anticipating his audition for Kent State's award-winning news program. "My mouth feels like it's turned into a desert."

Around him, other students dealt with pre-audition jitters by pacing, rehearsing and making jokes and small talk with each other.

For Gala, he relieved his anxiety in a different way.
"I did jumping jacks before I came here," he said. "I kept saying, 'You can do it! You can do it!'"

This wasn't Gala's first experience with TV2 audition anxiety.

When Gala was a freshman, he auditioned to be an entertainment reporter on the news program but had not been given the job.

"But when I auditioned the first time, I was just doing it to meet girls," he said. "This time I'm serious."

And Gala's serious approach this time around paid off.

The audition results were posted outside the TV2 studio the next day.

"I was so nervous when I went up to look at the list," Gala said. "And I looked and there was my name, 'Andy Gala.'

Gala said the experience was "emotional."

"To be honest, I teared up a bit," Gala said. "After being rejected my freshman year, it was sort of like a redemption."

Pre-med major Andy Gala practices his script outside the studio, and then delivers the news on the set. Photos by Maria Ho and Rami Daud.

Every Friday for the rest of the semester, Gala will give the entertainment report on the 5:30 p.m. newscast.

"I can't wait to get started," he said, still glowing from his success. "I can't wait to get in there and get my feet wet."

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