Meet Teryn Jones of Lee’s Summit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teryn Jones.

Hi Teryn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Funnily enough, I started on social media on Twitter following the band One Direction. I loved having immediate access to my favorite celebrities and thought, “This should be my career!” After I completed my Associate’s degree at Metropolitan Community College, I transferred to Arizona State University and completed an online Mass Communications and Media Studies Bachelor’s degree. All the while, I was working at Wayside Waifs, a nonprofit no-kill animal shelter in Kansas City. Here I developed a passion for animal welfare and had the opportunity to intern as a Digital Media intern with the Donor Relations team there. After I graduated college, I decided to move to Arizona for a change of pace out of the Midwestern lifestyle. After 3 years, I realized home was calling me back. I returned to Wayside Waifs as the Animal Marketing Coordinator, where I have the pleasure of photographing animals, getting ready for their forever homes, writing their stories, and producing fun content on Instagram and TikTok daily. More recently, I decided to return to school and receive my Master’s online at the University of Florida – I am halfway done with a Mass Communications degree with a concentration in Social Media. Social Media is my passion because it’s ever-evolving, and with the digital world we live in, it’s a great career path.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no. In terms of my education plan, I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted to achieve that, and so far, I am doing just that. I will have completed all of my schooling by the time I’m 30, which is exactly what I wanted to do. Personally, there have been some major milestones that I had to adjust to. I moved into my first apartment and lived without my mom for the first time. Learning not to lean on her physical support all the time was a challenge, but knowing she was just a phone call away still helped. I also experienced losing my dog, which I’ve had since childhood, after a long battle with bladder cancer – one of the most challenging emotional journeys I’ve been on. I’m in a much better place mentally, emotionally, and physically, which has helped me balance a work/school/life balance.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, I work as the Animal Marketing Coordinator at Wayside Waifs. My specialty is curating fun, engaging content on social media platforms, particularly Instagram and TikTok. I am proud of a recent viral video with 1.6 million views and still counting! It was seen on Good Morning America, The Bobby Bones Show, and most importantly, our shelter got the national recognition it deserves. I have a good attitude and can communicate effectively with almost everyone I meet. I have been known to always have a smile on my face, even on my darkest days. You would never know!

What do you think about happiness?
Being surrounded by the people who make my life meaningful. Friends, family, colleagues, etc. You can’t be happy if you don’t have people to be happy with. I also enjoy new adventures and living life to the fullest because you never know your last moment. Buy that concert ticket, go on that vacation, and do that new thing!

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teryn-jones-002b22149/

Image Credits
The first photo was taken by Baylee DeLaurier, others are candids.