Trevor Joyner Class of 2008

Interview by Aneara Burns.  Photo by Flonora Merritt.

Friendship has always stressed the importance of the arts, always allowing students to artistically express themselves, whether that be in a play or at a spoken poetry night. Trevor Joyner took this lesson to heart and into the real world as a comedian. I had the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss his time at Collegiate, his career and the importance of the arts.

 Aneara: What college did you attend and what was your major? 

Trevor: I went to South Carolina State University. My major was in theater, but I didn’t finish college. I knew I wanted to do stand up as a career so I figured why keep wasting my time if I knew what I ultimately wanted to do? I was a theater major so I was doing plays and stand up shows in college but I felt  I wanted to get out in the real world and do it for real.

 Aneara: What made you want to become a comedian?

Trevor: That's a good question. I was just funny everywhere all the time. I just started doing stuff in high school and then I never stopped. I just kept doing that same thing. So that's what really led me there—just hosting a lot of the talent shows and school fashion shows. I was taking those opportunities to work on my jokes.

 Aneara: With you being a black man, have you faced any discrimination in the industry?

Trevor: I don't really have any horror stories about being black. I'm coming up at a great time. All the struggle—that was Richard Pryor’s era. I’m not saying there’s not any racism. There’s plenty of that. But I don't pay attention to that stuff. You just stay focused on what it is you want to do. I focus on the positive aspects of what I’m doing.

Aneara: Why are the fine arts so important?

Trevor: We would be nothing without art. As a society, we need that because it is an expression—an expression that really doesn't have anything to do with money or all that other stuff. And that's pure passion. Enabling kids and students to just express how they feel, whether it's through visual mediums, audio, poetry or podcasts—that's something we are always going to need. Our whole entire society is shaped by great artists. 

Aneara: What was your time like at Collegiate? 

Trevor: It was a lot of fun. I didn’t do any work though, so that's probably why it was fun. But Collegiate always has a special place in my heart, because that's where I really got my start with comedy. They gave me an opportunity to do stuff in the fine arts theater department—doing plays. It almost felt like a performance arts high school. It kind of has that feel to it. So that's what really got me involved. And I think having the faculty and staff be supportive really opened me up to it. So I just  hosted and did so much stuff at Collegiate, it felt like a job. So that kind of really prepared me for getting into Hollywood.

 Aneara: Do you have any inspirational words for scholars who are interested in the fine arts?

Trevor: Just start. I think that's the benefit of TikTok and other social media. Figure out how you can start. Don't wait till you graduate or you get to college.There’s so many ways you don't have to wait. So just get right to it. Even if you’re not the best, just start. And don't forget to have fun. Fun is the most important thing. 

Alumni Editor Aneara Burns is a junior at Arizona State University and a 2020 graduate of Friendship Collegiate Academy.