Jenna Bacon, Campus Carrier arts and living editor
It has been over a week since actor Darren Barnet made his eventful visit to Berry. The last time Barnet was on campus was on Mountain Day in 2014, so it’s no wonder he was eager to be back. During his visit, Barnet was able to tour the campus, participate in a student Q and A, appear in an official Berry vlog, speak with a group of Berry College Theatre Company (BCTC) members and reconnect with past mentors. Despite his busy schedule, Barnet took the time to snap lots of selfies with students as well. It just goes to show that the community one builds during their time at Berry stays with them long after graduation day.
Today, Barnet is a rising star, with credits in TV shows and films such as “Never Have I Ever,” “Chicago Med,” “Gran Turismo” and “Anyone But You.” Not long ago, he was just another Berry student navigating the same campus life as those here now. He participated in the Grand March, hiked to the House of Dreams and had some “good old-fashioned fun” at Marthapalooza.
“Something I really think I took for granted when I was here was just the beauty of the surroundings and all the things to see and do,” Barnet said. “It’s great to be back.”
One of the perks of living on one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world is that there are so many spots that are perfect for studying, reflecting, spending time with friends or praying. For Barnet, that spot was the College Chapel, where he used to sit on a bench and write in his journal. Fortunately, that was one of the many places he was able to stop by during his visit.
“I remember the first day I started at Berry, I sat on the steps and said a little prayer,” Barnet said. “And then the day I left Berry, I said another prayer.”
The very first time Barnet ever acted in anything was during the BCTC’s spring 2012 production of “The Last Night of Ballyhoo,” where he landed the role of Joe Farkas. He decided to audition after a friend of his told him about the play. According to Barnett, “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” remains one of his favorite productions he’s ever participated in.
“It was set in the 1940s in New York, and I loved the wardrobe,” Barnet said. “I got to learn how to do my own makeup for theater, which is a very different game than any other sort of makeup preparation.”
As a former communication minor and employee of Viking Fusion, Barnet spent a lot of time in Laughlin while he was a student. Since Berry is such a community-based school, it’s no surprise that students often find mentors in their professors. Barnet is certainly no exception, as he identified Associate Professor of Communication Curt Hersey, Professor of Communication Brian Carroll and Senior Lecturer of Communication Kevin Kleine as people who made an impact in his life.
“Every professor I had at Berry had an effect on me but especially ones at Laughlin,” Barnet said.
One of the tougher, yet exciting, parts of the student experience is preparing for graduation. While starting one’s career journey can be super exciting, it can also be stressful when the future is unknown. Fortunately, there are many people who have gone through this exact same experience.
“You don’t have so much pressure on yourself or let other people get in your head, whether it’s your parents, your friends, or your mentors,” Barnett said. “Be ok with being a little scattered sometimes. That’s the fun of life, and without it, there’s no spice.”