By Ceri Mundrati | Script Writer
It’s almost impossible to miss the booming music, festive hats, and high energy from this particular student as he walks around campus. Yet, people continuously fail to put a name to the face.
“Do not be afraid to be yourself and speak your mind,” says Zackary Meggett, otherwise known as “The Hat Guy.”
Meggett is a third-year air traffic control major from Howard County, Maryland. If you were to ask him why he presents himself the way he does he would admit that aside from thinking the hats look cool, he originally wore them as an “overcompensation” because he had to cut his hair for military purposes.
“The more that I wear them the more sentimental value they have because a good portion of my hats came from the people I love,” said Meggett.
He has a hat from his girlfriend and a few from his mom. Wearing them keeps his loved ones in mind. Since each of the hats carries sentimental value he takes turns wearing them.
“Sometimes halfway through the day I might switch hats, it just depends on how I’m feeling,” said Meggett.
Despite the common misconception, Meggett’s hats are not the source of his music. He carries around a Bluetooth speaker in his bag which plays music from his phone. His choice to broadcast his music is for the purpose of spreading positivity around campus.
“I’m trying to make college not seem so bad,” Megget said.
There’s no specific pattern that he follows or order of music that he plays, he just plays what he thinks will be enjoyed by others. His favorite song is “Waves” by Mr.Probz and he’s been listening to it since it came out. He even sang this song on a cruise ship during his mother’s 50th birthday celebration for karaoke, and according to him, “rocked the boat.”
Meggett says that if he were to title anyone in his life as his hero it would be his mother. She has taught him how to put his best into everything that he does.
“Even when the going gets tough she would always keep me going and encourage me knowing that I could do better even at my lowest points,” Meggett said.
Not a lot of people are aware but Meggett is a transfer student from Louisiana State University, and he expresses that his mother was his number one supporter when he decided to transfer despite the challenges it came with. Now he admits that he has prospered immensely since being here at Hampton.
Aside from both inspiring and entertaining the student body, Meggett is also a part of ROTC and a member of the military-focused Greek organization, Pershing Rifles.
In the future, he hopes to use his training to get a job in the military. Eventually, he wants to work with aircraft and then finally make his way to a control tower where he’ll be an air traffic controller.
“I don’t care where I work as long as it’s not Atlanta because they have one of the busiest airports in the world,” said Meggett.
Although he may bring a smile to everyone’s face daily, students remain curious about who this outstanding person is. Zackary Meggett is an aspiring military worker, a son, a friend, a leader, and an example to all of us on how to be our true selves.
The Hampton Script 