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Student Profile:
Ny’Eshia Murray
Student Employee – Office of Admissions
Major: MART
Minor: MARA
Ny’Eshia Murray just wants to be part of something bigger than herself.
Ny’Eshia claims she’s always had a “thing for the water,” so when a friend introduced her to Texas A&M University at Galveston, she discovered an excellent match.
At first, she considered majoring in Marine Biology. After enrolling, she decided to join the Texas Maritime Academy (TMA) Cadet Battalion, but she discovered another possibility
― Marine Transportation.
“I love ships, and I thought the traveling thing would be an even better pursuit for me,” she says.
Once Ny’Eshia, who earned an associate degree from North Harris Community College, established herself as a Sea Aggie, she quickly rose to the rank of executive officer for Victor Company in the Corps.
Now, Ms. Murray, as she’s known in the Corps, can also brag about maintaining a solid grade point average. She’s proud to be an Aggie and believes in the network of “trustworthy people who believe in you and are always there to help you up.” And of course, she’s looking forward to getting her Aggie ring.
However, Ny’Eshia’s success did not come without challenges. She joined TAMUG as one of the small, but growing number of women in the Cadet Batallion
― and in the maritime and marine transportation industries as a whole.
She recognizes, “there are not a lot of females [in these programs], and especially not many African American women.
She said, “I know I have to prove myself, and I realize it’s going to be a challenge. I like to think of it as a reward. And, I’m privileged to qualify for that reward.”
 Ny’Eshia cites her family for giving her motivation and support to always “be part of something more.” She gives tremendous credit to her mother, who passed away in 2004.
Ny’Eshia lives on-campus Monday through Thursday --- as a full-time student. Then, she devotes Friday through Sunday to being a full-time mom.
Her son, King James, will turn two-years-old in June. His name is part Biblical reference, part for his father (James), part family tradition, and may have something to do with one of Ny’Eshia’s favorite athletes – LeBron James.
“Through it all,” she says, “King James, the good man up above and my grandparents keep me striving for more, if not for myself, for them. I want to be someone my son can look up to.” And, with her drive to push forward in the ranks of the Corp and in the marine transportation industry, her son should have a role model he can admire.
Role models are important to Ny’Eshia. She expresses great respect for Alan Ibarra, who, as commander, is currently the highest ranking student in the TMA Corps. She hopes one day she might follow in his footsteps.
While her son and her career are priorities, Ny’Eshia also manages a little time here and there for writing poetry, working out, horseback riding, canoeing, or watching some of her favorite athletes, Dwyane Wade, Terrell Owens, Brian Urlacher, and LeBron James.
She also advises women looking to join the Cadet Battalion or the marine transportation industry to stay true to themselves.
She encourages women to “do it for you.” She adds, “If you’re up for the challenge, put in the work. And, you’ll get out of it what you put into it.”
As Ms. Murray walks near the water, the USS Texas Clipper comes into view and her eyes begin to light up a little more. Other cadets call to her with smiles, hugs, and light-hearted jokes --- proving she already is part of something bigger than herself.
“I may have had a late start,” she says, “but I’m here now. Y’all are gonna see me again, ‘cause I want so much more.”
Editor’s Note: When Ny’Eshia Murray says “Y’all are gonna see me again…” she isn’t exaggerating. During the 2011 Maritime & NROTC Awards Ceremony, she was recognized as the winner of a $4,000 Kirby Inland Marine Scholarship honoring the Mary Nell Cates Valerious.
The award goes annually to the top junior deck cadet in License Option program.
She qualified for the scholarship on the basis of her outstanding grades and demonstrated leadership abilities — as well as her willingness to tackle all challenges.
Then later in a review ceremony, she was named commander of the Cadet Battalion’s V Company for the 2011-2012 academic year.
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