In an evening filled with laughter, nostalgia, and a few “dad jokes,” the Student Government’s thought-provoking What Matters To U speaker series returned on Oct. 21 with actor, comedian, and social media star Josh Peck. The event marked What Matters to U’s first in-person event in two years.
Peck, most famous for his role as Josh on Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh” series, has turned his teen stardom into multiple lead roles in both films and other television series, most recently on Disney+’s new comedy series “Turner & Hooch.”
Following opening remarks from Landon Coles, president of the Student Government, and Meera Patel, chair of What Matters To U, Peck engaged in a lively dialogue moderated by Niles Niseem, a sophomore and renowned public speaker, and MJ Barnes, director of programs at the School of Communication and the managing director for the Orange Umbrella Student Consultancy.
During the conversation, the trio touched on a range of topics, from Peck’s transition into fatherhood to his lifelong acting career. At 10 years old, Peck began his comedy career, he said, to combat his early struggles with being overweight.
"What started as a defense mechanism to make people laugh before they could make fun of me became a silver lining," he shared. "Usually, what is born out of our struggles can become an asset. And I can say that, for me, that was very true with comedy."
With several appearances on Nickelodeon television programs in the early 2000s, like “The Amanda Show” and eventually “Drake & Josh,” Peck’s early career made him a household figure for children and teens across the globe, including many of the more than 500 students in attendance at last Thursday’s event.
Peck's career has evolved from his on-screen film and television roles to his social media platforms. He has amassed many followers: more than 2.6 million on Twitter, 11.9 million on Instagram, and 7.8 million on TikTok. He offered advice to the students in the audience seeking to grow their own social media persona.
"Social media has become just another place to create. For anyone in the audience flirting with the idea of putting out their content, whether it's traditional media or showbusiness, it's truly such an exciting time. There are no gatekeepers," he said. "Go for it. If you make something that makes you laugh, cry, or somewhere in between, if you think it's good, you'll find your audience."
Peck expressed the importance of finding balance in your daily life, particularly for students facing uncertainty in the next chapter of their lives.
"If I knew then what I know now, I'd just tell myself to cool down," he said. "You're all going to this fine institution, and you've got so much going for you. I would say be kind to yourself. Let your life unravel organically. The bad times are here to teach us, and the good times remind us what we're fighting for. And that's life. It's this beautiful ballet of ups and downs because the world demands balance."
His message resonated with students like Patel, a junior studying microbiology, immunology, and public health.
“Something that stuck with me was his message to be kind to myself. That’s something I struggle with right now as a third-year student,” Patel said. “I’m trying to figure out my future, but Josh Peck told me to take my time and be kind to myself after I graduate. That is something I’ll take away with me.”
Taylor Rose, a senior studying psychology, grew up watching Peck on television and now follows him on social media.
“He stayed very true to the person that we’ve all grown up seeing on the numerous platforms he’s on. It was awesome to see that he’s actually a human behind all the star power,” Rose said.
