Artist.Educator.DreamChaser.
Hey you lovely people! I feel like so much has happened and my mind has been all over. So I had to retreat back to one of my safe places -- here. I'm currently drinking water, eating an apple, my TV is on "Real Time With Bill Maher", and I'm feeling very mellow. Calm Sunday.
So something pretty cool happened over the past few weeks. I become a contributing writer for the Huffington Post! I know, cool right? I get my own blog page and have the opportunity to write about just about anything I want and share it with the world through this medium. My first article can be found here! It's called "Can Bad Relationships Give You PTSD". I got pretty personal in this article. At first, I was a little skeptical about putting my business out there. But then I thought about it, and came to the conclusion that that's what make your writing unique; when it is personable. I was able to tell you guys about my personal experiences, and based on the feedback that I got from the lovely folks that read it, I was able to touch the hearts of some and give others a peace of mind. So many of us feel like when we're going through something tough, that we're alone, that no one understands us, or that no one else can relate. My article was able to show a lot of people that they are not a victim, that they are not weak. It was able to show them that what they went through was no accident. Everything that has happened, was supposed to happen in order to help you grow into a better person. I was able to ignite a light in the dark parts of someone's soul, that they had hidden because they felt alone. You are not alone. You are not defeated. That was my purpose. Check out my article here and share it with anyone you feel may need that same message!
So on the 8th of this month was the first day of my second year of teaching. Yayyyyyy. I am a Special Education Teacher at a Transfer High School. If you know me, or atleast know how I look (like a teenager myself), your reaction is probably "HIGH SCHOOL? YOU'RE A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER?" Why yes, yes I am.
Every day I go to work, I feel like I was meant to teach at a high school grade level more and more. My students are over aged and under credited, so I'm not much older than most of them. This aspect of my job makes it even better. The relationship that I have and currently am forming with my students have been so rewarding, for all of us. I'm literally just like them. We listen to the same music, we speak the same lingo, we dress the same (yeah, I'm the fly teacher :)) The kinds of conversations I can have with my students comfortably are not conversations that most of my colleagues can have with them from the cultural disconnect alone. So I'm pretty necessary in my school, and I am okay with being the youngest teacher on staff. Actually, I love it. There is literally not A SINGLE DAY that goes by without me being mistaken for a student by both students AND my colleagues. I mean, you know what they say about that black and how it don't crack ;)
So on Friday, I started a College Workshop Series, where I'll be talking about the different aspects of college to my students, from helping them choose a major, to discussing their financial options, to letting them know about campus life. I realized that there really are a lot of things they genuinely didn't know. One of my biggest heartbreaks so far during this workshop was when I learned that some of my students have never even heard of "HBCUs". Now, you know I went to the best HBCU, Howard University. So my heart skipped a beat real quick, before I had to school the youngins on the history and importance of HBCUs. Speaking to them about my experience at Howard and seeing how intrigued they were to learn more was heart warming. I think this was definitely one of the main reasons God placed me in a high school environment; to teach students who look just like me about the importance of higher education. Though I do believe college isn't for everyone, I believe as a minority, we have to give ourselves the opportunity to learn as much as we can in a society that was designed for us to stay at the bottom and be the help. So I encourage my students to all look into higher education as people of color. I'm super excited about how these workshops will impact my students.
Fun Fact: One of my students that graduate in June wrote me asking me for a recommendation letter for 2 HBCUs, and included that I was one of her main influences to apply to these schools. Just one of the many benefits and heartwarming moments as a black educator :)
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So in addition to writing and teaching, I also have dreams of being a model and filmmaker/writer. I believe in the importance of following all of your dreams, no matter how crazy or farfetched they are. We get one life, so do it all baby. In addition to chasing my own dreams, I always try to support my people who are chasing theirs.
QuarterLifer Epiphany #4 - If we don't support each other, who will?
One of my most recent purchases have been my new favorite hat, from the FindLoveSoon brand, created by a fellow Brooklynite, Troy (@Never12Brag)! The detail and quality of such a simple piece is super refreshing. Be a part of the movement. Check it out by following the @findlovesoon Instagram page and be sure to purchase your own #FindLoveSoon merchandise!
If you can't tell, I love my people. I love all things black. I'm sure as a second year teacher in a transfer school environment, I will have so many stories to tell. I really look forward to the experience and to contributing positivity and knowledge to the lives of my young brothers and sisters.
Shoutout to all my fellow black educators. We are CRUCIAL to the development of our community. Shoutout to all my artists and creators. Never stop creating. Culture is nonexistent without us.
Until next time <3
