Behind the Camera: Photographer's Edition

Kristopher Anderson @ikrisanderson  

We are now into the third installment of my Behind the Camera series on my blog where I zero in on someone to interview in the entertainment or media industry. Anyone who is behind a camera on either side of it is eligible to be interviewed as a person of influence. 

If you have any suggestions on who I should pick next, feel free to email me at blancosbranding@gmail.com or DM me on my Instagram @curlyblanco. 

~

Faith is the true motivator when it comes to photographer and branding agency owner, Kristopher Anderson. The Atlanta native was always interested in.. , but could never quite pinpoint what it was until he began his journey at the illustrious Hampton University. While attending the university, he studied sports management and graduated in 2018.

Kristopher is known for being very expressive in his faith and open about his relationship with God. When speaking with him, he always made sure to give credit to the one that guided him through it all and was the one who was, even today, leading and guiding him in his decision making. 

In 2015, he founded his nonprofit organization called Awaken Future Generations. This organization caters to the younger generation in helping them become more aware of their capability to be whatever they have their heart set on being in adulthood through mentorship, scholarship, and service. 

I want people to work together to get to the next level. - Kristopher Anderson, 2020

This passion for helping others is what led Kristopher to also create The UpNext Brand, LLC. This branding agency is to help give everyone the opportunity to see not only what they bring to the table, but the understanding of their potential to truly be "up next." To go more in-depth, his true intentions behind his brand are to allow people to be creative and have a space to do so. When going into business, it can be difficult trying to balance a career and still stay true to your creative self. 

It all started after Kristopher became interested in becoming a Youtube vlogger, but it winded up not working out so he decided to put his camera to use anyway. He winded up taking some of his friend's pictures one day that eventually went viral. 

This transformed into various people after asking him to take their pictures for special occasions in a more professional setting.

Originally, the UpNext Brand was originally supposed to have a podcast. Things were quickly changed when the COVID-19 pandemic began rising across the United States. With this, Kris decided to take initiative and create what is now recognized as The UpNext Magazine. Despite him not having any experience writing articles or being keen on reading & writing, Kris did not let him detour him from what he felt in his heart that he should pursue. 

September 2020 Issue of The UpNext Magazine

The origin of the UpNext Magazine was in place of Kris' original idea of beginning a podcast series that was halted by the current pandemic. Today, the magazine has grown in readers and notoriety showcasing various black creatives from industries such as fashion, media, and music. His hopes for the magazine is that it will be a platform that helps those featured and those viewing work together to get to the next level.

When asked about his favorite interview, Kris was first unable to pinpoint one. He then explained that one of his favorites, though he loves them all dearly, was the one he did with long-time friend Nigil Crawford.

What intrigued me most about his answer was not the answer itself, but the fact that they both are in the same industry and still found a way to co-exist being successful. And as FRIENDS at that! In many cases, people end up being against each other when they don't have to be. This could be from being driven apart or hidden jealously from either party if not both parties at some point in time. In the African American community, we are so quick to support each other when we have something to personally gain so that's why I found it to be so commendable. 

One of his favorite parts of the process of combining his two passions is seeing the end result of the magazine covers after envisioning them in his mind and hearing the subject's positive feedback.  

Picture Courtesy of The UpNext Studio

Photography is an art form that many people are fond of but is not always executed properly.
Kristopher's obedience to God to redirect him into what is now his pride and joy has been a transition that is not only admirable but inspiring. 

As for his advice to those looking to do what he does or something similar, he encourages to be mindful of the connections you already have and the new ones you will make. This is because everyone may not have your best interest at heart or sometimes where God is taking you, everyone cannot go and it is not meant for them to be apart of your life for that season. Additionally, to implement financial discipline and to put God at the center of your business or brand. 

The UpNext Brand is a great resource for creatives that are looking to expand themselves and network with other people with similar mindsets. I know sometimes when starting your own brand, you want to do everything yourself, but maybe that's why you're still in the same spot that you've been in since this time last year.

There's nothing wrong with asking others more knowledgeable for help. Taking this initiative is actually more effective than doing everything yourself because it will help you grow past the perspective you have and help take some of the stress off of yourself. 

The rest will work itself out.

When asked "what's next" for both Kris and The UpNext Brand, he had much to say. "What people can look forward to seeing from me is new articles from heavy hitters, traveling, and expanding the name of the UpNext Studio." 

Kristopher has now even begun creating apparel for the UpNext Brand which is currently available for pre-order here. 

You can also find the latest release of his October 2020 edition for the UpNext magazine here. 

I don't know about you all, but I am definitely excited to see what Kris' brand expansion looks like, and with God on his side, it will come to full fruition.

To keep up with Kris and The UpNext Brand, here are his social media page links:

https://www.instagram.com/ikrisanderson/

https://www.instagram.com/theupnext__/

https://www.instagram.com/theupnextstudio/

Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you.

Success Spotlight: Quentin Davis

 Success Spotlight: Quentin Davis - Donte Dinero 

When you think of an entrepreneur, the first picture that comes to your mind may or may not be an African American male, especially a college student. 

This is where I swoop in and introduce you to a different perspective. 

Many people know the brand, but not the man behind it all.

Quentin Davis, the owner of clothing brand Donte Dinero, has made his brand a household name in his at-home community of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with his school community which is the illustrious Hampton University where he is currently a junior pursuing a degree in Business Management. 

Though he had various people in his family that attended Hampton, he initially didn't want to go to college which can be surprising considering that usually when a child has a parent or family member that is legacy, they will go to the school where the legacy is.  His parents wanted him to be in a better environment to be able to grow and use his knowledge so that is where things began prior to starting his business. 

The Birth of Donte Dinero

One day, Quentin was asked by a friend of his why he wouldn't turn his likes into profit considering his larger social media following from incorporating fashion into his feed and people always questioning what he was wearing. Though the concept had never crossed his mind before, he needed a way to make some money so he was open to the concept.  What helped to seal the deal was when he was asked to hang out with another friend, he had to decline the offer because of him not having money. 

He decided soon after to write down everything and make it plain while at a track meet for a family member within a 2-hour time span. Every detail and specification came to him at this time which made things easier to plan. The only part that was left was the actual execution. 

The name was what took longer than the actual coordination of the business. It originates from Quentin's middle name being Donte. The word Donte in Spanish means "endure". Since he also initially wanted the name of his business to have something to do with money, he decided to use the word "Dinero" which means wealth in Spanish. As a result, the name of the brand itself means to Endure Wealth. 

Running a business can be stressful, but Quentin is sure to balance both his academic life and business life. He also has learned to manifest more of the things that come into his life and write about the things that stress him out which in-turn has produced growth in different areas of his life. 

The brand specializes in streetwear clothing for both men and women such as t-shirts, shorts, accessories, and more!

               " Individuality is most important. " - Quentin Davis, Donte Dinero

When asked who were his fashion influences, he said that he didn't specifically have any. However, he did mention that he admired business owners Milano DeRouge & Gsuwoo because of the way both

brands operate and cater to the concept of being both luxury and streetwear. 

Being a business owner hasn't always been great. Though rewarding over time, it can be challenging sometimes having to do everything yourself when others aren't available to help you. An example of this was when Quentin talked more in-depth about his experience one summer trying to get his business off the ground. He described this particular summer as the "worst summer ever". This was because he decided to do a photoshoot for his business in New York. Upon arrival, things did not go as planned... at all. From wasting time and money to being kicked out of the hotel he was staying at with friends, everything was out of alignment. While he still may have gotten nice shots to use for his business, they weren't 100% what he wanted but he had to take it for what it was for the sake of his business because it was too late at that point. 

After contemplating to keep his business or let it go, he decided to post the shots anyway which had better views than what he had anticipated. 

This taught him to pace himself because the ideas he had were so elaborate, but when starting off sometimes things can't always start in that way. Giving yourself room to mess up and grow is essential when having a business because as the years go along, you do not want to hold regret or not live enough in the present to actually experience your different milestones because you'd be always going for the next thing. 

What I personally learned in my experience with speaking to Quentin is that in many situations, it truly is me vs. me. YOU are the only one that stands in between you and what you truly want for yourself. Yes, there will be naysayers but people will talk about you whether you are doing good or bad so it's vital in your journey of success to have laser-focus on what you want for yourself. 

Quentin's advice to anyone looking to pursue a business venture or even just generally thinking about doing something potentially out of their comfort zone or something new is:

#1) Pace Yourself - Passion can make you want to rush through things, but do NOT rush your process. Don't overwhelm yourself, especially if you are in school. 

#2) Always Promote Yourself - You never know where a like, retweet, or share can take your business so make sure that people are doing these things for you (they are FREE!)

#3) Stay Consistent - Everybody struggles with this, but it will get your brand to touch places you've never been. 

When asked what to expect next from himself and his brand, Quentin's response was one of joy and much anticipation. He spoke briefly about more collaborations with people in the industry and the true expansion of his business. He also has a Fall/Winter 2020 Collection dropping soon, but for now, he is having a 50% off sale on the remaining items he has in stock before the launch which you can participate in by going to the link to his website listed below. 

You can keep up with Quentin & Donte Dinero through these links: 

https://www.instagram.com/1xque/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/donte.dinero/?hl=en

https://dontedinero.com/

Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you. 

Behind the Camera: Actor's Edition

Kiah Clingman @kiahtheactress                            

This is the first installment of my new monthly series on my blog where I will be zeroing in on someone to interview in the entertainment industry. Anyone who is behind a camera on either side is being interviewed who can be viewed as an influence. 

If you have any suggestions on who I should pick next, feel free to email me at sherdellbaker@icloud.com or DM me on my Instagram @curlyblanco. 

~
I had the pleasure of interviewing the amazing Kiah Clingman. The Ohio native had her start with acting when she would work on different short films and videos with her friends from college. All of which were great starts to her now even more blossoming career. She also comes from a creative background because her father, James Clingman, is an author of various economic books and black empowerment books. Her resume includes working with production companies such as DamnWriteOriginals and the Cincinnati Black Theatre. As well as, co-starring in the hit series Black Lightning and the film Undercover Brother 2. She graduated from Howard University in 2015 with her degree in both Theater and History.

"Acting is the hardest but most rewarding job to do." She stated when referring to the will and resilience needed in an industry that is very critical, and sometimes even rejecting various things you may want to bring to the table or ideals you may have.

At one point, it was even hard for her to get bookings because of her natural hair. Sometimes your appearance, especially in the entertainment industry, can be a make or break deal for your next job offer. Kiah explained how she had to learn to be "okay with herself" and understand that it is not always personal in brands that have a certain look they're trying to uphold. Additionally, rooting for others when you don't get the part. It can be very discouraging, especially in an industry that is so competitive, when you don't get a role that you feel like was made for you.

Kiah pictured above with her castmates from the web series,
Outlandish. 

With God being the head of her life, not only does she go to Him in prayer for a lot of her decision making, but she also prides herself on having your intentions align with your overall perspective in life. One role in a major movie she turned down because the role included her going up to another male character and wearing minimal clothing-- as if to be one of his "women". Turning this down said a lot to me about her character and her as a woman because she didn't wanna be presented in a way that would "downplay" her.

When asked about what advice she would give to someone who is looking to break into the industry, she exclaimed about one's perception. One's perception of their circumstances is what can affect their decisions & how they carry themselves on a daily basis.

Behind the Camera, Kiah still struggles with family issues like the next person. Along with balancing all of the different hats that she wears daily. Nonetheless, she does it gracefully with the way she chooses to live her life. Releasing positive energy out onto others is one way she does this along with seeking counseling. Yes, as we all know it can be scary venting to someone that you don't know about topics that you may not feel comfortable talking about. However, speaking to someone that has no previous background about you helps them to be objective and unbiased to ways they can advise you to go about different circumstances. This is something that she suggested for those wanting to get into the industry for clarity.

What's coming next from Kiah? Some of the projects she's working on she couldn't disclose all of the information due to The project she just recently finished, Undercover Brother 2, will be on Netflix in November. Also, she's producing two different short films that should have release dates on the horizon.


"Know what you want, and what you want can't be temporary." - Kiah Clingman, 2019



If you're interested in contacting or working with Kiah, her social media handles on Instagram and Twitter are @kiahtheactress, as listed above.

Her website is listed here... https://www.kiahclingman.com/

Her LinkedIn is listed here... https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiahclingman



Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you. 

The Importance of Black-Owned Business

As many of you may know, there are many black businesses in existence but few are actually known about to be patronized. For the ones we do know about, we tend to complain about buying from because of the prices. What we fail to realize is that if they're not making sales like they should, the prices are going to be higher because they business still needs to make profit.

Not only that, but if you can spend the same amount at another store or even more-- why not just keep the money circulating within your own community? The African-American community gives so much money to other races when we don't even support our own how we should. This is not to put-down other business owners in any way, shape or form nor of any other ethnicity but it is to shine a light on black owned businesses that deserve more credit & actually have some pretty cool products. Don't let the prices intimidate you because higher quality costs more.

Buying from these business additionally helps to.. I hope learning about these businesses inspires you to create your own or spread the word about them. If you're feeling unsure of a brand, it also helps to try and look up reviews on them just to make sure it's what you think it is. (YouTube is great for this!)

Listed below are various black owned businesses categorized by skincare, apparel, hair care/grooming, and makeup. There's hundreds of others that exist whether locally or even internationally. Let's help them grow this year!

Disclaimer: All black-owned businesses were found with my own research. I have not been sponsored in any way. The pictures are also not my own. 

Skincare

• Bolden

https://www.boldenusa.com/

Their mission is to help women of color not only embrace their natural beauty, but also to create products that give representation to dark skin tones within the skincare product field. Their products also help cater to women that suffer from hyperpigmentation (when melanin is produced on more areas of the body than others naturally; creates dark spots.) I would recommend this brand because after speaking to them personally, they not only care about their consumers genuinely, but they also take heed to their customer feedback when it is provided.

• Scotch Porter

https://www.scotchporter.com/  (Also sold on Amazon)

Y'all know I couldn't leave my guys out the equation!! They have to keep their skin up too, right? Scotch Porter is a brand that has products for both your body & hair along with products specifically for shaving and for those of you that rock beards! One product that stuck out to me was their masculine wipes. It probably sounds weird, but it actually could probably be a life saver for a lot of people. Especially when a lot of guys tend to be more active (gym, sports, etc.) I didn't even know these were available for men so now that I do I'm lowkey interested for someone I know to try it and let me know the results. 

• Bevel

https://getbevel.com/  (Also sold on Amazon & Target Online)

Bevel is a brand that specializes in producing products that can reduce both irritation, and razor bumps from shaving. They also offer a shave plan that includes a razor with 60 extra blades, a shaving brush, priming oil, shave cream, and restoring balm (pictured above).  I like the design of the product line both minimalistic and masculine. They also make it a point in their brand to cater not just to your shaving needs but your overall hair needs as well. This brand is also safe for women to use for their shaving needs. If your skeptical in any way, just check out the reviews!



Hair Care

• Delish Condish

http://www.delishcondish.com/

I remember seeing this brand somewhere on social media awhile ago, and found it so neat how their products were named after items considered natural & food such as mango or  I personally plan on buying from this brand because I like the vibe I receive from their platform. They have products for both your hair, face, and body needs. When the time comes for me to buy products from them, I will do a review & follow-up. Their site is currently shut down to fill orders, but they will be back like they never left soon. 

• NaturALL

https://naturallclub.com/

I've seen this brand featured on YouTube multiple times, and from what I could see they have very nice packing and make it their initiative to have each product within their line to be made with all natural products and essential oils. One of which being avocado that is good for adding slip when washing natural hair, and the nourishment of vitamin A to the hair follicles. For all my natural hair readers, this brand is definitely one to try if you're looking for a brand that has ingredients that aren't too harsh on your hair. 

Makeup

• Juvia's Place

https://www.juviasplace.com/

I already was aware of the brand Juvia's Place because of it's constant reoccurrence in tutorials on various social media platforms. What stuck out to me the most about this brand was how high of a pigmentation their palettes have. This can range of eyeshadow, blush, and even highlighter. I've always been interested in trying out this brand so potentially in the future I could buy a product from them & review it. If you're interested in seeing more shades they have & palette reviews yourself, just search them up on Instagram, @juviasplace

• IMAN

https://imancosmetics.com/ (Also sold at Walmart, Target, & Amazon)

Iman is a well-known model of color that has been in the modeling industry for years now. IMAN Cosmetics was launched in 1994 , and is still a brand that promotes diversity for all women of color who are looking for a product to cater to their needs. Since in some cases it's considered a drugstore brand, the products within the line are cheaper and easier to find. They also do not test their products on animals (as addressed on their site), and has a three-shade range collection for skin shades of dark olive, light brown, ebony, and backtracking to regular olive as well.  

Body

• Nubian Heritage

https://www.nubianheritage.com/ (Also sold on Amazon & at various healthy living stores.)

Nubian Heritage is a brand that is all about promoting wellness through their product line. These products being in the categories of  body wash, deodorant, body scrubs, hair products, and even vegan hair care. I've personally used their Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver deodorant, and enjoyed it very much. The smell wasn't too strong, and actually did what was advertised on the packaging. When using various brands, we're not always aware of the impact those products can have on our bodies. Many ingredients in those products are actually harmful, but we would never even know. With their products being all natural, it can prevent those bad affects in the future, and still work just as good if not better.

• Legendary Rootz

https://legendaryrootz.com/

I've personally bought from this brand, and I can attest to them being very responsive when emailed about my order. It also came in a decent amount of time, and the product came out better than expected. (I ordered the Beaute Noire shirt in the color pink) They have such cute designs and accessories if you're looking for new items with great quotes to add to your closet! I would highly recommend this brand, their quotes are always so creative and inspirational. Their brand caters to men and women, but also offers unisex clothing in general. 

• My Pride Apparel 

https://myprideapparel.com/

Let me just say how much I genuinely do love the message that this brand is trying to spread. Every time they pop up on my timeline when I'm on social media, they always make me smile. Their career collection (pictured above) is what they're most known for. Any career you can think of is on there, I can guarantee it! It's important for us as POC to represent ourselves, along with our culture, not just in any classroom, but in any board room or room where you are in any way challenged or made uncomfortable because of your skin tone. They have various quotes and designs of sweatshirts, tanks, and hats on their site that could fit close to anyone's style. They offer clothing for men and women, along with children's sized clothing.

To find more black owned businesses, use the device you're reading this post on & type in "black owned ____", insert whatever type of business you're interested in. Hopefully you find what you're looking for.

Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you.

God Moving on my Behalf: Life Update

Hello my wonderful readers, I hope you all are warm somewhere reading this or if you are somewhere warm, stay there!

Recently, my life has been a whirlwind of changes. Some of these being good, others are ones that were out of my control. After ending my internship last fall, I came into a lot more extra time that I didn't know what to do with. This resulted in me initially being lazy, a drastic increase in my senioritis, and me always spending money eating out (which is something I still need to work on.)  Also, during this time I started actually finding myself being more distant from God. Not because of the situations that were going on around me, but because I wasn't making my time with God a priority as much as I had been doing before. A lot of this was just from me putting my trust and energy in men that didn't understand my worth or just wanted to use me for negative personal gain.

I've been trying to give a lot more situations in my life to God, but it's honestly been hard. And it's odd because it's something I normally don't struggle with. With my wavering trust came distractions. These distractions came in the form of people, places, and things that had nothing to do with what I actually had to do. I admit, it's okay to have fun from time to time but it's only so far it can go before it gets tiring or you come back into reality.

I had to remember that not only are the goals that I have for myself high, but the plans that God has for me are greater than what I have to imagine so I can't just sit around, and wait for things to happen.

After coming to this realization, I begun researching a lot more opportunities for students looking to pursue the career field I'm interested in. This included summer programs, internships, scholarships, and the simple networking skills I used to connect with people who are already where I want to be. This process had so many dead-ends, shortcomings, and disappointments that weren't always anticipated but it made all the difference when I kept a positive attitude towards all of it. Now I'm winning scholarships, making connections in my future career field, and finding genuine happiness with myself again.

People always wonder how I get all these different opportunities or meeting this person-- it's just me networking (aka, planting a seed) , and letting God handle the rest.

If it's meant for me, it will come to pass. 

Now as I prepare for college, I'm realizing that trusting God on the situations that I have both knowledge and no knowledge of, do more good than harm for me. Not just trusting Him to handle it, but to move on my behalf & open doors that I can't open on my own. Everyone has their own methods & ways that they get their tasks situated**.

There's mine.



Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you.

Distractions & Patience • Motivation for 2019

Can I just start with saying how happy I am that it’s a new year? Yes, I loved 2018. God showed up and showed out for me on countless situations & opprutunities that I didn’t know existed. I closed the year off with having a better understanding of where I’m being led, what I’m being led to do, who I keep in both my inner and outer circles & what type of energy I actually want around me (long term).

To all my amazingly supportive readers, I do apologize for the hiateus but life does in fact happen and sometimes it takes you stepping away then coming back to truly put out a better version of yourself.

I strive for nothing, but quality content that will make you think more about the things that may affect you or things you didn’t realize affect you. These things can be both positive and negative, but with all the things that you struggle with or find to be obstacle just remember that you’re not alone.

We often let our short comings or downfalls distract us from the true race. The overall picture. You have to remind yourself that this is only one story in the novel that is your life. It’s going to have plot twists, climaxes, or even falling actions that you may not always be able to anticipate or rely on others for help on.

This is where your faith can come in. 

Faith that you will not only push you past the expectations you have for yourself, but the faith that’s going to make people wonder how you’re doing it all & still staying sane.

With faith, you’ll have to have patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day nor will your greatest blessing happen over night. Be patient with what could be going on behind closed doors on your behalf. Put in the necessary work now so you can be in a position of enjoyment and fulfillment in your life.

I had so many distractions come to me in 2018 that had me thinking, “if I hadn’t have been focusing on that, what could I have been doing with my time?” It’s not me trying to tear myself down, it’s just me realizing the error in my ways and wanting better because when you know better you do better. Distractions are bound to come across anyone’s path at any time, but especially when you’re doing good. You think somebody wants you when your doing bad? You think people are going to want to be around you when your doing bad? People gravitate to light. Whatever you have they want it, and it’s not bad to share that light; just don’t let them diminish your light. Sometimes  people can be a distraction just to actually see how on top of things you are. Other times they can be a distraction, and not even know it.

This is where you use your power of discernment. 

Those people may have ended 2018 with you, but are they going to be around by the time the end of 2019 rolls around? Have patience with the situations that could arise thar are not in your control, and with the situations you may grow through that are teaching you something at the end of it. The lessons you learn this year will help mold you in to who you’re destined to be.

So how ready are you for what’s in store for you in 2019? Because  it’s going to be a long ride, but I know that if you’re patient with where you are and ignore the distractions— you’ll be living your wildest dream.


Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you. 

Setting the Stage for Better

When things in your life are already going well, you don't necessarily think about what's next or what could potentially be even better than what you already have going for you.

We tend to think that once we get somewhere, or achieve our goal that the work is over.
But that's far from the truth.

You should always continue to strive for better even when you may seem satisfied with where you're at. There'll come a point when your satisfaction is overpowered with happiness; that's when you'll know you don't have to keep going unless you actually want to. You deserve to be both content & happy with whatever stage you are in your life right now.

Whether you're 22 or 42, there is always better for you, and it's never too later to grab a hold of it. The title is merely to express the fact that you are preparing for better to enter in to your life, but there's still more out there for you.

So what is your better?  What point are you at in your life, and where is the endpoint? What's all your hard work going towards? What is something you want to do, or see yourself doing but can't because you're settling for a hum-drum lifestyle. Your hum-drum, boring, tiring, and uneventful lifestyle is why you need to start setting the stage for better. Start taking the necessary steps to provide better for yourself because you deserve it.

Don't know the answer? That's completely OKAY! So many of us don't, but so many of us don't address it and like to paint this pretty picture of such a successful life, and how you think you're     living the best life to the fullest when you haven't even reached your full potential as a person. If you notice, a lot of people don't post their bad moments on social media. A lot of people don't post their downfalls or hardships on social media.. only the good moments. Why? Because we want to paint this picture of perfect, when we're nowhere near it.

Routines easily can become what stops you from preparing for the better things that can come to you in your life.

Preparing for what you're destined to be apart of or God's purpose for your life is also the best feeling.

Do be mindful that change can be hard, big or small, it's okay to shut down sometime. It's okay to want better, but be in circumstances where you may not be able to navigate to be able to set a better stage for yourself. But you can't let your circumstances be an enabler for you or a crutch-- any excuse for why things haven't been changing in your life.

 God has better for us, but until we start realizing that there is better and become open minded to new things in our lives, we won't be able to receive it from Him.

Setting the stage for you could be something you may not feel the least amount of comfortable doing. It could be something you thought you would never do. We know we want better for ourselves, why can't we fulfill what's necessary to do so?

Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you.

Do You Know What Your Dreams Are?

"Never put your dreams in another person's hands because they will never love your dream like you do. " 

 - Billionaire PA

As your going about your life, and finding out your true interests along with dislikes you begin to form dreams about what you want to do with your life. These dreams can be about a future relationship, financial increase or even a career you want to have. In life, you will also come in contact with things or people that will try to stop you from living your dreams. Sometimes you can even stop yourself from living your dreams. I know when you first have a dream or an idea for something, you get so excited that you just want to tell someone but that can hinder you from a blessing.

  

Not everyone is meant to go where God could be taking you. 

I also know its easy to feel insecure about the dreams you have because you keep comparing your dreams to someone else's success story when you really should be building your own story. And if your comparing your life & success to someone else's then how could you possibly know your own?

No dream is ever to big or small,  so don't feel like you can't achieve them based off their size. Even though in hindsight, determining if a dream is too big or small could be the line that's drawn on if it's a goal or dream. Sometimes we think our goals are so far fetched that we can make them in to a dream, which can make us think it can't be a reality.

What could make you think your dreams aren't big enough?

Many of you could fear that your dream isn't big enough to reach your fullest potential. Others may find their dreams aren't big enough because of comparison. Whatever the case may be, don't let those things or anything else sway you from the dream you want to pursue.

For those of you that are just beginning to follow your dreams, or have felt stagnant while trying to follow your dreams may be at the point where you even know where you want to begin or continue. And that is OKAY! Not everything is something you have to see to believe. For example, you work a job for "x" amount of hours per week, and when you've put in both the time & energy for said job you believe that a direct deposit is going to be in your account, but you believe that before you even see it.

What's the difference with your dreams?

Yes, you still have things you think you want to do; you just never pursue them or you don't know what steps to take to achieve the dreams you want to see manifest. The first step, however, to achieving your dreams is believing them before you see them or before anyone else around you can see them. How can you expect someone to believe or invest in your dream if you can't even do it for yourself? If you don't know what your dreams are start with writing out things you want to accomplish both long, and short term. Then, determine what's at the top of your list and how attainable it is based off what the time frame you want it done in and start pushing towards it!

So what's holding you back? Well actually, I should say what do you think is holding you back? Stop allowing yourself to diminish your own dreams so that you know how to stop someone else who's going to try to diminish your dreams along the way. 

Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you.

The Breakdown of WJMC

"To succeed, to jump as quickly at opportunities as you do conclusions." - Benjamin Franklin

Before actually giving my perspective on the Washington Journalism and Media Conference that I attended last week, I wanted to first address the fact that it was one of the best experiences I could've had that helped me learn about journalism & meet people of like-minds that believed in me and reciprocated a fondness for each other that wasn't forced nor fake.

On the first day, it was a little hectic. Everyone finding where their dorms were, meeting roommates & counselors. It was nerve-wracking yet exhilarating. I knew after meeting my faculty and junior faculty advisors that there was actually hopes of a happy week. Beforehand, I honestly didn't know if I'd truly fit in with people. All the people who I'd met before our actual small groups were nice, but it just seemed as if something was missing. After we all got a little used to each other, we prepared to listen to our first speaker-- Sonya Gavankar, who is the director of  public relations at the highly celebrated Newseum. I loved the way she worked the crowd with her quirkiness, and fun-loving personality. All her advice about role models, and jitters from breaking in to the industry was spot on. She was so relatable that I could tell over half the audience felt some type of connection.

The second day was one of my favorites because not only did we go see the monuments, but that's when I really started to feel my group become closer in comparison to the first day. All the monuments were absolutely extraordinary to say the least, and seeing them as the night grew older made it all the better. What I failed to realize at the time was that, that was only the tip of the iceberg.

There was still so much to see & experience.

The Newseum was one of the most interesting & intriguing places I think I've ever been to thus far in my life. It had news from various places all over the country, and from all time periods. It was so cool seeing news broadcasts from the 60s & 70s. As well as, prominent industry trailblazers' stories, and how they became so well known. It really inspired me, and made me feel even more confident about what I feel passionate doing. The speaker we had for this day was Laxmi Parthasarthy who's a director of global media partnerships for a company by the name of "Ashoka." I did hear mixed reviews about her speech, but I personally was able to pull gems from what she was saying. For example, being the only female in a newsroom at some points & the challenges that she faced with that. I also enjoyed how much she emphasized being a minority & reaming confident in your work, that's something I could really relate to on various levels.

Waking up the next day, however, was actually a struggle. Late nights and early mornings became my best friend at WJMC. But it was definitely worth it. On this day we traveled to the MLK Memorial which was, of course, so beautiful. I thought the quotes that were engraved across the walls were a nice addition to the monument itself. Following that, we met our first speaker of the day who was podcast & radio host, Lauren Ober. I enjoyed Lauren because, she too, had a fun-loving personality & connected well with the audience. She kept us engaged, along with laughing all while giving us a little background on podcasts and radio life. I even felt inspired to make a podcast after her speech, it was that impactful to myself as I'm sure it was for lots of other people in the audience.

In between listening speakers, and walking for minutes for what seemed like hours in not so comfortable shoes, each team that was pre-arranged for the conference met on those in-between times where we not only talked about the importance of networking, but the real benefits of news as well as the production process itself. We also discussed having a  professional image that you can be proud of. How you present yourself, especially in an industry that's as competitive as journalism, how you look is one determining factor on how people perceive you & if they'll let you get past an introduction.

Brian Lamb, who's the founder & former CEO of the public relations network C-Span, was one of my favorite speakers of the week because of how invested he was in our opinions & our actual feelings. He went beyond the surface with his questions, and he actually listened to us, ensure we were being heard. I also enjoyed how youthful he was, that was a definitely a pleasant surprise! We all have this misconception of older people, whether it is true or not, that they don't know much about the new generation or even want to know about the new generation & how we actually are vs. how it may appear to be.

Steve Berta was the journalist that broke the story about gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, and his sexual interactions with girls on the teams that he worked for. Although I'm sure we weren't told every little detail about what happened alone I could tell the in itself story he told resonated with every female in the building. It can certainly get real for us as females, and for him to be so raw with the story's dynamics & sincere in his approach with how the story was told was appreciated. I'm still in awe with how if he wouldn't have decided to pursue the story or continue his investigation, Larry Nassar would still be in the USA Gymnastics world molesting females.

To end the evening we listened to Phil Murphy, who is the host SportsCenter. Now although I don't want to be a sports journalist myself, I was able to pick out some gems from his speech such as reminding yourself that everything in the end will work out fine, and that being fired in hindsight just opens up another opportunity for you. I also noticed how he took out time to give credit to God because in an industry where you can be constantly be pulled in different directions, it can be easy to lose sight of what's important.

On our second to last day, we had the amazing privilege to hear Carol Guzy talk a little bit about her personal story, but mainly showing other people's stories with her amazingly crafted photo slideshows. The photos were both heartwarming & heart wrenching in one breath. I especially enjoyed how raw & uncut the photos were even though I'm sure there are millions more that are just as impactful if not more. Those images are needed to be seen by everyone I believe to even bring some of the humblest people back down to earth. Following her, we listened to Kevin McCarthy who's a entertainment and film critic & Amy Takayama-Perez, who's the Dean of Admissions at George Mason University. Both of them had amazing advice about preparing for college along with a career following and doing everything in your power beforehand to get to where you want to be.
To end the evening, we met with Meghan ATB Reese who was actually our photographer throughout the entire week. She's also a writer & photographer which she touched in in her speech with us. Something she spoke about that really stood out to me was that "it's okay to fall out of love with what you want to do." I feel as though as teens we're always pressured for everything to be mapped out, and perfect when things don't always have to go as planned. It's okay for things to change.

Our final day before everything started to come to an actual end was one of my other favorites. This was the day we traveled to Capitol Hill, and met with either one of your state representatives or your senator. I chose one of my state representatives who helps represent my state's 3rd district. Congressman Jim Banks was someone who I had the honor to interview, and get to know. The interview definitely went better than expected, and helped me to remember that you definitely have to separate a person from their career. Some of the things I picked up from my interview with Mr.Banks was to learn what I can with the resources you have, to make your voice heard when you can find an outlet, and to find ways to get involved in whatever field you want to get into because connections always help. I hope that maybe one day in the future we can collaborate again. The Gala was something even more memorable. After all of our hard-work throughout the week, it was refreshing to finally have some time to laugh, dance, and enjoy myself with the people who I'd became so close to over the course of a week. That evening was definitely one for the books.

The last day almost didn't feel real. I didn't see all of my close friends (that are now family) right away so I was a little disappointed, but eventually I did get to see them when we had a meeting, and our final speaker for the week. Seeing everyone's long faces is what I feel like helped keep my level-headed along with me having went through a week-long camp experience then having to leave it all behind. The difference between those times, and this one... the people! I can't speak for all the other groups that we were broken in to, but I can speak for my own when I say that WE ARE FAMILY now. I've never felt so close to a group of people before that I'd only known for a week in my life. I honestly feel like it was a blessing in disguise.

After reflecting on everything that I learned, and experience at WJMC I now realize that I don't see things the same way I used to. I not only carry myself differently, but I also view various topics & people differently. This isn't to say that I'm just this totally different person, but I surely have grown from this past week than I could've ever expected to. I cannot thank God enough for this truly amazing event that will impact me for years to come. For anyone who has an idea or has something they feel like is a calling on their life-- GO AFTER IT! Pursue your dreams without judgement or fear, and show others that you take yourself & what you want to do seriously.

Always a pleasure sharing with you, thank you.

S/N: This was still not even everything that I experienced, and learned while at WJMC. I tried to fit it all in, but I honestly couldn't. I definitely will back sure to circle back on some of the things I left out in posts following this one. I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience.