A Note To Self

Trust Your Parents. 

A note to self: Always trust your parents because more often then none, they know what is best for you. You’re not happy with your dad’s decision. He’s decided for you that you’re going to Howard. This pivotal chapter in your life has been written by somebody else. How he has decided is by giving you his credit card and saying to use the card to pay for the deposit to secure my spot in the incoming Fall 2014 class. However, you’re still waiting on your dream school to send you that fire financial aid package. You still know that the financial aid package won’t really be that fire. You will still need to take out loans to pay for school. You’re mom tells you that if you really want to go to this school, then she would be willing to take out loans if that I meant I would be happy. Typical mom, always sacrificing for her children to be happy, no matter the cost.

There was no way I could put this financial strain on my parents. I was the last of five children. The strain had met its capacity. On my watch, there was no way that I could be the reason for the flood.

Trust The Process.

As hard as life might get, trust the process. You can’t do it by yourself. It’s not because you’re not smart enough or not capable. But, life is not a journey traveled alone. No, there will people who will come in and out of your life. Don’t hold onto the toxic relationships, hoping that things will just “change” and get better over time. Your favorite rapper, Kanye “Yeezus” West, said it best, “They say people in your life are seasons and anything that happens is for a reason.” Some might say it’s a corny line, but you know this verse has been your guiding light to endure this gut-wrenching rollercoaster called college. But try desperately to remember once more that life is a journey not traveled alone.

You’ve spent many years neglecting him, even though, he’s always made you his Number One. It took those times where I thought I had no one that I remembered that I had you. I’m sorry it took me 19 years to realize that. But as soon as I realized it, you became the center of my life. You became the fire to my fuel. All you ever asked was for me to love you and take your hand, but I continued to say “no” because I was naive. Your faith and trust in God will continue to grow stronger, if you let it. You’ll even be Co-President of the Newman Club, the Catholic Campus Ministry. Who would’ve thought? Let spending time with God be your serenity. There’s a reason for the bad days. Are they truly bad? In the moment, it might feel like hell. Push through. Because once it’s over, it might feel like heaven.

Communicate.

This word is the foundation of your major (journalism), but yet you struggle to communicate when you’re in trouble. You’ve always listened and helped people solve their problems. You’ve even prided yourself on being able to “save people.” Don’t let your pride blind you from reality. You too will need saving.

Don’t think that you can do everything. School, organizations and your many jobs will be too much. You just might drown. Anxiety, depression and other waves of emotion will take turns being in the driver seat. Let clarity take control. Clarity will derive from your ability to be open with people, not just inside your mind. It will also ensure you do well in school…the main reason that you’re at Howard University.

Prioritize.

Nourish your stomach, your mind and your heart. The late nights talking to friends will all be in good fun in the moment, but you will suffer the next day. Your first priority is you. Never forget that.  I could go on, but I have to let you live, let you experience, let you forget, and let you learn. Because all of the tips that I am giving you might go in vain. But don’t worry, you’re human.

And one other thing. Stay true to who you are and always remember to love yourself like God loves you.

NewsVision: Homecoming Alumni Edition

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One of the best moments of Howard Homecoming Week is the return of the alumni. Whether it is seeing and catching up with old friends or meeting them for the first time, Bison alumni always leave a lasting impact on current students. They provide current students insight into post-graduate life, memories of their time at Howard and networking opportunties.

On Thursday, October 19, four Media, Journalism and Film alumni from the School Communications spoke to our NewsVision class. The alumni were Bianca Burns, Erin Winters, Leah Henry and Ellyce Ferguson.

The visit marked the third time that I had seen Erin Winters in less than a month. Winters is the digital correspondent for National Geographic. In early October, she filmed a package entitled, HBCU 101, which focused on the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I was luckily to be featured in the video and have encountered minimal success for it.

Moreover, I have heard Erin speak about her journey leading up to working at National Geographic. She wanted to be on air but not cover news. She also entered a contest to be a co-host for Kelly Rippa. However, I did not know that she was the spokesperson for a bank in her home state called Michigan First. I admire knowing that she did not begin her post-graduate career where she wanted to but she worked hard to finally work in a unique form of journalism. She also left us with a very thought-provoking message, “It’s better to be on time than to be perfect.”

Bianca Burns graduated and went into digital media. However, she now works in marketing for Coca-Cola. Her graphic design skills has become an asset for her in the workplace, allowing her her to create recap videos and event footage used for installations. Furthermore, she hopes to return to digital media. Bianca’s story is interesting because it illustrates the concept of life taking you to unimaginable places.

Leah Henry’s story is also very similar. Leah was determined to be on radio. She wanted to make radio her brand. However, she applied to all radio station jobs and did not receive an offer. Because of an amazing person looking out for her, Professor Thomas entered her into an NABJ competition, which prompted her to attend the conference. There, she made important connections with inidividuals in the industry. Leah struggled to get where she is today, but “desperation makes a hustle.” Leah is now with WJLA News Channel 8. She has the highest grossing show for the station.

Lastly, Ellyce Feguson showcased that working hard is a never-ending saga. Ellyce worked a year for Americorp, where she produced documentaries for the Gandhi Youth Brigade . She had also done work for Soledad O’Brien, experience that helped her secure an interview and a digital producer role with her current boss Roland Martin. Martin on TV One.

“You have to advocate for yourself because no one else will,” said Ferguson. All these four dynamic Black women have advocated for themselves and are striving to reach their full potential.

Erin Winters Returns To Alma Mater

Howard alumnae Erin Winters speaks to HUABJ members during speaker series.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Howard University alumnae Erin Winters returned to her alma mater to speak with members of the Howard University Association of Black Journalists for the organization’s speaker series. Winters spoke about her role as a digital correspondent for National Geographic, how she has navigated the journalism industry and how she stays sane throughout.

In early April, Winters was announced as the winner of National Geographic’s contest Assignment: Explorer, becoming the first ever Digital Correspondent for Explorer. She was one of 600 contestants. Winters will serve 10 months in her position.

As a digital correspondent, Winters has reported on intriguing and informative stories, such as street musicians in New York and an “herbal chef” and his cannabis-infused recipes. On Thursday, Oct. 12, Winters and her crew shot a video package on why Historically Black Colleges and Universities matter. I had the pleasure of being featured in the video. I spoke on my decision to come to Howard and its implications, what makes Howard so dynamic and the misconceptions of HBCUs.

During the speaker series, Winters said that her bosses at National Geographic were receptive to the idea of doing a segment on HBCUs entitled HBCU 101 because Winters had attended Howard and had insight on the subject. Her insight is not the only characteristic that has allowed her to succeed in the industry.

Winters never wanted to go into news, but she’s always had a knack for planning and taking full advantage of the opportunities at hand. She does love reporting and pitching stories, qualites that she notes help her stay on top of her game. In addition, I appreciated her advice on how to stay marketable to employers and to your audience.

“Don’t be boring. Show personality,” said Winters. “After one minute, they [employers] should have a feeling about who you are and what you’re about. Smile. Be yourself. Talk when you’re smiling. It makes people think you’re smiling while you’re talking to them.”

Furthermore, she stated the importance of being younrself. She mentioned to always go with your gut and be confident, just like she was in pitching the HBCU idea.

She was also confident in going into her interview with National Geographic. Her clever approach to her interview stood out to me. She wore a yellow shirt–National Geographic’s color–to the interview, echoing her statements about always being “one step ahead.”

Winters also told us to keep our network tight, our LinkedIn page updated and keep an open eye and an open ear for opportunties.

“Go on indeed.com and see which skillsets that you need to be working on,” said Winters.

Finally, Winters gave us the secret to her success by telling us her favorite quote.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

As my senior year winds down, this quote is becoming more relevant to my life. In order to get closer to achieving my dreams, I have to be open to gaining new experience and accepting the opportunities that come my way. I am a planner and I like to be in control. But, I have to step outside of my comfort zone of being a planner and being in control in order to truly succeed.

Terrell Jermaine Starr Visits Howard’s NewsVision Class

“Patriotism is for white people,” said Terrell Jermaine Starr, a senior reporter at The Root. Starr’s controversial statement was one of many thought-provoking remarks that Starr made during his visit to our Capstone NewsVision class on Thursday, Sept. 28. Starr portrayed journalism against the American political backdrop.

Terrell Starr speaks to News Vision students about the importance of speaking your truth. Courtesy of Jennifer Thomas.

Beginning his career in Black media at the age of 28, Starr has been adamant about the dire need for Black people to be the disseminators of information. He asserts that journalism is a white man’s diary. The construct of objectivity–one of journalism’s pillars–was conceived under white supremacy’s notion of the society. Therefore, journalists that are of color all operate under a white gaze.

Starr believes that “America’s inception was never designed to accommodate the liberty and freedoms of its nonwhite people,” according to his article for The Root entitled “Patriotism Is for White People.” In addition, he states that journalists that are of color are decolonizing journalism and that people of color must decenter whiteness. Before social media, black people didn’t have the notion to tell our own stories. Chuckling, Starr claimed that Twitter would be boring without Black people. He even cited how Black people’s presence on social media helped break the killing of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Most of the major news outlets did not begin reporting on Brown until the social media posts of citizen journalists began to gain traction.

Starr has been very vocal about journalism’s operating system in the United States. He wants to point out the hypocrisy in “white sensitivity” news reporting. He succeeds in his goal by speaking his truth and remaining firm in it. “I lived in my truth and my truth was rewarded,” said Starr.

Furthermore, has tasked himself with another goal: Teaching Black people about Eastern Europe. Starr lived in Eastern Europe for four years. He spent time in Ukraine as a Fulbright Journalism Scholar. In addition, he was in Georgia as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. He also covered U.S./Russian relations. Interestingly, he is an expert in African diasporas in the former Soviet Union. Starr is currently working on his book, The Black Guide to Russia.

I admire Starr’s resilience to be comfortable and embrace his Black skin and having that translate through his honest reporting. He would rather state his truth than reserving his comments in fear that he would threaten white sensitivity and suffer ramifications. prior to him speaking in our class, I did not know who Starr was. Initially, I was not expecting him to make some of his statements.

In him doing so, I instantly gained respect for him. I was inspired by his willing to take the opportunity to go to Russia. It shows the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone. In addition to stepping outside of your comfort zone, you can teach others about your experience and encourage others to immerse themselves into a whole new world.