Purpose

During high school, all I could think about…was writing poetry. My 11th grade literature teacher volunteered to critique my work outside of class. Once she was done, it would look as if she butchered my ideas, causing me to mistake her red ink for spiteful criticism. I vowed to go to college in order to be a better writer so such an experience never happened again. Seeking fame was a part of my agenda. I wanted to be the author whose work students studied and wrote essays about for graded assignments. I was pursuing what I loved, but I didn’t love myself enough to evolve as a writer or individual.

It was during undergrad when I learned why I wanted to continue writing not just poetry, but short-stories, essays, and even Hip-Hop lyrics. Honestly, my inspiration didn’t come from the great writers inducted into the world’s famous literary canon. My inspiration derived from Hip-Hop artists, such as Common, Lupe Fiasco, Tupac, and later Lecrae, Andy Mineo, J. Cole, and Eminem. The concept of storytelling captivated my imagination enough to dig deeper into the essence of what makes a human being, or better yet, what makes me…me. Writing challenged me to process my emotions and figure out how to navigate through My So-Called Life (shout out to Claire Danes and Jared Leto). Graduating from college with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing specifically helped me understand what I was doing and why I was doing it as a writer. The final step was to figure out how I would utilize the skill.

My creative experiences consist of all types of mediums, from a podcast to my first published poetry chapbook (Resignation, 2020). I try to update my blog daily with inspiring thoughts and concepts. I record original Hip-Hop material on subjects that vary from my spirituality to politics. Having a voice doesn’t give me the right to make someone accept or apply my viewpoint, but it does grant me the ability to inform and enlighten them of a different perspective. The most important aspect of writing isn’t what and how, but why. The why is what wakes me up and has me propped up in bed at 3:30 am on a Thursday morning. I write because someone can’t. I write because someone is hurting and doesn’t know how to express it. God gave me this gift…and I refuse to live my life without maximizing it. Strengthening my skills as a writer, employee, and individual is what I aspire to accomplish in order to be a greater asset for the greatest good. With that in mind, I decided to pursue a different profession—teaching.

When I was younger, my dream wasn’t to be a teacher. I wanted to be a writer. Again, I wanted to create stories people would read and persuade others to do the same. I enjoyed the process, but I also desired to be well-known. The question is what effect that would have on the world? Would it add to it…or take something away? Several people have crossed my path, suggesting that I become a teacher based on my demeanor. I never saw myself as someone so essential. My insecurity became an obstacle for many years until I decided to pursue education as a career. My why when it came to writing transformed into this desire to help students not only appreciate writing but understand the value in their own stories. They may not write memoirs or become famous lyricists, but hopefully with my help, they’ll be able to value themselves and embrace their own way of expressing ideas, beliefs, and their deepest aspirations. As an educator, I hope to be effective, compassionate, and evolve into what the study of pedagogy describes as a kind demander. A kind demander is someone who prioritizes the success of their students with kindness and rigor, expecting them to maximize their potential to the best of their abilities.