Month: December 2021

As this year comes to a close I am extremely thankful for the blessings and opportunities it has brought me and my company. I also made the decision to return to school majoring in a degree that will eventually lead to me teaching what I do on the college level in the future. And I had to return to my alma mater FSCJ because there is no other place that would make sense. The campus looks the same as when I graduated years ago…the peaceful breeze flowing through the trees…everyone just minding their business going to and from classes…this was the perfect “writing weather for me.” Many days, (when I should have been in class lol,) I would sit on the benches with my composition book and pencil just taking in the scenery and crafting a poem or two. I also met many people at Kent Campus where we found out how much we had in common and that is why we remain friends to this day.

Although the campus may look the same, I understand technology has changed significantly. The way information can be sent and the different forms of media that be used to get a person’s message out is in a class of its own. Gone are the ways of traditional face to face meetings in venues faced by gatekeepers you had to either impress or “play along to get along” with. At the push of a button your words can be sent across the world to those who need to hear it most now, leaving the former gatekeepers powerless to stop the creativity from flowing. That is one of the many reasons why I decided to “return home” as I call it…to the place where I found my craft…or actually…where my craft found me. Hopefully I can inspire others while I receive inspiration from all the people I will meet along the way in this new and exciting journey I am embarking on.

If someone would have told me back in Highschool that the future me would commit himself to being a writer and a motivational speaker I would have laughed and said, “who me? You must have the wrong guy. I can’t talk in front of people…that makes me too nervous even thinking about it.” But you never know what life has in store for you and that is why I am honored to go back…back to where it all started.

#TheArtOfSpokenWord

#IDontNeedNoMic

Speaking to the youth is something I really enjoy doing because it involves taking time and understanding their point of view about the world around them. I currently partner with Hope at Hand, a non-profit organization that provides art and poetry sessions to vulnerable and at-risk youth populations. https://www.hopeathand.org/ In a short time working with them I have seen how powerful a message it is to send to the younger generation that there are people who have been there and understand what they may be going through…and are here to help!

Being a youth can be challenging especially in the teenage years where everything seems awkward and they may not know where they fit in. In many situations, this can lead to a young person mixing in with the “wrong crowd” or ending up in dangerous situations. To me that is why there should always be a door open and a person there to let them know they are not alone.

I remember before I really got serious with writing poetry, I had an 11^th grade teacher named Ms. Korn for creative writing. I really enjoyed her class but she would always give me C’s on the papers until one day I asked her, “on your comments you said this was a great paper…but then you give me an average grade. Why Ms. Korn?” She replied, “I’m glad you finally asked that question. It is because this assignment was given weeks ago however I just saw you write it in the hallway a couple hours ago.” She then told me something I will never forget…that it is important to put in the work to get what you want out of life. If you can write like this now…just imagine if you really put in effort and tried!

After that moment I began taking her class seriously and using all the time I could to complete the assignments and get the grades “I deserved.” It was a year after I graduated from highschool that I really began writing and performing my own works, but I will never forget my very first mentor. Hopefully, I will be able to inspire others just like she did me.

#TheArtOfSpokenWord

#IDontNeedNoMic