"I Believe the Children Are Our Future..."

*I postponed the blogpost I originally intended to upload today because last week was a whirl-wind to say the least. And what kind of person would I be without letting y’all in on the tea!

So, without further ado, here’s the story...

If you were to ask me when I was younger what I wanted to major in, or be when I grew up, the answers would have varied: In fourth grade I was certain I would be a lawyer and attend Clark Atlanta University. In middle school, after taking a career test – I just knew I was going to be a school counselor. Early high school years, I was set on being a teacher. Then in the middle of junior year, I decided I wanted to be a sports analyst and I would study sport management. I then flip-flopped back to teaching, and having a profession in a school because I wrote about it for a scholarship that I secured (#bagcheck).

But when I started going to my university’s outreach events around my city, I stumbled across the Integrative Public Relations major. It’s literally a conglomeration of three majors: broadcast and cinematic arts, communications, and journalism. And it also allowed me to find the job of a social media coordinator. Right. Up. My. Alley.

So, after a one credit, 8-week introduction course to IPR, the last night of the class, I was presented with the opportunity to sign the major along with all the other students who took IPR that semester. Did I pray on it?

No. Did I think about the lengths I would have to go through to switch majors, if I ever decided to switch from the perfect major? No. Did I feel a lil pressure? Then I would argue no, but looking back – heck yes. So, I signed the major. Shortly thereafter, in the spring I signed a sport management minor, and it was all coming together nicely.

Then I got a summer job at Eastern Market. While working there I realized how disadvantaged so many people – especially inner city youth – are. Not just in socioeconomic standing, but in regards to food access/quality as well. It also didn’t help that I watched a ton of vegan and vegetarian Netflix documentaries over the summer either. (I was a strong vegetarian for a good week and a half). ANYWAY. After my season with EM was over, I was determined to come back to campus and switch my major and minor – making me a part of the statistic that predicts 50% of college students change their major over the course of 4 years. And what was the major and minor you might ask?

Journalism and Nutrition.

So, Fall 2017 rolls around and I’m ready to rock 'n' roll. I’m taking journalism and nutrition classes, and while I’m content in knowing that God plans all my steps – I never really had a plan for myself. I was very comfortable with going whichever way the wind blew, and when the question was posed, “what is your dream job?” I could never answer. I knew I enjoyed writing (hence this blog), and I knew I had an interest in nutrition and how it affects people, but I never really felt a peace about what I was studying and the future of my college career until, October 31, 2017.

I was sitting on my bed, studying for an exam I had on Thursday, and listening to worship music, (My Worship by The Walls Group) when I felt a tug on my spirit to log onto my academic bulletin. I’m pulling up the website and major listings like, “Okayyy?? I already made up my mind like what is this all about?” but I kept scrolling. Until, I scrolled all the way to the bottom and came across the major: Sociology Concentration: Youth Studies.

“LOL well, what is this?” I thought in my head, so I clicked, and browsed through the page. “Do you wish to make an impact on today’s youth?” LOL YES! THAT’S ME! So, I scrolled through the course listings, and read about what people who’ve graduated with this major do for a living: Youth Counselor, Recreational Program Director, Nonprofit Youth Program director, Youth Services Director, Foster Care Advocate, and list goes on. And again, for about the 18th time (since fourth grade), I was set. So, the very next day, I met with the one adviser who had office hours that same day, (and turned out to be the creator of the major). We talked, I told him about my history of mentoring, volunteering and youth outreach, and we concluded that this was the move.

Now, as of November 2, 2017, I am a Youth Studies major with a minor in Journalism. I wanted to keep journalism in my studies to further refine my writing skills, keep me writing throughout college, and get this blog poppin! Plus, it’s not like I didn’t like journalism, I found out that I would be better off having it as a compliment to what I really wanted to do, and that was impact the lives of future generations. Well, what does that mean about the Nutrition minor I signed all the way back, 3 weeks ago? I dropped it. While I have

great interest in the subject, the way my scholarship and mental sanity is set up – I can save it for the kicks n giggles.

Okay Imani, you said all of this to say what?

“I say that, to say this,”

I wanted to write the story and be as transparent for any readers who might be battling the same thing. To return to high school me, I could give you my game plan for what I wanted to be, and major in while secretly panicking on the inside because unlike the many students at my high school, I had no idea what my plan was and, I feared being a part of the statistic that I'm a part of now:

I could tell you would never catch me working in a school, because how am I supposed to get by on that check? But, I found myself recalling some of the best times were in a school setting with people who genuinely cared about me.

I could tell you I never would be a counselor of sorts because, sometimes, I don’t like people and they get on my nerves. But I found myself applying for various mentoring programs in high school and college and have made some the best relationships from it.

But what I could tell you back then was that I wanted to work for a sports team, because that was something I had fun watching and talking about. But when I had to opportunity to sit-in on a club meeting for PR I wasn’t comfortable. When I really thought about who I would be helping – million dollar athletes and organizations – I felt like Swaggy P. And when I sat in the sports management meeting, I was reminded that it would be difficult to have a “regular” life with a family, vacations, and sleep – all of which I value more than monitoring social media.

I found myself having the best time when I wasn’t doing something for myself – but for the others. It makes me excited to know that one day, the youth I’ve had the opportunity to work with will be able to say that through our engagement they were more equipped to be world changers – not world chasers. And you can’t put a price tag on that. (And if you, “I don’t need this, my man has two jobs!” LOL just kidding, I do know that God got all that under control (future husband included)).

So, to the young people who might be reading this today I want to tell you that it’s okay if you don’t know from the womb what you want to study or be when you grow up. It’s okay to be a part of the statistic because it gives you the opportunity to figure out what you are passionate about. (And just because you might be passionate about it doesn’t mean you should major in it *wink wink*.)

Y’all, society is really something else. They put you in schooling for 13 years and then immediately convince you to commit to one major or career at 17/18 that they claim will define you for the rest of your life. Truth is, what you major in or what your job is does not define who you are as a person, or who you are in Christ. In fact, your career might now even be what your calling is, and that’s okay too. A good rule of thumb is to list “WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO,” stay committed to that, and not what society tells you will make a good check (even though there’s nothing wrong with a good check when you’re doing it for more than just the money, you feel me?).

And if it seems like it’s not making sense right now, I promise in God’s timing – it will.

Peace +GLOW Always,

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."

-Psalms 119:105 NLT

#purpose #calling #lifestyle #encouragement