This is my philosophy and it has been for the last decade. Our stories are never exactly as we expect. Instead, we get caught up in life and we begin to navigate the many obstacles that come our way and try our best not to become stagnant.

Despite becoming a fulltime caregiver for my ailing mother for several years, I channeled all my emotions into creative projects that would impact many. Inadvertently, my creative ventures opened doors to new and welcoming opportunities for me. This included the likes of NBC Universal’s USA Network by becoming the youngest winner of their Characters Unite Award, for which I was given a grant for my artistic storytelling via photography.

This would lead to several other doors being opened, including the honor to serve alongside Justice Henry Frye, the first African American to serve as a North Carolina Supreme Court Justice. I served as a representative during East Carolina University’s 50th Anniversary of Desegregation. Though I was speaking for myself, I was also representing an entire generation. My story was unfolding right before my eyes and I began to give more presentations that allowed me to tell my story my way.

Unfortunately, as my mother’s health declined over the years, my stories became more physical and visual. I stopped performing in order to serve her better, but I never stopped writing. After a while, I realized that I simply couldn’t stay away from poetry and I began to share videos. Spoken word allowed me to artfully describe the anxiety and depression that swept over me during my time as a caregiver.

Little did I know that my craft would attract the attention of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was invited to be the opening speaker for their Diversity and Inclusion Panel during their annual basketball tournament. It was when I received a standing ovation from hundreds of guests that I realized, I was more than just a writer. I am a storyteller and an advocate. I wanted to reach people and convey a message; I wanted my audience to feel everything I felt when I originally wrote the piece.

Upon realizing this, I completed and published my first anthology in 2019, titled Cheddar Grits. In that same year, I designed and photographed an entire cookbook from start to finish, which led to published photography as well. If we are speaking in terms of storytelling, my life has had some very interesting chapters. Though my duties ultimately came to an end as a caregiver in November of 2019, my story continues.

As the great Zora Neale Hurston once said, “There are years that ask questions and there are years that answer.”