Posted on by Cam

Perseverance Through Adversity

I’ve noticed many people are facing challenges, and I want to remind you that it’s okay; you will overcome what you’re experiencing. God granted you another day because He believes you have so much to offer the world. Embrace self-love and maintain a positive outlook during this time. Pray, keep your faith strong, and don’t let negativity bring you down. Remember, things will improve.

There have been numerous occasions when I felt on the brink of giving up, but I had to remind myself of my life’s purpose. It’s important to recognize that everyone faces challenges in life.

Learning from Hardships

I’ve experienced mistreatment and difficult situations, but I’ve learned to:

  1. Believe that better times are ahead
  2. Grow from these experiences
  3. Practice kindness, knowing that karma is real
  4. Be mindful of how I treat others, as it often comes back in unexpected ways

The Journey of Personal Growth

My path to achieving my goals hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned to:

  • Maintain a positive outlook
  • Persevere and prove to myself that I’m capable of anything

Encouragement for Tough Times

Remember to:

  • Stand tall and confident
  • Trust that things will improve
  • Avoid unnecessary stress when faced with setbacks

This journey of personal growth and resilience is ongoing, but staying positive and determined can help us overcome any obstacle.

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Posted on by Cam

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

While I was finishing my second manuscript, a song played that reminded me of the possibility of achieving all dreams with a positive mindset and belief. It encouraged me to take life in stride and trust that everything will work out. Despite a week of rain, witnessing a beautiful rainbow emerge at the end of the storm reaffirmed this belief.

Life brings ups and downs in both personal and professional aspects, but seeing such a radiant symbol in the sky fills me with happiness, reassuring me that better days are ahead after every storm.

Seeing a rainbow can hold different symbolic meanings across various cultures and contexts:

Hope and Promise: In many cultures, a rainbow symbolizes hope, promise, and positivity after a period of difficulty or rain. It is often seen as a sign that better times are ahead.

Unity and Diversity: The rainbow’s multicolored spectrum can also symbolize diversity and unity, representing different elements coming together harmoniously.

Transformation and Change: Some interpret a rainbow as a symbol of transformation and change, suggesting that challenges or hardships may lead to new opportunities or growth.

Spirituality: In spiritual contexts, rainbows can be seen as bridges between the earthly and spiritual realms, connecting humanity with divine energies or blessings.

Joy and Beauty: Rainbows are inherently beautiful and awe-inspiring, often evoking feelings of joy, wonder, and appreciation for the natural world.

    Ultimately, the meaning of seeing a rainbow can vary depending on personal beliefs, cultural interpretations, and the circumstances in which it appears. Many people view it as a positive and uplifting symbol regardless of its specific interpretation.

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    Posted on by Cam

    “Insecure”: A Relatable Portrayal of Black Women’s Experiences

    The critically acclaimed show “Insecure” has resonated with many viewers, particularly black women, for its authentic and nuanced representation of their lives and experiences. Created by Issa Rae, the show has been praised for its ability to shed light on the multifaceted struggles and triumphs of black women navigating various aspects of life, including their careers.

    Reflecting Real-Life Challenges

    From the very first season, “Insecure” captured the relatable struggles faced by the main character, Issa, in her professional life. Her experiences at the non-profit job, such as financial struggles, a toxic work environment, and a sense of not belonging, struck a chord with many viewers who have encountered similar challenges in their own careers.

    As the show progressed, Issa’s journey became even more resonant, showcasing the complexities and stereotypes that black women often face in the workplace. The show’s ability to depict these experiences with honesty and authenticity has been widely appreciated by audiences who have felt seen and understood.

    Celebrating Black Women’s Resilience and Entrepreneurship

    One of the most empowering aspects of “Insecure” is its portrayal of Issa’s growth and transformation into a boss woman and entrepreneur. After facing disappointments and setbacks in her career, Issa’s journey towards entrepreneurship serves as an inspiring representation of black women’s resilience and determination to forge their own paths.

    The show’s use of Issa’s inner monologues and imagined scenarios, where she talks to herself in the mirror or envisions situations, adds a layer of relatability and vulnerability, allowing viewers to connect with her thought processes and self-reflections.

    Shattering Stereotypes and Promoting Representation

    “Insecure” has been widely praised for its ability to shatter stereotypes and provide a nuanced representation of black women’s experiences. By showcasing the diverse career paths and personal journeys of the four main characters, who are all college-educated black women, the show challenges the narrow and often negative portrayals of black women in media.

    The show’s success and resonance with audiences highlight the importance of diverse storytelling and representation in the entertainment industry. By giving a platform to authentic narratives that reflect the complexities and multidimensionality of black women’s lives, “Insecure” has become a cultural touchstone and a source of pride for many viewers who see themselves reflected on screen.

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    Posted on by Cam

    Finding a Sense of Belonging

    When you’re working in a company, this can be the difference between success and failure. From my experience working in corporate, I’ve often felt like I didn’t belong at some of the companies I worked at.

    When you consider this, the queries you make are:

    Are there people in my age group?

    Will I see people in my culture who I identify with?

    What do I if I can not finding any belonging?

    Don’t worry, I know what it’s like. I’ve also been in this situation where I’ve tried to find my identity at my company but couldn’t.

    I’ve also found that this can also lead some employees to start looking for other jobs.

    Being in a company where I didn’t feel like I belonged is tough. I’m looking for certain boxes to check to feel that emptiness. When I brought it up at a few companies, things didn’t make sense. Meet and greets for me would be socially awkward because I’m not married and I don’t have kids. I remember being at a meet and greet, and I was in a group with people who had recently gotten married and were starting a family or had kids already. I was so embarrassed because I wasn’t in that group. If you’re going to match people together but don’t match them by what they have in common in terms of life in going, then you don’t make me feel welcome.

    Culture wise when working at a company that doesn’t have a clue what it means to be a Black professional and how your values may be different from the values on which their world is built on.

    One of the easiest things to do is to accept or learn about my culture. I have friends who are not black and I have learned their culture so I know what it is. Being black is not enough that you are undervalued at most companies. Some companies will hire you just to say that they have diversity but they will never understand that you have the skills to do it but they will never hire you because of your skin color. You are already hurting because people don’t understand you and where your shoes are.

    Everybody wants to be accepted in the workplace and treated fairly. I accept everybody for who they are no matter what. Show other’s that you can do the same thing in the workplace.

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    Posted on by Cam

    Happy Monday

    Let’s begin the week with positivity.

    Wake up every morning knowing that you are blessed to continue doing what you love.

    Let go of anything that doesn’t make you happy.

    Show gratitude for what you already have.

    Say words of affirmation every day to keep the positivity flowing.

    You can choose yourself, and you can choose to be happy. I wake up every day with a feeling of joy, knowing that I have been blessed and that I have made it through many difficult times in my life. I don’t have to pretend to be happy anymore. My life is made up of happiness.

    The first time I heard this song, I was in the car. I was thinking about the lyrics and how it spoke to me about loving myself. Over the years, I have learned that I have to love myself on a daily basis. I have to get to know my true self and accept myself for who I am. As I learn more about myself and my self worth, it becomes more beautiful to see the difference I make when I am positive.

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    Posted on by Cam

    What You Waiting For?

    I keep asking myself, “What are you waiting for?” I know there aren’t many women in your industry, but don’t let that stop you from reaching your goals. Set the bar for others to aspire to the same level of success in Information Technology.

    I went through a time in my career where I struggled to find a place to work that accepted me because it was a new concept to a lot of men in this industry who were not accustomed to having a woman in their workplace. Is it worth it?

    I remember when I worked at the Trap House. It was exciting for them to say they had a female in IT now. It sometimes made my day to see them see me doing a role that they were most likely seeing a man do. To know that I am capable of anything I set my mind to and that I can do what the men do and better.

    When I started getting my first hands-on experience, I started volunteering at my alma mater’s IT department. I had a good relationship with several of the IT admin’s in the building at which I took all my classes. I went into one of them and expressed my interests and aspirations. At the time, there weren’t many women in my industry pursuing a career in the IT field as I did, so I learned a lot from this individual and was eager to learn more.

    Once I graduated from college, my career took a backseat because a lot of guys weren’t ready to close the gender gap at the time they hired me. I went to the finish line and all I heard was, “I don’t think you’d be a good fit for our team.” I was learning the hard way that my career wasn’t a safe space for me as a woman.

    During this time, I tried to do things in my life that I didn’t feel passionate about but I knew my heart was in IT. I didn’t give up. I kept working on it.

    This is a chapter in my book, and I’m giving you a sneak peek before it hits shelves in 2024. So what are you waiting on?

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    Comfortable

    Sorry I haven’t written anything in a long time but I have been going through a lot. I recently went to go see the Beyonce concert/movie this weekend and yes it brought me back together again. I was so happy that Beyonce did talk about the struggles Black women do have to go through and how so many times you have to keep repeating yourself to be heard or act in a manner that not professional to be heard.

    I was so messed up inside that I didn’t have the courage to write or to be the “voice of reason”. I’m comfortable and comfortable with being me. It’s okay for others to accept certain people’s behavior and when you tell them how you feel or what’s bothering you but nothing’s been done to fix it.

    I am not going to stop being me and if you can not accept me for the person who I am and I do not want anything to do with you. I have been at a few workplaces in my career and know I do a good job at what I do. Yet people still want to disrespect you for what you do and do not understand how much you have been through in your career and it’s not easy being a black woman in a corporate environment. One thing I am not going to do is let someone disrespect me and not speak up about how I feel especially if nothing is being done about what I am telling you about.

    After listening to Beyonce speak about the challenges she faced as a black woman living in a predominantly white environment, I was motivated again. I will finish my book. I will continue to be the black woman who isn’t afraid to tell her story. I will be the black woman in my career who can help other women accept themselves and know that they are boss lady.

    I’ll be done with my book by year’s end and I’m the boss girl. I’m on my way to continue to thrive and nothing will destroy my spirit or kill my mood. God has given me a special gift and a special mission. It won’t be easy, but me not speaking up about injustice in my industry will never end.

    I hope whoever’s reading this knows that I’m back, and there’s nothing the devil can do to kill me, steal me, or ruin me. The evil will never win, and God yes, you will win for everything I’ve done and learned. And yet I keep going.

    I hope I’ll keep inspiring others and continue to be that example to them so they know she didn’t let it hold her back.

    I am officially back!!!

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    Never Stop Dreaming

    As a young girl in my teens I always knew what I wanted to do and found my passion. As a grown woman I have never stopped dreaming of reaching my career potential. It has not been an easy role but it was sure worth it.

    I remember my mentor in college telling me nothing is easy and it comes with challenges especially if God is trying to elevate yourself. Yes is right about that for sure because I have come across challenges, obstacles in the road, and standstills to get here.

    I am always talking to my sister about continuing to pursue her dreams and goals. I am still pursuing my dreams and goals and not going to give up no matter how hard things get. My time is coming and I am going to reach the top. I have been up and down in life. One thing I can do is come back stronger.

    One of my favorite songs I added to this blog because it talks about “Never Giving Up”.

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    Feel No Pain

    I was getting ready to graduate from college at this time. I remember one of my professors telling us to make sure you got experience before graduating from college. That meant getting an internship.

    Trust me I was trying to do that. This my first time experiencing discrimination at it’s finest. We would get all dressed up for career day/job fair day to go around and talk to recruiters from the companies who came to visit the HBCU (Historically Black College & University) I went to. Me and my classmates would go to also pick up free swag and map out who to talk to. One thing a lot of the companies would do was set the bar so high to get an Internship, G.P.A. (3.5 or higher). I did not have a 3.5 G.P.A. with a background in Engineering. We would go to our sister school that was 30 minutes away to get the opportunity to get a chance for an internship. Nobody was asking them for a G.P.A. at all for an internship opportunity.

    Experiencing this made me realize that everyone is not treated equally in the workspace. I would be at my career fair disappointed knowing that fact that these companies were not trying to give minorities a chance to make an impact at their company or give us the chance to experience what corporate was like.

    I do not get a job offer before I graduated and I deleted to apply for graduate school because I do not want to go back home because I did not like the situation that was going on in my hometown. I did not give up hope on trying to get experience when I got to graduate school. I went to the career fair and met with a few recruiters but this time was different. I got an email from one of the companies saying I was accepted for the internship program. I opened the email up and thought this must be a joke. I got a call from Career Services on campus regarding it. I was super excited to be given a chance finally.

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    Using Your Gift

    I’m moving higher
    I’m going higher and higher
    Closer to my dreams
    Higher and higher

    Everybody has a gift on Earth that has been giving to us. Getting there can sometimes take a lot of ups and down. But never give up on what you aspire to be. Keep pushing, think positive about it, and never give up.

    As a Black Woman in a male dominated field it is easy to lose your focus. There have been times that I had to cry about my job or felt like quitting. My drive has kept me going because I love what I do. If I would have giving up, I would have never been able to pave a way for another woman to be able to set foot in the same role. Yes, I have paved a way at one of the companies that I have worked for. I was first woman to ever work in my area. I feel proud to represent other women no matter what your color is. We all are going to win in IT.

    I remember wanting to quit pursuing me dreams in my field when I had to deal with the misogyny of what I love to do. It’s okay for the men to do what they want and still get paid even if it was nothing all day. I have had to work harder to prove that women belong in this area. I have fought the good fight. I remember being asked by one of the directors the following question: “Why do not women want to apply for roles in Information Technology?”. I responded because with the following with tears running down my eyes: “Women are not treated the same as men are and even if we work hard it still comes with misogyny because we can over perform in this field but not be promoted like the men.” I am not married and watched with my own eyes how they gave all the newly married men on my team promotions and raises. I took all that hate that had built up and created a wall at my house to remind myself that “I can do anything”.

    God has giving me this gift and I want to continue to use my gift to do his will. Woman we are winning over hearts everyday and letting the workforce know daily how valuable we are. Life is never easy but you’re a winner in the end.

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