untitled awkward diaries for the awkward young lady

(from left to right; Camara, Alexis, and Ayo)

For the awkward young lady, 

   When I was younger I had a speech impediment that kept people from understanding me, this forced me to exclude myself from many school activities. By the time I was confident in speech everyone had their cliques, making me even more of a loner. So I slowly became awkward and shy. Being awkward and shy with a resting bitch face has always been a struggle. See the thing is I was never a stuck up person, in all actuality I can't pull together the words to even start a conversation. I'm a cool person, approach me and you'll get nothing but smiles. I am awkward, cute, goofy, smart, and artsy. I am a hibiscus flower grown from concrete. 

    - Camara

For the awkward young lady,  

     Uhh, How can I put this? I'm not really awkward, just more of misunderstood by the ones who don't know me. Others who don't know me try and label me as something I am not. I might seem a little reserved for specific reasons, but I'm very outgoing, to say the least. People from back home, especially friends and family wouldn't look at me as a shy girl. They would know me as a nice, funny, outgoing. and the stylish girl that I've always been. 

    - Alexis

Dear Me,

     I just want to tell you that you're beautiful. You started this life journey looking at yourself as a nobody, as someone who didn't believe that they could make an impact in another person's life. There have been many factors in your life that made you who you are, but those factors don't define you as a whole. You're an intelligent being with many ideas, and instead of you throwing that away trying to be like others, continue doing what you've been doing and pave your way to greatness. There will always be factors in your life that attempt to destroy your name, and if you fall for them, I need you to get back up and continue to strive. Many of the greats have fallen for some craziness so you're not alone, but don't continue to fall, become an unshakable tree. There is still so much to learn, but don't learn with a negative spirit, keep your head high and move with authority!

With passion and love,

Your Light

    - Ayo

Empower The Black Girl; The Queen

Black Girls are an absolute ray of sunshine. We are sometimes told otherwise in the society that we live in, but it is necessary that we continue to love ourselves and put ourselves first. It is also important that we continue to spread awareness of the beautiful black girl and get her to the level of  enormous recognition. There are many factors that don't want the average black girl to win, but the more awareness there is, the stronger our bond will be and the more opportunities that will be given to her.

As we stand up and continue to let our voices be heard, we need to come to the realization that we are all sisters. No matter where you come from, whether it be Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, or North America, we are all family. There are many sisters who fail to realize this fact and we bash each other and neglect each other to make ourselves feel better. This is an issue I feel isn't brought up enough, but it is a true reality and is an experience faced daily. This is true for many other groups and communities, but as a minority and a people that have already experienced oppression, why add to the fire by hurting our own? We need to encourage each other. 

The only way we can improve as a whole and take back what is truly ours is to boost each other up. There should be an encouragement given to black owned businesses. There should be an encouragement forcing each other to not give up. There should be aid when there's a cry out for help. And I know not everyone is deserving and some may cause you pain, but the more good, the less evil to come. It takes an act of kindness to change a community, but if no one is kind, how will there be change? As humans, we love to attack issues with violence or get our revenge on those who did us wrong. In any time you have acted out of anger, what did you gain? Usually we don't gain anything other than the short-lived joy of our actions. We need to love each other and stop the bullying and become one of a stronger nation. We need to beat out the negativity and claim the royalty! 

(Thanks for reading! Comment down in the comment section so I can get your feedback on this post!)

Never Settle For Less

Why settle for worse when you can claim all the best! There are a few things that I've observed about myself and that I have seen from others that could be considered settling for less and I want to elaborate on them.

Number 1: Allowing Deadbeat Guys to Dominate Your Life

     If you know he's no good, don't stay with him. If he doesn't have at least one of the qualities on your list, he's most likely not worth your time. Once you start letting yourself become available for deadbeat guys, you treat them like quality and they begin to get comfortable and start treating you like you're a deadbeat. This can lower your self-esteem and make others look at you as if you actually are dead-beat when you're not. Giving low-quality men a try is a set-up for failure. When I mean low quality, this has nothing to do with materialistic views but has to do with values, open-mindedness, humility, loyalty, and other good attributes a man should have.

Number 2: Buying Cheaper Goods

     I believe all should be able to dress as they please, regardless of designer brands just so you know my heart isn't shallow. But when it comes to quality of clothes, furniture, and food, oh boy! This is so crucial. If you buy a cheap chair, it is more likely to break faster than a quality chair, and the quality chair doesn't necessarily have to be more expensive. There are wide ranges of places to buy quality goods for lower prices without being cheated of your buck. Wholesale, clearance, and thrifting still look bomb. Just don't settle for cheaply made products or old food, because you actually waste money and harm yourself. Food poisoning and a hurt buttocks aren't the best choices.

Number 3: Staying in a Bad Circle

     You may have all been the best of friends for a whole year. Do they constantly tell you your ideas are trash; bruise your dreams? Do they always revert the conversation back to them when you speak about your accomplishments? Do they make fun of your appearance and tell you that you have to change? Don't be naive, you know you're not happy. Leave those friendships because they are toxic. They may treat you good here and there, but if the majority of those friendships rely on placing negativity on you, your best bet is to leave them. When you move from such settings, you allow room for those who truly relate to you to find you.

Number 4: Leave the 'Haters' Alone

     Are you constantly finding yourself in situations where people talk about you and all that you've done wrong? Guess what?! That's because you're popping and they want to see you fall and break your legs since they know you're a star! They are envious of you and know how to get to you! Continue to shine and not be bothered by them because if you settle for their negativity you won't be able to succeed. No one is perfect and we all have our shares of wrongs. And if they pick at your own wrongs, that shows that they are insecure about themselves. Forgive and move forward!


I hope you got a knock from this and laughed a little bit, but most importantly I hoped you gained something you can look to for encouragement this New Year! Have a blessed 2017, and continue to prosper. Be your best version of yourself! God bless.

Started With Travel, Digressed into Purpose .

     I want to go to places I've never been. I want to see different worlds within my own, to see the north and the south. I want to visit the place of my ancestors and meet relatives. I want to feel what it's like to be a young woman who can independently roam to different cities with her friends because she is of age. I want to shop at cute foreign boutiques and eat at small bakeries and cafes with good local reputation. I want to take endless pictures and meet new people. I want to go to the place where my Lord and savior once lived and to see His people. I want to create bonds and connections that can last a lifetime. I want to achieve all this before I'm married, and once I am, we will go to the rest of the world. We could go to Japan, Thailand, The islands, and all the other adventurous places I have yet to see. We could have dinner dates every single night and enjoy each other's company in new settings. But, before then, I want to live as a young person should live. I want to go on mission trips while I'm young and help others who are in need and give them a hope they may have yet to find. I want people to know that their strong and to know that they have a father in heaven who will give them that extra strength as long as they believe. I want to make progress in other countries, come back from trips and start businesses with other countries, make successes with others in these countries. I want to become a lead.

     Many people carry the close minded thought that they have to be a sign of wealth in their own country alone because of their patriotism. Even if they claim not to have pride in their own country, they still hold onto the belief that there is more quality compared to others. But, what's lost in that idea is that when other countries admire you, you become a translator of culture from one to the other and you become the selling point that makes other countries attracted to your own, and yours attracted to theirs. You remove barriers between crowds. Whatever your passion or talent is, If you're able to find your worldwide audience, they will cheer you on, which will eventually channel interest amongst many other types of people. Understand that you have power and it only takes out-of-the-box thinking to push you forward. As I continue to digress, take this with you: don't allow what you've been taught all of your life to put you in a box, you have to think differently than others and make the most out of your life by action. Thinking differently is equal to more impact that you can make.

How to Defeat Struggle in Your Life

     The number one point in defeating struggle in your life is to be continuously positive. It is very easy to find yourself in doubt of your abilities, especially when there is a constant cycle of stagnancy surrounding you. If you feel as if there is no way you can move forward, stand back and evaluate your situation, tell yourself that you WILL succeed, and APPLY your skills to your interests. You cannot allow your life to be a waste, just because your situation tells you that it is one. In all realness, no one is a wasted life; every human being on earth has a reason to live, whether it be to tell a story, to encourage, or to impact a nation. You have to find your PASSION and cultivate that into your purpose. The only way that you can truly do this is to find happiness in every situation. It is understood that not every situation is an easy one to get through and that those situations might be the break-down point of your life, but know that those trials are tests to see if you can be strong and still continue to shed your LIGHT. No one in life is able to achieve their greatest potential by allowing the enemy of their success to defeat them, no! You have to be confident in yourself. The saying "fake it till you make it" stands true. In order for you to be happy, it starts off with saying to yourself that you are capable of overcoming your situation, that you are strong enough, no matter what others say, and that you are enough, even if you don't believe you are. The help of others are great tools in moving forward, but you have to know that you have the power to move mountains. You are a queen or king ordained by God, but you have to KNOW that, and you have to LIVE as so. So, regardless of your current situation, remember these words, and let's win our possessions and become our definitions of greatness!

Being Terrible at Consistancy

Hey Guess what? I'm back again! I've been gone for a while, and I'm here to tell you why. My time management sucked this past semester of school. I am a biology major and a huge chunk of my time had to stay dedicated to my school work. My major asked for a lot of attention and I made sure to use my free time to turn up and get lit as much as possible to keep my spirits up, Next semester will ask for even more attention, but I want to take this time that I am off of school to get back in the groove of things, so that I have a better chance of managing my time more efficiently. So just know this winter break, I have a lot in store to give to you all starting this week. I hope you stay tuned for the stories, the art, and the lessons I've learned. Thank you!

Toxic, Toxic, Toxic

Whether it be your best friend, a family member, or your partner, if they don't treat you with up most respect, there may be the need for change. if there is always fight between the both of you and issues are never solved, it is toxic. If the person routinely lies to you, and you have the evidence that he or she is lying, it is toxic. If they continue to talk you down and make negative comments every time you accomplish a task, they're toxic. If they continue to hurt you, thinking that you will forgive them, they are toxic. You need to understand your worth if you don't know it now. If they are meant for your life, God will make a way to place them back in it. If they are worth fighting for, they wouldn't cause you pain on routine. Those meant for your life will always uplift you and tell you the truth when need be said, but they will never put you down for the sake of them feeling better and they will never disregard the special things that you do. A true romantic partner will tell you your beautiful even when your not looking your best because they would be your true love, not just any guy or girl who doesn't know what they want. Toxic family members may be harder to work with if they are toxic, but if you can tolerate their wrong, then so be it, but if they seriously hurt you, make sure to forgive and give them space. Forgiving anyone who maltreats you helps you move on with your life and helps them eventually realize that they hurt you. If you were to stay bitter and feed their negativity, they will use that as an excuse to continue. Forgive, forget, and move on. Don't stay stagnant, leave the guy who hurt you and work on yourself, move away from the friend who tried to ruin your name, and work on yourself. Working on  yourself will attract the people and destiny helpers meant for your life. Pamper yourself, get educated, stay humble, and all the things you want in life will find you. God bless and enter into success ! I know that was corny, but seriously.