Keep Your EYES..On the PRIZE: Chasing a DREAM

Four months and ten days ago I embarked on a journey that would forever change my life and begin my big break into reaching the career path of my dreams! At twenty three, I had landed a career opportunity at one of the largest consulting firms in the nation, obtained a sizeable salary, and had earned a respect among my colleagues and friends that made me heavily content with what I had achieved in so little time. But then the tug came. I felt something deep inside of me that I could not resist. Something that many feel but few act upon. It was the voice of my soul that began to speak thoughts of...”your destiny goes such more further than where you stand at this very moment, your future is greater than your contentment, your long term dreams are much bigger than your short term success". And so I left my job, moved to NY, began school full time, and never looked back! I was ready to go get my PRIZE!!!


Months later, I found myself walking down the streets of Brooklyn almost in tears. Thinking to myself, "Why did I leave my secure job? Did I want to be broke? What was I thinking, if I had only been more sensible in my decision making? Had I not prayed long enough? Had a broken heart cause my vision to go cloudy?" Refusing to embrace the fact I had made a mistake, or better yet God had misplaced me, I begin to seek out opportunities unlike anything I had every done before. What an experience. I truly believe sometimes God will test your heart by having you to serve in ways you are not built. And so it began. I was a hostess, waitress, intern, you name it. Several weeks later, I was sitting in a nice little coffee shop in Brooklyn with a good friend discussing my fears and dreams of creating social investments in communities of color through teaching your girls how to become social entrepreneur. After overhearing me, a young man began telling me about his experience and a similar passion. We talked for hours, and days later I had received two calls for an internship, opportunities to meet some amazing people, and a unique challenge to bring my passion of business and social change to small business owners in "Bed Stuy".

I share my story not to impress, nor to razzle dazzle anyone; but to encourage those young women who are close to giving up. I want you to STOP, REFOCUS, and KNOW that faith and fear cannot and will not co-exist.

Yes I know keeping Your EYES on the PRIZE can at sometimes be extremely difficult. As I recall my high school African American teacher say..."when looking for your space to be great, you must KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE". You don't have to say a WORD, I know what you are feeling and experiencing. Giving birth to a dream can at moments seem too difficult to bring to life, but I am living the reality every day that it is possible. Perhaps you may read this and see a young women throwing away a great career and taking her past success for granted. Or maybe you will see a bold, brave woman who is following her heart and living out the destiny she has been called to experience. If you are for the latter, than I pray that this story does not only given you a fresh perspective on life, but inspire you to KEEP ACHIEVing, KEEP BELIEVIng, and most of all KEEP DREAMIng.