This particular post is going to be a bit everywhere, especially considering the month of May was up and down for me. Up and down from state to state, up and down emotionally, up and down in weight. It was a month that required me to re-evaluate relationships; the relationship with myself, professional relationships, relationships with family, and social relationships. The title “Cap and Gown SZN” seems fitting for a myriad of reasons, with the anticipation of graduating from the bullshit. In addition to my boy Byron L. Williams graduating with his Masters, my baby sister Kayla graduated with her Masters degree in social work, and found a job the following week in her field of study. As well as, my youngest sister Cori graduated with her High School diploma and will be attending Spelman College in the Fall.
They both graduated from out the state of Georgia about two weeks apart from each other. I was adamant on seeing them both step into the next phase of their lives, which required me to travel from D.C. to GA. So, I took two road trips with my road Dog (literally)…Brown was in the back seat with me embarking on the journey twice over, providing the moral support as he usually does. He’s a really good dog, and an even better friend which is why it hurt me to send him to my dads house; For what I thought would be a summer separation because of all the traveling I am doing for the next three months. Turns out it may actually be more permanent as I try to transition into whatever I am trying to transition to in life. The journey is tumultuous, and one that requires sacrifice. It sucks, that in order to gain, you have to relinquish certain major components of your life in order to embark on a new journey.
I’m trying to work different angles, and not be stagnate and try to constantly push and break new grounds. I know for a fact that the Peace Corps catapulted me into the current phase of my life. A life that I only saw existed from a magazine or a webpage. Knowing this, I also feel like its the same thing that’s preventing me from breaking newer ground, I feel trapped. Only as trapped as someone that does as much traveling as I do at the expense of the federal government. I’m fully aware that I am complaining with no real merit, but I do want to move on but not just to anything. The jobs that I have seen, unfortunately don’t provide real passion or fervor to my life, it would just be a means of income. I applied for a National Geographic grant with the hopes of doing some research in Africa later this year. I find out if it’s approved in August. Which couldn’t come at a better time honestly, because I reapplied to Howard University for their Sociology Ph.D program, and got accepted. So if I do get the approval for the Nat Geo grant, it will be a great way to start my research of choice that could leverage more money from Howard to continue to pursue sociological boundaries, or lack their of at the expense of the institution.
Furthermore, I have been in several conversations with Nike HQ in Portland Oregon, with the hopes of getting a job as a diversity professional, which is an ideal job at a dream corporation. I’ve had several interviews over the phone, as well as in person. The in person interviews were incredible! They gave me the grand tour of the Nike campus, and I tell you, it was simply amazing. I had a chance to visit the Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams buildings, and to observe the type of money Nike puts into the work culture, is truly amazing. For as much money as Nike brand makes and the constant collaborations and high profile atheletes on their roster, they are really dragging their asses with my “hire date”. Patience has never really been my strong suit though, so perhaps it may come at a time when I need it most, and not when I want it. The team of people I have been in conversation with, have been great though and situations are out of their hands, I just hope that this anticipation I am building up, is worth it, when all said and done.
So without a doubt, I am sewing seeds with the hopes of harvesting and yielding great results later this year. In the meantime, in order to keep inspired, I worked with a graphic designer to create an image for Black Peace Corps Volunteers and turned the design into lapel pins as a way of showing solidarity among those that served from the African diaspora in the Peace Corps, and the response has been really positive. I have sold slightly less than half within the month, and given away a few to Black people that were recently accepted into the Peace Corps, as a symbolic and tangible way of encouragement. It’s not my goal to get rich off the pins but rather a way of using the pins to fund other ideas that I have and want to share with others. The only catch is, I cannot technically advertise because I am an employee of the Peace Corps, so it has to essentially be “word of mouth” in order to spread the message.
I met this very nice older Black lady in May, whose name I have since forgotten. I met her while I was on the clock talking about Peace Corps to a group of her fellow soon to be retired co-workers. She and I didn’t get a chance to speak much while I was on the clock. However, she gave her business card to one of her coworkers to give to me to reach out to her. So, I did, she is also from Arkansas, but had lived in D.C. for the past 20 years or so working for the federal government. It didn’t take long for her to embrace me in a warm maternal way. She told me that she would like to adopt me and open up her house to me during Memorial Day weekend for a BBQ with her family. I didn’t think very long before accepting the invitation. When I arrived to her home, I noticed how massive her house was and full of family, friends, and food. They welcomed me with a bottle of drank and quickly introduced me to their niece who was a Hampton University graduate around my age, I felt this was a convenient set up, but a good set up nonetheless, she and I exchanged information, we’ll see where it goes from there.
The month of May was super eventful and their were a couple more instances that I thought about delving deeper into, however, I feel that they are a bit more personal and still processing my emotions. I think the theme of the month was relationships, the relationships that were built and severed I think will play a role in my personal growth; and I hope my interaction and engagement with my family and peers feel that they feel the same. The month of May was a great way to kick off the summer and a hell of an passage point to the middle of the new year, I just hope and pray that we keep the momentum in the month of June.