Some days I wake up and I am inspired by Olivia Pope from the show Scandal. I remind myself that I will take-no-nonsense, and be a hard-working, confident, and focused individual. I remind myself that even though I may be a 5 foot 2 ½ tall gladiator, “I am good at what I do.” And that’s because I give 300% into anything and everything that I do. Friends come to me seeking advice for all sorts of issues…consider it handled; I am a fixer! But I know that Kerry Washington, the actress who plays Olivia Pope, is more than her character. Kerry admits, “It’s been a big part of my maturing process to learn to allow people to support me. I tend to be very self-reliant and private. And I have this history of wanting to work things out on my own and protect people from what’s going on with me.” I can admit that too. So each day I am learning to be both a leader like Olivia Pope and a vulnerable woman like Kerry Washington.
Some days I wake up inspired by the success of Beyoncé and Sophia Amoruso, who is the CEO of Nasty Gal and author of the book #GIRLBOSS (every young woman should read her book!). A typical week for me currently consists of: school, work, internship, volunteering with Girls Action, serving as an executive member for my Lean In school club, a social life, family and free time for myself. Whew! But hey, we all have the same hours in a day as Beyoncé right? And like Beyoncé, I am not flawless—I am stubborn, sometimes moody and I am also the unfortunate combination of being a perfectionist and a mild workaholic (is it considered a workaholic if I like what I am doing though?). But I am happy. I have my family, my girls, and supportive and positive co-workers and colleagues. I have goals, plans and dreams that I am working towards. I love nothing more at the end of the day than crossing things off my to-do list like a #GIRLBOSS and turning up my music so that I can shake my booty like Beyoncé.
Most days I wake up inspired by my beautiful mother. I no longer consider her a single-mother anymore, my mind naturally refers to her as a super-mother. My work ethic, my tendency to worry, most of my values, my love of reading, and my penchant for baking, all stem from my mother who raised and provided for me. My mom is the epitome of selflessness, sacrifice and strength. There’s an episode where Olivia Pope’s father reminds her of a lesson he tried to instill in her. It’s not too far from what my mom instilled in me growing up: “You have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have.” I would not be the woman I am today without the unconditional support, discipline and love from my mother.
And then there are days when I wake up and I am inspired by me. Surprise—I am an introvert! But, I am learning to embrace my “quiet leadership” while working to get out of my comfort zone. I am “Leaning In” like Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg. I am defining myself as a victor, not a victim of sexual violence. I am being bold and I am being brave. I set my own standards and I refuse to be labelled as a statistic or stereotype. My struggle keeps me humble, but it also keeps me hungry for more. So on days when I want to hibernate and be lazy, not do any homework or close myself off from humanity like a hermit… I don’t (at least, not for long). Why? Because of Olivia Pope, Beyoncé and Sophia Amoruso. Because of Alexis Jones, Malala Yousafzai, Michaëlle Jean, Marianne Williamson, Susan Cain and Maya Angelou. Because of my fellow introverts, my fellow black women, my fellow “femininjas.” Because of my mother, my support system of family and friends and my program supervisor/professor. Because ALL those individuals I just mentioned inspire me. The least I can do is wake up, kick butt, be kind and inspire others.