The Shift
My biggest prayer for 2025 has been for direction. The weight of a dream - one I've been slow to fully embrace - hovers just out of reach, illuminating bright red. The realization pulls me back to 2017, when the first glimmers of that dream began to unfold. By then I had fully given up on college; childhood trauma mixed with societal conversations had me convinced it wasn’t for me…
Then, I stumbled across podcasts. Those audio stories and insights became a lifeline, sparking transformation in me. Listening to all sorts of podcasts started to shift my negative way of thinking, and the yearning to step into the role of a news and entertainment reporter - flickering since my middle school days - began to glow once more.
Gradually, I rediscovered that childhood curiosity: “Who do I want to be when I grow up?” This urged me to revisit the inspirations that had once ignited this passion within me.
Rikki Lake was my first favorite talk show host, with her vibrant personality that effortlessly drew me in and made me feel as if I was part of the conversation. Then there was Oprah, whose ability to evoke my emotions from a young age left a lasting impression. Her storytelling captivated me, igniting a curiosity for the stories she shared and the lives she touched.
106 & Park was nothing short of legendary, with hosts like AJ & Free to Terrance & Rocsi bringing an energy that was infectious. I would toggle between BET and MTV, keeping an eye on La La as she represented on TRL. The Ellen Degeneres Show once became a daily ritual; I would rush home to catch her show at 3:00 PM CST, just as school let out.
It wasn’t really about the topics discussed on these shows—the magic lay in the hosts themselves. Their unique personalities and journalistic fervor connected us to the human stories they told, reminding me of the impact they had and how much I admired their craft.
Over time, my desire for education and a search for structure grew stronger; I realized I had to chart a path toward making my dream a reality. It took me 5 more years before I would make the move to return to college. Despite all the excuses I could come up with and the challenges that came my way, deep down, I felt a calling I couldn't ignore. This insight made me understand that everything that has happened in my life up until then had to unfold just as it did, and I’ve come to trust divine timing more than ever before.
Returning to college has not been sweet and I often need to remind myself how important patience is as I navigate this journey. Living an “on-campus” life as a full ass adult balancing responsibilities, managing my healing, and commuting to my university is challenging; some days it feels like I’m trying to reclaim lost time. In this new year, I seek not just direction, but the courage to follow this path I was always meant to pursue.
Next Era
In 2019, I launched a podcast called “Fully Developed”. The intended purpose of this podcast was to share growth stories of local twenty-somethings who were looking to make a name for themselves within various industries. A few months after the first season ended, the coronavirus pandemic initially halted the podcast from continuing. While the podcast industry started to really pop during this time, I felt uncertain and unprepared to proceed.
Now, I introduce Still Developing, a genuine blog focused on news, lifestyle, and entertainment.
As an aspiring journalist, I want to bring back trust in news and entertainment storytelling without being riddled in clickbait and misinformation. I aim to present information that stimulates thought and connects you to the narrative, allowing you to draw your own conclusions. I advocate for independent thinking, encouraging perspectives that challenge the collective mentality often fostered by social media. My ambition is to interview a variety of voices - politicians, artists, entrepreneurs, change-makers, religious leaders and more. Through these conversations and weekly stories, I want to shed light on narratives that may feel redundant but are often overlooked by mainstream outlets, offering fresh perspectives that resonate authentically.
Ways You Can Support
A a supporter of this blog and my work, it means you trust me to share this information with you. You count on me to present information that is not only clear and unique but also inspires new thoughts. Building that trust takes time, and I aim to become a dependable part of your weekly routine.
I invite you to subscribe to the Still Developing newsletter through the contact link below. This is where our community can grow together. With your subscription, you’ll receive weekly updates on the stories covered, allowing you to stay informed and engaged.
Additionally, you can follow my journey on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I will share behind-the-scenes content related to this blog and much more.
Stay tuned, as the first official news and entertainment blog is coming soon. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
These stories and I are Still Developing…
