How has your upbringing shaped where you are today?

• “I would say work ethic for sure. Being a kid I had those parents who would always tell you not to do anything half-assed. So, they were definitely behind me every step of the way as far them telling me to clean my room, clean the kitchen, do my homework, or whatever, there was a standard it had to meet. I knew to meet their standards because if not,I was going to have to redo it anyways. Therefore, I made a habit of reaching that standard and I continue to do today with my work. Not because of the consequences or their repercussions but because it has been ingrained in me. “

What is your definition of the grey area? Would you say you are in it currently?

• “I think uncertainty is a common definition of the grey area. When faced with something such as an artistic journey or any type of journey. When someone is looking for fulfillment or for their purpose there is no age limit on that. We have people from the teens to 40s-50s, and upward who are still asking what is my purpose?What am I trying to do? So, I think the most important thing that I discovered is taking the ego out of it. When you take your ego out of it and let it be what it is, you start to naturally find a way in what you are seeking to accomplish. Which is the same thing that happened to me as far as photography. Before I used to hold on to the idea of being  an artist as far as with music and things because I already told people this is what I want to do. Personally I do not think there is any shame in moving beyond that. You do not necessarily have to let something go completely ,you can still enjoy that, maybe, it is gonna happen at later date.”
• “Currently, I am not in the grey area. I feel I am in a free-flowing area of goodness. I think once you start to give into and work with the universe, and stop letting your ego get in the way you begin to find happiness. Currently, I am happy and opportunities continue to present themselves. I believe I am able to see them because I am not focused on finding something. “

Do you believe the grey area is temporary or permanent?

• “I have accepted the grey area as permanent and that might just be life. We do not know everything, it is freeing because if there was no grey area it would mean everything is controlled. Thus, we would be living in a very clinical and controlled world. Where is the excitement? Where is the room for growth? Where is the room for something new? When you think about God you think about people, God is the creator and people are creators. We are made in his image and I feel the grey area is the potential for creativity.”

Why did you decide to go to college?

• “I decided to go to college because I did not have to pay for it at the time. If I had to pay for it I probably would not have gone. I had the opportunity to go after high school, I was accepted to a few different schools. I almost went to Howard until I began looking at tuition and fees and was like this is not happening. Even at a young age, I understood I did not want be in debt and that was the biggest thing that kept me from going initially. So, when I began my associates, I ended up going because I went through the G.I. bill.”

During your post-graduation phase of life, are there any lessons you learned and would like to share?

• “Honestly, just relax. As long as you are relaxed and level headed you will figure it out anything that comes your way. Stress causes most people to make decisions that might not be the best. For example, when you are at a point, even when you go to college , you are first going and you have to choose what school to go to, what degree, all these major decisions you are going to make can be stressful. So, when you are under stress you could be making a decision that might not be the best because you are not knowing how to relax your mind and you are not knowing how to think clearly about a lot of things at that point. Therefore, be sure to have good support group as far as the people in your life who you can talk to and trust to help you make informed decisions.”