I was asked to speak at my home church this past Sunday for youth Sunday. This may be a big job for most. But, it wasn’t my first time speaking at church. Although it does come with nerves, I believed I had something fitting for the occasion.
As it became closer to that date, I did began to think, “does what I have make sense?” I read over it several times and just hoped that the crowd would enjoy it.
I decided to share my message here:
I graduated in May from North Carolina A&T State University with a bachelor of science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. My goal was and is still to work in communications/or marketing for entertainment or a large corporation. BUT if there is anything that I’ve learned these past few months, it is that what God has for you, is for you. Your plans aren’t always God’s plans. I believe he has three options, “Yes, Not right now, or I have something better for you”. I am learning that I have my own path, it won’t be like anyone elses. And that a person having a different experience than me doesn’t make my experience any less.
Before I even went to college, I knew what I wanted to do, or at least I thought I did. I wanted to work behind the scenes in the music industry. I loved everything that had to do with music and the media. I joined groups and organizations where I could help plan and promote events on campus. I landed my first internship the summer after freshman year with CBS Radio Atlanta, and let me tell you, it was a learning experience. It wasn’t has pleasant has I had hoped. I prayed everyday that summer that things would go right the next day and ask the Lord to help me deal with a mean and intimidating supervisor. I was so happy to go back to school after that summer. You’ll just don’t know but in the end I really appreciated that internship and what it taught me-about how to deal with different personalities and more insight into the industry. I continued my school years staying involved and gaining more internships under my belt.
As a child, I would always say that I wanted to work at a record company, that was my dream. The summer before my 3rd yr of school, I applied to be a Sony Music College Marketing Rep after I saw that they had an open position in my college area the former rep had graduated. After about two phone interviews, I was chosen as the rep. I never imagined that my dream of working at a record company would happen while I was still in school. That goes to show you that if you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). This job had a lot of perks, from knowing all the new music before it came out to meeting artists every year at the annual conference, free CD’s every week, attending free concerts, getting cool things to pass out and more. It was a lot of work but it was worth it. I learned that the industry isn’t all glamorous, and people work really hard to pay their dues to get where they’re at. During my time as a rep, I also completed 2 other internships. One where I had to relocate to another Small town in NC for the summer. It wasn’t the most enjoyable experience, but a learning experience, nonetheless. I learned a lot about managing time and prioritizing.
My motivation for staying busy was knowing that in my field it is all about experience. I wanted to get as much experience as I could because it can pay off later.
I really would recommend that for those just starting school. High school or college, get involved early. It makes it easier on you whether you want to do SGA, be active in your department or get that work experience under your belt early. It would be great to start early.
Never let fear stop you from taking you where you want to go, 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” God wants us to continue to grow and reach higher. The enemy will sometimes put negative thoughts in our minds telling us what we can’t do. Fear is a spirit. But we have power over that. By having faith and believing that God won’t fail us. We have to be confident in knowing that God is always by our side. It can get difficult. A lot of times, when I had a lot of my plate, I was overwhelmed with school work, work I had to complete with Sony and then spending a few hours at a Internship, sometimes I didn’t think I could get it all done. IT took a few all nighters. I just asked the Lord to help me. And just stayed focused until I completed everything,–I would say. Don’t spend hours dwelling on something. Ask the Lord to help you get through it and stick to getting it done. Struggles don’t last always—there are good and bad days. The bad make you appreciate the good awhole lot more. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I will bless you with a future filled with hope-a future of success not of suffering” so, Decide what you want. Believe you can have it. Believe you deserve it and believe it is possible for you. Visualize that you have it, everyday and Tell the Lord that your are grateful for what you already have. “All things for which you pray for, ask, believe that you have received them and they shall be granted unto you.” Mark 11:24
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