As many of you know, I recently completed my doctoral studies at the University of Florida within leadership development. What many of you may not know is that both my mother and I were on a stage at the same time.
As I was graduating my mother was in Winston Salem, North Carolina at the National Black Theater Festival performing her one-woman show “Sojourner Truth, the Legacy Lives On.” These accomplishments were dreams that became realities on the same weekend. This also meant that she would not be able to make it to Florida to watch me walk across the stage. Understanding this, I hopped in my car after graduation and traveled to North Carolina to make her last show and to celebrate both of our accomplishments with all of family that still lives in North Carolina. Her show was absolutely amazing as she vividly walked audiences through the life of Sojourner Truth.
As I watched her on stage I was reminded that an amazing storyteller raised me.
The next day our family came from all over North Carolina to eat, catch up on lost time, and to support the accomplishments of my mother and I. What happened next was absolutely beautiful. With stuffed bellies and full spirits, we all took turns telling stories of home and we shared reminders of how proud we were of each other. Faces lit up and tears of joy poured down faces. Again, I was reminded that storytelling has always been a vital piece within my family. It was at this moment that I realized why Self Narrate feels so rewarding to me, because it reminds me of home.
Watching and helping people grow from sharing their story feels like home to me and with each new story I gain a new family member.
Each day, I look forward to working with Brandon to grow Self Narrate because with each story that we help people develop and share, our family grows larger as well.