Kalen Nicole

“Walk it like I talk it (ayy)
Walk it like I talk it (woo)
Walk it, walk it like I talk it (yeah)”

– Migos

The title of the post was going to be, “Just Say It,” In reference to the ballad by Tory Lanez, but since Culture II just dropped and the YRN Trio are my hip-hop artists of choice, Walk It Talk It, became the reference.

“Take my shoes and walk a mile, something you CAN do.”

–Quavo the Huncho

It’s common to boost yourself up when you feel down or confused. It’s common to boost yourself up when you feel good. It’s also pretty typical to hype up your friends when you see them Milly Rocking at the function or making the Honor Roll and sharing it on Facebook.

What’s rare is helping someone realize their own potential, recognizing their talents and inspiring them to become all they are meant to be.

Last year, I was set on being the Creative Director for a famous breakfast food brand. I shared my aspirations with my friend Jaylon as we ate tacos at Q’doba. By this point in my college career, I was a senior, I had completed my Spanish minor, I had traveled internationally, I had completed three internships, I had created assessments and rubrics that were used by hundreds of students and I had just began phase one of our co-research project, “Black Students’ Lived Experiences with Campus Law Enforcement.” (which changed everything.) (More to come stay tuned).

“I play the coach so I gotta call it (call it)”

-Takeoff

I am a Strategic Communications Major by heart and mind. I love interacting with others, creating strategies to sell products, analyzing data and  giving presentations. There is no other major that encompasses all of my passions and challenges me to always become better. But loving my major, did not necessitate that I only seek opportunities related to my major for the remainder of my career.

As I finished my last Bohemian Veg taco, Jaylon looked at me and said, “Kalen you have done all of this, and you just want to sell donuts?” His eyes were incredulous, probing and concerned.

That’s my bro, he know the lingo (lingo)
Ain’t no walkie-talkie (no) –

-Takeoff

At that moment, I re-evaluated my goals and my potential. I would be happy to be a brand strategist for corporate organization, but I know I would only be fulfilled if I could create strategies, analyze data and implement initiatives that would better society as a whole, not just those in the C-Suite.

(Jaylon thinks I’m dramatic, but this conversation literally affected the trajectory of my life.)

I began looking for graduate programs in Social Justice, and it became blindingly apparent that my gusto for all things communication strategy and my desire to create a better world were not mutually exclusive.

To this day, I am thankful for my friend for speaking to me truthfully, inviting me to help with this project, encouraging me to be better- for myself and for others and to put in the work for the thing I believe most in: Equity.

The work I do now is fulfilling. It connects me to society and has positioned me in such a place to understand my purpose.

¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

-James 2:14-18 KJV

Next time you see a spark in someone else, encourage that spark to grow and to manifest until that person feels their own warmth and is cognizant and confident in the fact that they can change the wold. I know that is a lot to ask, but we owe it to each other and we owe to ourselves.

I hope my motivation and my gratitude inspires you own your journey, and I hope you are inspired to inspire others.