Keeping the Dream...

This past weekend was so amazing. I cannot believe how blessed I truly am. It still blows my mind how incredible it has been. I gave up going to the Collegiate 100 retreat to stay in Lubbock to perform on Saturday in a play titled "Keeping the Dream" and to perform at The Red Carpet Woman hosted by the Powder Room Women's Ministry.  I gave a chance to make a lifetime of memories with my friends and my favorite organization to make memories of my own that will help me later on in life.

I was approached by Lady Bridgette Stubblefield and Pastor Stubblefield to come up with a poem for the occasion. It was a huge honor. Then that evening I performed along side some amazingly talented performers. The play blew my mind. We had the liberty to perform the play Friday afternoon to the girls of Project New, a mentoring project that I have just embarked on with the Women of Collegiate 100. I received amazing feedback at every performance and I just felt elevated. We will be performing "Keeping the Dream" again April 17th. I hope I can add some more powerful pieces to it, if they'll let me.

I'm not sure where this poetry thing is going or where it will take me, but I'm starting to love the feeling of being on stage and forcing people to feel my words, how I want them to experience it. Now I take a great sense of pride in standing on stage and sharing these poems that tell the stories of my life, of my soul. InshaAllah it's making some type of difference.

I guess you could say, I found my way.

Performing for Project New
jeans via pacsun
shirt via ralph lauren
sweater via forever 21
bowtie via jcpenny's
hijab via gift

The lovely cast of Keeping the Dream

Opening scene

dress via forever 21
top via forever 21
bracelet via forever 21
necklace via agaci
earrings via forever 21
hijab via gift
pin via 100 Collegiate

Hijabi's Do It Best...

This video here just gave me life. I haven't really been motivated into getting super dressed up lately. It's been more about attempting to wear something clean. That is why you have not seen my beautiful face in so long. But I'm at the home stretch. 5 pm on Saturday, I'll officially be done with all my undergrad duties, with the exception of 2 grad school applications. Alhamdulillah, I cannot wait.

Watching this video really made me giddy inside. There are so many different styles and ideas that I have wanted to try, but I simply haven't. I think I have graduated from the bow tie phase of my life. They might make an appearance here or there, but they aren't going to be a staple in my wardrobe any more.

I love watching hijabi's do things that people don't expect of them. Just watch and see what I'm talking about. And thank you for creating this video. It really did just give me life this sad Monday morning before finals.

Man Of the Month: July

The first non-Nigerian to be featured so far (this is only by pure coincidence that all the rest have been Nigerian). The amazingly gorgeous Deon Harrell is a Senior Economics major at Texas Tech University, with a minor in  American Sign Language. He will be walking across the stage with me in December. The only sad thing about that is, he recently received a promotion and will be spending his last semester in his home town Dallas (Oak Cliff), Texas. I'm sad to see him go, but we have quite a few good memories together, dating all the way back to my freshman year of college. Staying up late, laughing hysterically over lunch, and always screaming each others name across campus when we see each other. But he is moving on to greatness. Take a look for yourself.


KA: Who is Deon?
DH: Deon is... how do you define yourself in one word? I am a very optimistic, and open minded individual. I'm goal orientated, hard working, stubborn... I do my best to stay level headed in any situation. I try to be relate-able.  I'm confident in who I am.
KA: You would have to be in order to interpret the amazing people you have. Is that what made you interested in ASL?
DH: No. My mom has a strong personality, and I couldn't imagine talking back to her. So my sister and I decided to learn sign language so we could talk to each other without her understanding what we were saying. Then I got really into it. I don't have any def people in my family.
KA: Who have you interpreted for?
DH: Keith Wann, Hill Harper, Taraji P. Henson, T.D. Jakes, and the National Alliance Of Black Interpreters. Less than 30% of all interpreters are black males.
KA: What do you see yourself doing in the next 5 years?
DH: I plan on finishing my MBA, traveling, and just making my way up in the company that I work for. I have been in the banking and financial services industry 4 years now, since I was 18. I recently earned a promotion with Well Fargo
KA: How would you describe you personal style? 
DH: If i had to describe it in one word: Professional. I am a brand. My uncle taught me that if you want to make $100, 000, you have to dress like you have $100,000. While I obviously don't have $100,000, I still want to represent myself and my brand well.
KA: Is there any special lady that you would spend that $100, 000 on, if you had it?
DH: Yes, there is. My beautiful, amazing girlfriend Abree. We've been dating for 4 years now. We both ran track in middle school, so we met in the 7th grade. I always had a crush on her. When I finally had the courage to ask her out, we went on a date 5 years later. I was just shy I guess. Sorry ladies...

Twitter: @kingdharrell
IG: kingdharrell
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