Closing This Chapter..

      Deep Sighs… I don’t even know where to begin without getting emotional as I write my final Reid Group blog. Struggling to hold  back tears as I sum up my experience in this post. This opportunity in New York was life changing. I can’t believe I have less than a week before I head back to Atlanta and prepare for my last year in school. I learned so much about myself within a two-month period; I’ve grown as person in such an unimaginable way.

      Working side by side as Ms. Reid’s assistant was definitely a challenge; she pushed me everyday to work harder, and to never take “No” as an answer. I will never forget my first task when the Reid Group and I arrived to the dorms; my duty was to find a copy machine. It was a Sunday, therefore Fed-Ex, Staples, and the Post Office closed early. I didn’t know what to do, so my reaction was to tell Ms. Reid that there was no way to make copies. She gave me this blank stare, and asked me, “What’s our institution’s motto?” and in sync we both replied, “I’ll find a way or make one.” From that moment, I knew that this internship had no room for excuses. Not only did this program give me the necessary skills to master the journalism world, but also a brand new mindset. I appreciate working non-stop for 8 weeks, it taught me how to value my time and to stay hungry for more. Being in this industry calls for early mornings and late nights, but if you want to be the best you have to stay a few steps ahead of your competition. 

      Watching Ms. Reid juggle many projects, from NY Live, Tom Joyner Morning Show: Inside Her Story, the Reid Group, and even her personal life, showed her impressive work ethic. Having her as a mentor enabled me to build a genuine relationship to where I could confide in her about any situation. Sitting in my room, reflecting on how I use to idolize her on BET Nightly News as a phenomenal journalist and now having an everlasting bond seems so surreal. I firmly believe the saying; “God works in mysterious ways” because being in this program was a blessing. I cannot thank Ms. Reid enough, for having faith in me and allowing me to have that extra spot in the program. Originally, the requirement is to have only 10 students to participate in this internship, but Ms. Reid saw my hunger and passion for the Reid Group.

      The Reid Group was more than just a group of students working together, but a true sisterhood. Of course we had our ups and downs, but the friendships created will be everlasting. Each lady had a uniqueness about her that brought that spark to this program; I couldn’t imagine sharing this experience with any other group of women. The memories will never be forgotten.

 

     
 

  

I could literally go on and on and write a book about my experiences in this program, but since it’s a blog I’ll keep it short (laughing out loud). I want to thank Terri Martin and Alesia Powell for supporting Ms. Reid throughout this entire program and helping decide which students could take part in. Also, to every speaker that volunteered their time to speak with the group, I appreciate you for inspiring us. I can’t forget my amazing writing coach, Chandra Lanier! You most certainly brought the best out of my writing skills and pushed me to improve daily (Your critiques never went unnoticed).

       Time to close this chapter in my life and flip to next page of new beginnings. Be on the lookout for the members of the Reid Group and what the future has in store for us. We are the next generation!!!!! 

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

What A Southern Girl Needs!

      I’m a southern girl at heart, so my non-stop craving for soul food tortured me since my arrival to NYC.

      Ms. Reid talked a great heap about Melba’s and how amazing her southern cuisines are, so I gave it a try earlier in the program and it was pretty good, but it didn’t satisfy my southern taste buds. I had a taste for smothered chicken, and my two favorite sides: candied yams and baked macaroni and cheese. Therefore, I was on a hunt to find NY’s best soul-food spot.

Photo Courtesy of Yelp

Photo Courtesy of Yelp

      With Internet being the source of everything, I easily Googled, “Good, Soul-food, Harlem, New York” and a few places popped up.  Amy Ruth’s, on 113 West 116 street, was number one on the list.  I clicked Yelp’s URL to look at the reviews and pictures, and instantly my mouth began to water. Everything looked so scrumptious, but what made it even better, was that 4 stars was their lowest review. After reading the online menu, I had a general idea of what I was going to order. A majority of their items are named after well-known African Americans figures, like the Rev. Al Sharpoton, which is their famous chicken and waffles, or the Nate Robinson’s BBQ Spare Ribs. I decided to get the honorable President Barak Obama, Smothered Chicken, and two sides. Making my way to Amy Ruth’s, I knew I was in for a treat because of the celebrity clientele they attracted, from singer Alicia Keys, WNBC meteorologist, Janice Huff, former U.S. Presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and even the late Correta Scott King.        

      As I walked into the small, uniquely designed restaurant, I noticed how crowded it was, which was an excellent sign because that meant the food must be really good. I stood in line for about 10 minutes before I placed my order. There were so many people of different ethnicties enjoying a good southern meal and from the looks on their plates I wasn’t disappointed. With a 30 minute wait, I realized that at Amy Ruth’s, their entrees were cooked to order. Finally, the hostess called my name to pick up my food. She opened the Styrofoam To-Go Box to confirm my order and everything looked so perfect. I couldn’t wait to dive into that box full of deliciousness. When I took my first bite, I literally felt like I was sitting at my grandma’s kitchen again. The flavors were so powerful. Without a doubt, Amy Ruth’s pleased my southern palette and I was one happy camper!

      Sadly, I have less than a week in NY, but if I had to choose one last meal before I leave, it would definitely be Amy Ruth’s! 

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

     

My Undiscovered Talent

       
        Last night was a dark and gloomy day so I decided to stay inside a use my creative imagination to fight boredom.

       I remember Sequoyah; another member of the Reid Group, asked me to give her a cosmetic, makeup tutorial. Even though I rarely wear makeup, but when it calls for a special occasion, you can call me MAC’s next makeup artist. I’m a beast with the beauty products because I have an eye for what looks good or not. In the 9^th grade my mother granted me the permission to start wearing makeup. Before I started applying it, I had to get a beauty lesson from her best friend Deanna Palmer, a Mary Kay beauty consultant. Palmer thought me the essential steps on how to use foundation, eyeliner, and eye shadow and lip ware. Every night I would practice in my living room bathroom until I perfected my skill and master the art of makeup.

       Grabbing my bag full of cosmetic goodies, I decided to test out my skills and give a couple makeovers to Sequoyah and Chivone. I just let the freedom of my fingers paint a canvas on their faces, no particular plan just freestyle. They each had two completely different looks, Sequoyah, a more dramatic evening-wear and Chivone, a very natural subtle day-wear. Very confident in my work, each lady looked so beautiful, the transformation was amazing. Unfortunately, it was raining and we had no plans to go anywhere and show off their new look. Instead we decided to put these gorgeous faces to use and have a mini photo shoot, and not tooting my on horn (*toot toot) but I have a great eye for photography too. The pictures were breathtaking; we spent hours posing for the camera. 

       Although, I really enjoyed being a temporary makeup artist for a night, discovering my expertise in makeup can possibly turn into a side talent. 

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

Overcoming My Phobia

      Since I was a young girl, I’ve always feared any animal with wings, especially pigeons. They’re just big and filthy birds, like a rat rings they’ll eat anything.

      On one of my days off, I discovered a beautiful park in Harlem, near 115^th street and Morningside. It was amazing to see tall trees, bright green grass, and a pond with a peaceful waterfall. Its crazy how in the midst of New York’s concrete jungle, nature seems to always make its present known. I felt like I was in a completely different world. There were so many animals from: dogs, turtles, fishes, ducks, gigantic geese, and the infamous pigeons. This was no longer a concrete jungle, but New York City’s Zoo.

      I felt a little uncomfortable, as pigeons were boldly flying over my head, and zooming past my face as if I were intruding in their territory. When the chaos became too much, I began to quickly run on the other side of the park. There were so many birds hovering over my space, and the most I ever came in contact in my entire life. My friend Brian from Texas, who came to visit his family in the Bronx, was also at the park. He seemed to be very relaxed with the mass of birds, while feeding them a loaf of stale bread that we found in the grass. It was amazing how he embraced nature and nature embraced him. Deep down, I wanted to give feeding the birds a try, so I grabbed me a small portion of bread and swallowed a big piece of courage. I slowly took baby steps, while throwing the bread if they were getting to close, not realizing that I was the one scaring them. So I calmed my nerves, walked back to the crowd of pigeons, and overcome my phobia by feeding the multitude of birds.

      I was finally one with nature and my terror of birds began to dwindle down. Not only was this a huge step for me, but a learning experience on courage, by conquering my fears.

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson

Surprise Subway Adventures

The unpleasant smells of urination and sweat from the humidity, as tons of people crowd to get on the subway.

      In NYC, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Subway is the most reliable transportation, taking you from borough to another. You will find a variety of people riding the train, from corporate employees, single mothers, students, and even interns. There is no discrimination in catching the subway, but finding a seat can seem almost impossible. Leaving the option to stand squished in between people or grab the germ infested poll. I personally hate the "poll" because so many rail users sneeze with their hands (especially children) and put that exact, infected hand back on the poll. So, instead I prefer to lean against the doors or struggle to keep my balance by not touching anything. Finally when there is an available seat, I instantly dive over the crowd making my way towards that direction. You have to be alert at all times because you never know when someone’s stop is located and there’s an open seat.

     Not only as a passenger, you have to be cautious of your surroundings, but also very watchful of the different scams you will encounter.  Its unbelievable the amount of people who come on the train making ridiculous announcements, begging for money.  They all start of by saying, “Excuse me… Excuse me… Can I please ask for your attention…” and a bizarre anecdote on why they need donations.  This week while riding the train, I came across three types of beggars: a single mother with a baby, holding a cardboard sign, a blind woman with a cup, and a homeless man. In the beginning, when I first started riding the train, I felt the sincerity until I saw the same single mother begging, but with a different child. I quickly picked up the con games and began to ignore them while keeping to myself.

     Riding the subway prepares anyone for the unexpected, there’s always an out of the ordinary experience before arriving to his or her destination. Kind of like the Forrest Gump analogy with a minor change of words, “The subway is like a box of chocolates you never know what encounters your gonna get.”

A Leap of Faith

If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.

--MOHANDAS GANDHI              
   
    Pacing back and forth, hyperinflation as I breathed heavily, my eyes were now filled with tears; yesterday was a true test of my faith. 

   Being in New York, I’ve experienced financial struggles, and difficulties enrolling in school. With these heavy burdens, focusing in this internship was a little bit of a challenge, but I continued to keep the faith as my motivation to preserve.  However, the worst was yet to come when milk spilled across my MacBook keypad. Slowly, the milk trailed across my keys as if it was torturing me. There was no way to clean it before it seeped right through my escape key. My laptop screen faded to black and it completely shutdown as my entire body began to shutdown too. The feeling of anxiety ran through my veins, there were so many uncontrollable emotions from rage, to sadness, and depression. I just couldn’t take life challenges anymore; if it wasn’t one thing already it was another. At this point, I wanted to throw the towel in and just go back home.

      Fortunately, my suite-mate Destinee came to the rescue as she calmed my emotions down and guided me through the correct steps on solving this problem. We called Apple Support Care, and after countless trials of troubleshooting, nothing seemed to work. The technician suggested that I go to the Apple Store immediately, while quoting an extreme price between $200-$755 for this repair. I knew I couldn’t afford the laptop fixtures, but something deep down inside of me could afford to take a leap out on faith. We rushed through the doors of Apple and headed straight to the Geniuses Bar for my 11:00 a.m. appointment. My laptop specialist was Christopher Kerry; his determination to fix my MacBook gave me a sense of assurance that everything will work out. After two hours passed, a light blue screen with an apple logo appeared on my screen. I was overwhelmed with joy as my laptop started rebooted itself. Kerry gave me the authorization form for the repair and the balance read $0.oo.            This was a true act from God and an example of how he blesses us, despite the obstacles we endure. Just continue to trust in his word because it says, "He would never forsake us."

✌ ❤☺-Demeshia Jackson