The Life of a Screenwriter
As one myself, I’m always open to writers of all kinds having a spot on my show. In fact, my first episode was with a screenwriter and director. So yeah, writing has a special place in my heart. Often, I look back on what it means to be a screenwriter and I look at some of my guests.
Episode 39’s Rudy Salas explained the importance of keeping the audience engaged from the beginning. “The second that you don’t answer their questions right after the intro scene, you lose them because now they don’t know what’s going on.” Rudy knows when he has their attention, he has to keep it. Which is why he relies on devices like foreshadowing to carry the plot forward. People are typically not going to watch something they don’t fully understand.
Episode 27’s Adrion Trujillo recognizes how valuable criticism can be. “I feel like criticism is a skill.” Criticism opens the door for growth and insight for a writer. When you criticize one, you must first understand what they are going for, hence why Trujillo emphasized the need for empathy in a critic. “Put yourself in the mind of a writer,” he says. Criticism without empathy becomes basically bullying. Too many people look for any opportunity to bash the writer without even trying to put themselves in the latter’s shoes. Such behavior is counterproductive and does little to help either party.
Episode 1’s Ezekiel Clare found the influence of outside surroundings. When Clare was still a student at Purchase during the Pandemic, they found themselves falling in love with the campus after a considerable time in isolation. The realization of how something can make you feel a certain way without even really trying is what inspire their film, “Sow A Little Tenderness”. It’s true, art imitates life and the experiences you have in life can bring out the best fictional ideas.
When looking at the life of a screenwriter, it can be really rewarding, but at the same time it’s a super arduous journey. No true reward is guaranteed for your hard work, and everyone wants to be the next Aaron Sorkin or Shonda Rhimes. However, we writers are a bit of a lost cause. We know the risks and likelihood of success, and we keep pushing anyway.
Do You Want to Peak?
I’ve been thinking about how celebrities reach a certain point that years later, people will call the height of their career. They’ll have all the fame, endorsements, assets, and fortune they ever wanted. It’s that moment where they’re on TV and the radio, people are asking for autographs and getting photos with them, the president wants to meet them.
Then, that person’s either not as famous or not famous at all.
I wondered what it felt like to have all of that momentum make such a hard stop. The only I can assume it feeling is like being pumped with adrenaline. Once you’ve had enough juice flowing, it’s like you could do anything anywhere, then just as you take the first step forward, you trip and fall. It’s gotta be surprising, or even embarrassing, but what about those who saw it coming?
When planning out your career, it depends on where you want to be that determines if you have a peak or not. Like, if you wanted to work from intern to CEO of your dream company, that’s a peak. If you want to continue to grow as an artist or intellectual, then there’s no peak. There’s just consistent growth.
I remember asking Episode 15’s Amogh Thacker what he saw as his peak career-wise and he told me that he didn’t want one. He just wanted to keep moving forward as a filmmaker and science guy. It wasn’t about the destination, but the journey. Of course, he speaks for himself, but there’s many others who feel the same way.
Me personally, as a writer, I don’t want a peak. I want to write and do my podcast; nothing more, nothing less. I want to keep going in this direction because it’s fulfilling. When you have a peak, it hurts less when you know you’re reaching it. Now, here’s an interesting question: Once you found you hit your peak, where do you want to go from there?
The Life of a Doctor
I’m going way back when I look at this post, but I wanted people to understand what lies ahead if they’re trying to be a doctor. Healthcare is one of the most popular industries to work in, and so many are applying for med school. Where they end up is their choice, but if it’s for the role of doctor or nurse, I wanted to take a throwback to my episode 10 guest, Aivan Kaikoz.
It was back in 2022, on a rainy day when I interviewed him. He was gracious enough to take the time to speak with me about his experience as a med student and the rigorous life that being a doctor would bring. From his account, there are two things to always have.
Good communication. Always keep your staff up to date on what medicines, procedures, or conditions are at hand or needed, without missing a single detail. There’s been doctors and nurses who weren’t told the smallest thing and they had disastrous consequences. This job is complicated and unforgiving. Always keep everyone updated and knowledgeable.
Good leadership and social skills. Saving someone’s life is a team effort. There’s always more than one surgeon to perform a transplant, and more than one scientist to manufacture a new prescription. How you work with your staff is extremely important. You want to be able to know you can trust them and they can trust you, otherwise conflict will interfere with your work.
In medical school, you’re not just learning how to save a life, you’re also learning to accept the costs of being in such an important role. Being a doctor means hours and hours of time working. Missing holidays, birthdays, family reunions, all so someone can enjoy that with their family. Sure, the gratitude from them and their families is nice, but you can’t help but think, “What about my family?” You’re making a large sacrifice, and it matters if that sacrifice is worth it to you.
Another thing is because the job is so time demanding and exhausting, any chance you have to breathe is necessary. Aivan mentioned that he and other students would take time to go for walks, jogs, or just exercise in general. Fitness allows them to occupy their bodies while they take their minds off the work at hand.
With all of this in mind, Aivan didn’t regret a thing and would continue to go down this path, so he could save someone’s life, and I have nothing but respect for that. What do you think is something to be aware of before becoming a doctor?
Two years of the UPcoming
So, it’s been two years since I founded the UPcoming. Since then, I have had an interesting new roster of guests. From activists to screenwriters, to entrepreneurs, it’s been another crazy ride. Still, I’m happy that my guests came on and I support their journeys. It’s not easy, but it’s possible and that’s what matters.
So, as I look back on the path I’m on as a podcast host, I can’t help but think about how things have evolved since I started.
New ways to spread the word:
I’ve started doing an interview series called “Random Interviews with the UPcoming”. I found town events, markets, and local pop-ups where I interviewed typically small business owners, and learned about why they enjoyed doing what they did and what the most important thing about being a business owner was. I have also joined networking events, clubs, and worked jobs where I could let people know about the UPcoming.
Exciting new guests to check out.
I’ve had the honor of interviewing people like Randy Rawlings, Founder and CEO of AI-powered company Aneu, Monday, Singer and Songwriter, and Maxwell Pearce, Harlem Globetrotter and accomplished artist. As time goes on, I hear even more incredible life stories that let me know this is a podcast worth hosting.
New collaborations.
I’ve recently appeared on the Chik Chatting Show with the exceptional Alejandra A. Carr (no relation), and me and my episode 40 guest, Randy Rawlings had our collab episode, titled “Aneu Approach with the UPcoming”. It was a lot of fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to have Randy on my show again. Please support him and check out his podcast Aneu Approach. I plan to be on more podcasts very soon.
The UPcoming website.
Building this website is only the start. I have so much further to go, but I’m even more excited for what’s to come.
Welp, look forward to telling you about my next guest. Stay tuned for the next episode of the UPcoming, the perfect place to catch the best and brightest on their way to the top.
Getting Up Early
In the past, I was not a morning person. At all. I stayed up until 1 and slept until 10 am. Most of my morning was gone at that point. There was a lot I was missing out on just by not getting up earlier. I guess I’ve always been a night owl, and as a writer, I get some of my best ideas at night. Unfortunately, I end up going to sleep before I can implement them. So, being a night owl is really working for me, is it?
In any case, I learned that some of the most successful people are morning people. They go to be early so that they can get up at like 4 or 5 AM, which sounds crazy, but when you think about it, they’re doing that just so they have more of their day to begin whatever it is they need to do. It’s all part of their morning routine. That’s another thing. Some of the most successful people in the world have habits. Good habits too. Whether it’s waking up and going to exercise, or reading a book for an hour, they’re doing something that benefits them mentally and/or physically.
I thought about that and stopped waking up at 10. I started setting my alarm for 5 am. It’s how I get more time into my day. It’s also how I can practice keeping myself awake, because let me be honest, it’s hard to stay awake when you’re used to being asleep. I often found myself falling back asleep. Still, when I did succeed. I felt even better, because now I could be more productive.
What time do you get up? How has it affected your progress? Are you a night owl or an early bird? These questions are important to determining how you spend your days. Remember, a steady sleep schedule can go a long way.
What Does Motivation Look Like?
Motivation is what creates billionaires and global changemakers. A lack of motivation creates— nothingness. There’s motivation to be found in almost everything we do, from cooking to starting a business. I’m motivated now to write this blog. Why? Because I want to talk about this.
I wonder, how often have you suffered from a lack of motivation. I have just yesterday. I work two jobs. I was on a business trip all weekend for one, then I had to come in on Monday, then work the second job a few hours after. Tuesday, I was wiped. I didn’t want to do anything but sleep. Still, I got some things done, so that felt good.
Aside from that, lemme ask you: What do you want to do? Like, really want to do? Now, what are you feeling right now? Are you motivated to do it? Or are you someone who is not so sure what you want to do? Life provokes a lot of questions, doesn’t it? Still, what I have to tell you is feelings will always be heard before facts. That’s just how we are. What matters is when you challenge those feelings.
When I was tired and didn’t want to do anything, yet I wrote another ten pages of a screenplay because I’m motivated to make that a legit film one day, and that felt good. Just getting out of the house felt good. Now, I’m not saying you should ignore your body when it’s telling you to rest or to take it easy. Don’t work yourself to death. I slept through most of the morning, but what did I do after that? I did something to break that growing lethargy.
Entrepreneurs, influencers, or athletes will brag about their work ethic, about getting up at 4 in the morning, or working 100 hours a week, or answering the phone at 3 AM on a Sunday. I’m sure there’s plenty of days they don’t want to do those things but they do it anyway, because their motivation to succeed acts for them.
You have something that motivates you, whether it’s getting out of a bad financial situation, earning respect from your peers, or becoming the best at what you do, never let yourself fall off because you didn’t feel like getting up. You can feel tired, and you certainly need to sleep, but when you get up afterwards and get back to work, that’s what motivation looks like.
Throwback Recap: Episode 6
Emma Elizabeth Steen. A name that everyone must recognize. That is the name of a woman who pushed through to become an incredible singer/songwriter of the band “Prophet’s Guild”. When I first interviewed her, I had to admit I was impressed. She showed the resilience, dedication, and talent in her craft that brought her a long way. That said, Episode 6, I feel, is an underrated gem amongst my roster.
My favorite part of the interview was when I asked her about a low she was grateful for. It started when Emma was at Purchase College. She’d gotten into the school for theater but felt out of place in that field, and instead found her true passion in music. Therefore, she decided to apply for the music conservatory. Spending her entire paycheck from a job she had for the audition, she wrote her music, recorded her demo, and sent it to the conservatory.
After patiently waiting for some time, the head of the conservatory finally told her the worst possible news: “I’m sorry, no one even got it. We had so many applications.” She applied too late for her demo to be heard. Needless to say, that was a crushing blow, but not crushing enough for Emma. She went back and asked about the next deadline. After two more rounds of auditions, she finally got in. “I think if I hadn’t’ been rejected so hard after so much work, and then bounced back, I wouldn’t have known music was for me.” Her passion gave the strength to keep moving forward.
I asked this one question that every artist should think about. “Music is always changing, and change is unpredictable… What do you want the changes to be?” In her opinion, the evolution of music technology has made production and recording even easier, and this offers an opportunity to make music more collaborative. Technology has brought more people together through outside platforms, like social media. Why wouldn’t people want to connect through collaboration? Music is what brings people together after all.
There’s so much to unpack in the interview with Emma Steen, but I want to end on this: anything she wants to do, she’s proven she can accomplish. Emma, if you’re reading this, keep doing your thing with Prophet’s Guild, and always take lows in stride.
Throwback Recap: Episode 5
It was a warm summer day in 2022. New York City was just as lively as it’s ever been, and another guest had come on for the UPcoming. That day, I had the pleasure of doing an in-person interview. I usually do them virtually, so the audio quality was much clearer this time. It was on this day that I got the chance to interview a fellow Purchase kid, MisaLove Smith. The daughter of a singer, she’d seen multiple countries and gotten a taste of the entertainment world, and how she knew she wanted to work in that industry herself.
Going into her background, her biggest pivot to the acting world was in 6th grade when she joined the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. She called her role of Titania “eye-opening”. Truly, this moment of seeing firsthand what acting looks like spoke to MisaLove. That this was where she could let her imagination and inner passions go wild as she blends into the person she is portraying.
Within the entertainment industry, MisaLove has many aspirations; one of them was becoming a filmmaker. She wanted to create a story that would truly young dark-skinned girls like her. “I wish, growing up, that there was a black girl coming-of-age movie.” There are not many of those well-known to the public. Most people would look at “Precious” or “The Hate You Give” when they think of such films. However, as powerful as they are, narratively and thematically, those same movies can depict black girls, and the community as a whole, in a negative light. MisaLove wants to shed a more positive one.
When talking about how community has played a role in her life, I asked her what community was to her. She simply said, “Community is everything.” She always wants to find support and empowerment from the people she surrounds herself with, and what better place than Purchase College. Like me, she found her community rather quickly. She enjoys the different clubs Purchase has, especially for black students, the parties, the social events, everything that lets her know that she’s not alone. It is true, community is everything and must be always be valued.
MisaLove is someone that I can’t wait to see thrive, and one you can expect to see in theaters or broadway soon. Someday, she’ll even be directing films, surpassing Ava Duvernay or Julie Dash. The possibilities are endless.
Throwback recap: Episode 4
Back when I first started doing episodes of the UPcoming, I was recording them from a dorm room at Fordham School of Law in Manhattan, New York. Still, it gave me memories I could never forget. One of them was interviewing one of my closest friends, Harrison “Harry” Shaw, in episode 4. Some background, Harry’s from Westminster, California, an aspiring novelist, like me, and a big history buff, and we talked about both in the episode.
As a writer, the story he’s writing is something he’s been writing and rewriting to perfection for a long time, and I know the pain and necessity of scratching out every word to put in a new one. We talked about our lives as writers and it was amazing how similar we were in getting ideas. Listening to him, I’ve come to consider writers a lost cause; we know we might never get the revenue we want, or any at all despite our years of hard work, and we write anyway. Maybe that’s the blessing, and curse, of having a dream.
In any case, we moved on Harry’s time studying history. I asked him why he found history so intriguing. “If you wanna see something stranger than fiction, look at history… It actually happened in all of the good, the bad, and the ugliness of it all.” Historical times and events have been what inspired fiction. People in the Cold War, Segregation, or Holocaust eras took everything they’d seen and experienced and tied them into themes for stories. It’s why we have the classic saying, “art imitates life”.
Sitting with Harry was fun in talking about the joy and pain of being writers, but also just hearing more about him, some things I didn’t know. No matter how long you might know a friend, you’ll never know everything, and I definitely learned something. Also, as creatives, it’s imperative that we meet more fellow creatives, because then inspirations and ideas come together, and our work gets stronger than staying isolated.
Living Up to Your Legacy
What do you want people to remember when you’re gone? As host of the UPcoming, I hope it’s remembered as a place where people from all walks of life, and from all backgrounds could freely tell their story and where they want to be in life, knowing that they don’t need to be a celebrity for someone to care. As for me, I just want to be seen as the guy who gave them that platform. A guy who was willing to hear it all and share it with the world. That’s the desired legacy of the UPcoming, but what do others want it to be?
I was going back on my earlier episodes and the thought of a legacy is an interesting one. With all the celebrity and political scandals going around these days, a lot of legacies are tarnished. Hopefully none of my guests ever experience this, but I thought it would be important to look at what they want their legacies to be in the first place.
One guest that came to mind was Fatou Diouf of episode 37. When I asked her what she wanted to be remembered as, she kept it simple, “I want people to remember me for someone who is kind, for being someone who is supportive of other people, of other artists, for someone who is hardworking, someone who knows her worth…” She wants to be remembered as someone who compassionate, hardworking, diligent, and all around respectable; everything she is right now. Originally, she based her worth off her accolades and achievements, but she realized what really mattered was how others knew her to be.
It’s easy to respect people who win Grammys or Oscars, or Pulitzers, but we don’t really know those people. That’s why when news about people like Diddy comes to light that show their darker side, we’re so shocked because it doesn’t seem like someone who could gain so much respect and adoration could do something appalling. The ones who do know about people like Diddy aren’t surprised, because they’ve seen that side to him. In Fatou’s career, will anyone come out and reveal negative things about her? As someone who knows her, I think (and hope) not.
What about you? What do you want your legacy to look like? How do you want to be remembered? If you don’t want it to be remembered as a jerk or difficult to be around, then it’s simple: don’t be a jerk or difficult to be around. If you have to work on that, then start today. The sooner you master your social skills, the better. And never let people see the nastier side to you, because even if you forget, they’ll remember it. A legacy is suprisingly fragile, and must be maintained always. Right now, you’re working on your legacy without even realizing it, so ask yourself, “What do I want it to look like down the line?”
Why Competing with Yourself is Better
For a lot of my guests on the UPcoming, they’re aiming for extremely coveted positions. For guests like Yancy Abril or EvelynRoze of episodes 21 and 55 respectively, it’s becoming successful singers and winning Grammys. For people like Jason Armstrong of episode 29, it’s becoming a pro athlete. Wherever you’re working towards, someone wants the same spot as you, so that’s where competition comes in. You’re battling against people with equal or higher work ethics, less or more connections, or perhaps more creativity in their approaches. Regardless, when you’ve taken the top spot, you’ve shown your competition that they can’t beat you. You’ve made it, and that’s a good feeling.
The question: When is it competing with yourself more than competing with yourself?
When I look at Yancy Abril, she sees no need for competition at all, which she’s openly stated. “There’s so much space for us in this industry. There’s no need to be in competition with anybody else.” It’s when she’s on stage, she’s focused on her own performance, how she did in the moment. That showed itself best when she appeared on the Voice Dominicana. Despite singing her heart out, and giving her best performance, she would still be frustrated with herself after the time’s up. Even when her performance is good, she wants to do better. She wants to surpass her previous self every time.
The same thing goes for Jason. Sports is as competitive as it gets. Jason understands the enormous pressure on him and his team to win. The opposite team is gonna bring everything they’ve got, so he has to build teamwork. “I like to start with being positive. You can’t be negative, or dwell on the play… You gotta make sure your team is all on the same page.” When the team is distracted by individual conflicts, everyone fumbles, and the game is already over. There has to be mutual understanding and camaraderie. Moreover, Jason avoids arrogance and tries to maintain good sportsmanship. “Because I know I could’ve did better.” He says.
For EvelynRoze, competition rears its ugly head. Evelyn is already on her way to success and fortune through her music and with her band, the Thornz. In this competitive field of music, people take competition so seriously that they lose sight of themselves and show a nastier side than they even realize. “As someone that’s worked not only as a performer but a manager, I’ve seen the most horrific musicianship ever.” She’s seen artists tear each other apart on social media and even in person, on stage. “What’re you doing?” She exclaims, “We’re all in this field together… It only shows that you feel threatened by them at the end of the day.” Feuds, especially amongst celebrities have been going on, and will go on, forever. It’s when someone brushes past the pettiness and cruelty of negative competition that they can realize their full potential, instead of giving in to the hatred.
Overall, my guests have done pretty well for themselves. Competition is fierce, but when you stay humble and work hard, you can achieve great things, even greater than everyone else.
Londyn Miller: Why Mental Health Awareness Matters
May is the month of mental health awareness, and looking back at my roster of episodes, I’ve talked to quite a few people on the matter. One such example is episode 20 guest, Londyn Miller. Londyn reached out to me to be a guest on the UPcoming. After looking into her, I quickly obliged. Londyn had a lot of promise, and devotion to her craft, making her a great addition to the podcast. When we got to talking, I learned about her experience with mental illness, and how it’s brought her where she is.
Before Londyn got diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, she didn’t see the signs early, because she was never taught about it. “I think when you’re younger, no one really talks to you about that stuff.” The lack of conversation about mental illness made her suffer from it for longer than she should have before getting help. There are multiple reasons why mental illness is not talked about as much:
The lack of attention. Lauren Jett of Harvard Medical School Journal wrote “mental disorders are treated as acute, episodic ailments instead of chronic illnesses.” There’s not enough urgency to bring mental illness symptoms to light in patients until something crazy happens. Because Londyn had anxiety, it was easy for people to write it off as just a phase.
Some victims are afraid to come out. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute reveals “The prevalence of stigma and discrimination toward people with mental illness makes it difficult to have a transparent conversation about how we feel.” For reasons like the one above, many people who have mental illness do not talk about it at all, in fear of being ignored or chastised. So, victims simply try to swallow it in and continue on with life, which is as unhealthy for others as it is for them.
Some attention brings more harm than good. Many mentally ill people have taken in for crimes like assault or harassment. This is brought to the media’s attention who might cause unwelcome stereotypes or misconceptions. Movies like Joker or Split don’t help either. In reality, many mentally ill have varying disorders, and the ones considered dangerous do not represent everyone. In fact, someone you know is probably unwell (i.e. depression or anxiety) but they never talked about it. You’re much more likely to listen to them than someone on the street, so it’s ok to let them know that they can talk about it.
If we’re going to decrease the severity of mental illness, we have to first act with empathy and urgency. This is a serious matter and must be treated as such, so youth like Londyn don’t have to find out about their problems so late down the line. Moreover, when they do find out, they should feel free to talk about it. We’re at the day and age where mental health is encouraged and advocated for. Less depression means less suicides, mood swings, damaged relationships, and so much more.
Take Time to Enjoy
As a podcast host interviewing people on their way to their dreams, I meet nothing but hard workers and dedicated dreamers trying to be their best selves. A lot of these people are my friends or people I went to school with, so I’ve seen them outside of their jobs. They’re some of the most fun and exciting people you’ll meet, and it’s reminded me of a classic motto, “Work hard, play hard.” Everyone has to work if they want something, but what happens when you work too long and too hard at once. Burnout is the right answer. It’s real, and it does way more harm than good.
It’s important that every professional takes some downtime to replenish and focus on their own wellbeing. No one’s of any use if they’re dragging themselves to work. That’s where vacations or off days come in. So, what do you do when you have those days? Well, first savor every moment. This is a chance for you to not have to think about your job or business. You’re still a person with your own likes and hobbies. So, whether you prefer seeing family or even being alone, spend it well.
Secondly, take the time to enjoy what you have now. Your friends, family, pets, or I don’t know, that old car you still have. You still have them after all this time, and so many rejections, failures, and setbacks. There’s something you still have and this is the time to appreciate that, because nothing lasts forever. So, whether it’s hanging out with your friends, going to family gatherings, or taking your dog to the park, it helps free you from the stress of your job.
Look at all the things that give you peace of mind. If you’re a spiritual person, it’s praying or reading scripture, or meditating. If you’re a creative, maybe it’s painting, writing, playing instruments, or making collages. If you’re materialistic, maybe it’s shopping. The point is, whatever kind of person you are, these moments prepare you even more for job you’ll have to get back to.
We can’t afford to let ourselves fall backwards because we couldn’t put our papers down and say “I need to breathe.” That’s where people fall into a trap. The hardest worker I know are also some of the most fun people to be around, because they understand that they’re not robots. They need this time for themselves, and so do you.
Failure is More Necessary
I’ve been proudly interviewing people of different backgrounds and career goals for almost two years now. During this time, I’ve ask a lot of them the same question: What is a low you’re most grateful for? Everyone knows failure comes in your goals. Everything doesn’t work out. For a time, it’ll seem like nothing’s working out. Still, those who don’t give up are the ones who succeed. Such is the case for my guests. For them, failures can be inspiring who enlightening. It helps them learn something about themselves, or about the path they’re walking. It strengthens them, gives them resolve. In a sense, they wouldn’t be where they are today if not for that failure.
My episode 49 guest, Jahleel Hills, described his failure and what he learned from it. As a child, he was a part of his church’s band playing drum and snare. However, he did not get enough practice, “I was playing drums at an event, and it was not good.” He told me. The experience left him so disheartened that he didn’t want to play drums anymore, so he went to his then musical director, and told her that. “She said, ‘hey do you love playing drums?’” When he confirmed, she told him something he couldn’t forget. “She said, ‘Well don’t let this one little thing make you feel down. You love playing drums. Keep going.” If you love what you do, don’t allow failure to make you hate it. Also, never stop practicing your craft. (I love writing, so this blog is great practice.)
A moment when your pushed down, or your momentum is brought to a crashing halt can be devastating, but it’s imperative you find the will or means to move forward again. That was what my episode 6 guest Emma Steen did. While at Purchase College, she wanted to switch from theater to the music conservatory. So, she spent hours recording her demo, making every second the best she could, filled out her application, and waited patiently for results. Deadline passes, and she went to the head of conservatory and asks about her application, where she received the worst possible news. “Eventually she said, ‘I’m sorry. No one even looked at it because we had so many applications. You just applied too late.” Emma went back to her dorm room, and sat there, so in shock she “couldn’t even cry.” Still, she snapped out of it and, with stronger resolve, asked when the next deadline was. With another application at an earlier time, she made it in.
There are so many other ways to fail, but so many other ways to come back from it. I’ve just named a few. Even so, when you learn how to accept your failure and keep practicing what you love, or look for another way to reach your goal, you’re much more likely to succeed than someone who did neither. The ones who don’t get back up from failure are the ones who cannot move forward. Move forward always.
EvelynRoze: From Bullied Outcast to Local Star
Singer-songwriter, EvelynRoze has lived a life that can only be described as commendable. As a child, she discovered her love for singing and music had dreams of becoming a musical artist, something that would make her the butt of awful jokes and ridicule by her own classmates. There was little compassion in Evelyn’s social life at school. Regardless, she never gave up her dreams and practiced until she was ready to release her debut single, “Intellect Overdrive”. This was just the beginning in Evelyn’s career, and it only gets better from here. So, for the month of May, a time of mental-health awareness, let’s look into this star.
Troubled Past
EvelynRoze was picked on viciously by her classmates, who would go out of their way to mock her ambitions. She noted that at one point, the principal had to fish her notebook out of the toilet, and that’s not even the worst part. “They would play my singing covers.” Evelyn told me, “They’d actually listen to my music, then make parodies of the lyrics where the lyrics were making fun of me.” Things like this are why we have suicide prevention lines. It’s more telling that despite this torment, Evelyn found empathy for her bullies. “I had to remind myself that these people are obviously unhappy with themselves.” Despite the harsh treatment, she kept going in her dreams.
Forming the Thornz and Growing as an artist
Evelyn’s first member was her lead guitarist, then later expanding the group after her first Worchester Music Award win. She soon found her drummer, and her rhythm guitarist. While members have left, that is normal amongst bands. Since working with them, Evelyn has been consistently inspired by the group and they all work very well together. “They always have great ideas and we’re not constantly ripping each other’s heads off.” Working with a band can be complicated, considering all the things associated with music, namely profits, licensing, and ownership, but Evelyn looks at it optimistically.
Evelyn has stated that the more she grows as a person, the better she becomes as a songwriter. She originally wrote songs as sort of payback to everyone who insulted her, but now it’s taken a much more positive approach. “(I’m) now more just like writing about healing and stuff like that.” Her bullies have done a lot to her. She even still gets hate comments today, but she’s using that hate to cultivate her image as a confident, respectable woman.
Mental Health Protection
Evelyn has become a recognized figure on TikTok, using her platform to advocate for mental health and be there for people who have similar experiences. “It did expose me to a lot of negative stigmas on the internet… and it’s given me a chance to speak up about that.” Along with that, she has a lot of hobbies that give her a chance to breathe. “I write, write, write, write… I don’t only have music. I write scripts… one of my biggest dreams is to direct my own music videos.” She is also spiritual, describing herself as “very Zen”. Adding to this, she likes to spend time with her family, especially her grandmother, who she has described as her biggest guide throughout life. “I’ve always gone to her for a lot of things, she’s definitely helped.”
So, all this said, it’s clear Evelyn’s bullies were wrong about her. She took all that teasing and torment and molded it into something powerful, and as of now, she’s been signed onto her first label. Evelyn has come a long way, and one day, we’ll all be reading her autobiography.
Dr. George Ackerman: Honoring a Mother’s Memory
Today 5/12/2024 is Mother’s Day. A day honoring the women who have put in the time, effort, and sacrifices for their families. A mother is something everyone deserves, and those who can enjoy today with theirs have an amazing privilege. A privilege many others don’t, and such person is Dr. George Ackerman. His mother, Sharon Ackerman, was his best friend and biggest inspiration, and once she passed away from Parkinson’s Disease, he dedicated the rest of his life to fighting against it. He started his website “Together For Sharon” and since then has been making great strides in his advocate journey. Prior to this life, he was a police officer, attorney, and now a professor in criminal justice. In that regard, he’s been fighting to save people his entire life.
Being an advocate
After Together For Sharon was created, Dr. Ackerman has interviewed hundreds of people from numerous countries on their experience with Parkinson’s. Their accounts let him know the obvious, “Parkinson’s doesn’t discriminate.” Still, Dr. Ackerman let them know their voices were heard, and with this information, he would add it to his website to spread awareness of the disease. Adding on to this, he’s partnered with organizations including the Michael J. Fox Foundation, having even met the legendary actor, has attended unity walks, and even been on podcasts. One thing he always wants to let people when he’s on the platforms, “You’re never alone.” He fully understands the pain millions around the world are going through because of this disease, and doesn’t want it to happen to someone else.
The research of Parkinson’s
For those who don’t know. Parkinson’s Disease is one of the fastest growing neurological diseases in the world. Estimated 1 million in the US and 10 million around the world are affected by it. Notable examples include Michael J. Fox himself, and legendary rock singer, Ozzy Osbourne. It’s a progressive movement disorder, meaning when your brain’s wants to move your arm, your body acts differently. Parkinson’s also leads to a lot of stiffness in your body, hindering movements. Over time you grow more a more disabled, even losing the ability to walk. “Experts say, you die from the disease, you die with it.” Dr. Ackerman’s mother went from being able to walk on her own, to being bedridden in just a few years. The worst thing about Parkinson’s: it can’t be cured.
Life in Criminal Justice
As mentioned, Dr. Ackerman started out as a police officer. He wanted the opportunity to support victims of crimes or their families but found the job to tougher than he would have liked because it was so time-demanding. “I wanted to stay with a victim and the family, and you can’t, you have another call to keep going.” Everywhere in every city, a crime is taking place, so he found he always had to be on his toes. Hence, he moved to law as he’d taken a liking to prosecution. In both places, he found two important traits that he urged his students to master: time management and attention to detail. There are people in prison who are completely innocent, and criminals who’ve gotten off scot-free because an officer or attorney missed a small detail. The field of forensics is incredibly pressurizing and unforgiving. That said, anyone who wants to be that field must understand fully what they’re getting into ahead of time, so they are not making simple mistakes that can cost them severely.
Sharon
Sharon Ackerman, as Dr. Ackerman described her, was a strong and inspiring woman. Her love for her family was something he could never forget about her and pushed him to ensure her memory was never forgotten. Even after catching Parkinson’s, she lived life as independently as possible, not telling her family for a long time, until finally she couldn’t. Dr. Ackerman couldn’t help but remember the sacrifices she made to raise him and his brother, and just hearing how much she meant to him was inspiring enough. Together For Sharon’s Website is full of photos with Dr. Ackerman and his mother, highlighting the power of familial love.
Dr. Ackerman’s journey is an honorable, and respectable one. I wish him nothing but success in this journey. People find his website, Togetherforsharon.com. There’s plenty of organizations on the site that you can donate to, and legislation that you can call your senator to push for. Parkinson’s must die.
Ivin Huggan: The New Face of Haircuts
Episode 2 guest, Ivin Huggan, was someone I couldn’t wait to have on the UPcoming. An ambitious and idealistic entrepreneur, Ivin has risen through trial and error to found CutNet, an app designed to bring the barbershop to you, instead of you to them. Convenient and time effective. He’s been working on it for as long as I’ve known him, and before he officially launched it, I had the pleasure of talking with him about CutNet and his life prior.
Who is Ivin Huggan?
Ivin is someone who in his words “is not afraid to keep learning and try to change the world and see how (he) can contribute to the world”. He’s consistently focused on building his business and expanding his assets, not just looking to benefit society but also achieve financial freedom. He’s a hard worker, even admitting that he can never stop working, which is a great trait as a businessman. It also blends perfectly with his creativity. Ivin’s always looking for fresh new ideas, so when the moment arises, he can act on them. Some of his biggest inspirations have been Elon Musk and Bill Gates, people who have elevated themselves to the top and changed the world in major ways. That’s a level Ivin wants to be in.
What is CutNet?
A new approach to haircuts, CutNet gives people the ability to have barbers or stylists drive to them instead of the other way around. It was Ivin’s solution when he got his haircut done in his home, by a friend. “That’s when I thought, ‘Why is this not mainstream?’” Everyone has deliveries for food, clothes, but not for haircuts. This was an opportunity for Ivin to be a leader in mobile haircut services. It was going to be a difficult and risky endeavor, as with any business, but Ivin simply said “why not?” Thus, he would spend day after day forming his 45-page business plan and pulling together all the resources, people, and strategies needed to create CutNet.
A Myth in Starting a Business
No one starts a business and gets rich overnight. Every founder will face numerous twists and turns and may fail more times than they succeed. Business is a matter of patience and determination. Even when losing competitions or failing to reach goals, Ivin never stopped believing that CutNet would go international one day. He wants to see his vision completed, and will keep pushing until it is. But that means he has to use grassroot methods. Even the smallest way to spread awareness is valuable to Ivin. Another myth is including your friends or family will benefit the business. There can easily be arguments on where the money goes or who does what and it can not only damage your relationship with that person, but also hinder the business itself. If you’re going to have a co-founder, you must pick one that you know you can agree with and ensure that if there are conflicts, they don’t interfere with the company.
Biggest Words That Moved Ivin
When he lost his first shark tank competition, one of the judges actually pulled him aside. She told him, “I don’t believe your business will stop at national. I believe it will stop at international.” That kind of encouragement pushed Ivin just move forward. When even one person amongst the masses says “You can do it”, it can be all the motivation needed. The next was from someone Ivin listed as one of his biggest inspirations, a businessman named Daniel Pena. His motto: “Just F**king do it.” Those were words that moved Ivin. He could’ve spent his days imagining what CutNet would look like but thought alone wasn’t going to cut it. Got an idea? Take action.
I look forward to seeing Ivin become an international icon in business.
Maxwell Pearce: Journey of a Globetrotter
Maxwell Pearce is how dictionaries define excellent. Born and raised in Tuckahoe, New York, the man has been on a journey towards success. With sports and art being his two biggest passions, he applied them into both school and his professional life. On top of these passions, he’s a businessman, who founded Flynance: dedicated to providing resources and information to young athletes trying to build a career. Through my collaboration with Randy Rawlings of Aneu Approach, we broke down his process and achievements to see how he became the man that he is.
Balancing Multiple Passions:
“I think the best foundation that somebody could have is to expose yourself to as many routes and passions and fields because you get a better concept of where you belong.” That was the case for Maxwell, who was playing multiple sports in school until he found his love for basketball. When he found his passion for art, he used whatever free time he had to practice sketching, painting, or sculpting. Over time, through discipline and dedication, Maxwell saw the opportunities awaiting him and achieved incredible things in both fields. “What I realized was I could leverage whatever that looked like as an athlete to propel my career in the arts… and vice versa.”
Elevating yourself as an athlete:
Through discipline, patience, and teamwork, you can excel in sports, but it’s how you leverage your position that grants you opportunities others might not find. “I think that hits a lot harder than just saying you need to save.” Maxwell says, “(People) wanna know ‘what actionable things can I do right now, like today?’” This goes back to balancing multiple passions. It’s the reason why athletes like LeBron James or David Beckham are able to stay successful even when they’re not playing. They find other ways to elevate their status. So, they form companies, star in films and commercials, and make investments. That’s where Maxwell’s company, Flynance, comes in. Through shared resources and information on where and how youth can advance their status and utilize other talents for success, they position themselves to becoming independent and financially stable individuals, even without joining the NBA.
How Art Reflects an Athlete
Maxwell Pearce’s brand is called “Art of an Athlete”, and it is as its name implies. Maxwell has made beautiful portraits and sculptures literally from sports equipment. Some of them are around sports, others aren’t, but it’s supposed to be seen, in Maxwell’s words, “through the lens of an athlete”. There aren’t many athletic artists known around, so when Maxwell showcases his work, he stands out. That’s one more thing about his work; he found his niche. People who are interested in sports and visual art will take notice to him. That’s how Maxwell’s been featured in renowned art exhibitions.
Maxwell Pearce is a lot of things: hardworking, diligent, disciplined, passionate, and a leader. Through his time in College, with the Harlem Globetrotters, and in his company, he’s learned so many important lessons and facts that have driven him to become a successful and well-respected athlete and artist.
Kaesevyn: Being CEO in Music
Ju-Marri “Kaesevyn” Sims is a man who has been through a lot, but pressed forward to become the leader he needed to be. Through his label, Alive Music Group, Kaesevyn releases and promotes not just his music, but those trying to succeed in one of the most competitive industries out there. As he sat with the UPcoming, he broke down how one must think if they are going to survive, much less prosper.
After inheriting the label from a mentor, Kaesevyn found himself forced out of his comfort zone as an artist to focus on keeping the business alive. This meant understanding important tax documents, keeping up to date with finances, and looking for ways to grow the label. As a newcomer, to say all of this came at once is an understatement. Regardless, Kaesevyn did not let this overwhelm him or discourage him. In fact, it was vital that he understood everything, not just for the business, but for himself. This is all information he had to know in order to keep himself aware and less vulnerable to the harshness of the music industry. Still, this required patience, discipline, and drive, three of the most important traits of a musician.
Speaking of, when we talked about being one, Kaesevyn mentioned something very important about today’s generation: We are at the easiest time ever to have our music become viral. Rappers like Lil Nas X, Ice Spice, and Lil Pump have found success by posting their music online or on social media. TikTok is an especially important contributor, seeing as how Lil Nas X gained popularity through it. The problems are 1: People are going to be convinced that it’s easy to become rich and famous and fly in blindly without really understanding what they’re getting into, and 2: What happens after they’ve achieved their fame and now they need to come out with another hit?
Kaesevyn said it plainly. “If you’re in it for the fame… This is not for you.” No one should be in music for the fame, because like it or not, that fame has an extremely limited lifespan. Fame without any plans to evolve, make one a trend. Here today, gone tomorrow. That’s what rappers like Lil Pump are now. In 2018-2020, Lil Pump was a name you couldn’t ignore. After multiple failed songs, and some controversies, he’s not talked about anymore. All of the hype around him is practically nonexistent now. To be an artist, you have to change with the times. The best example of this is Jay-Z, who’s every album took on a different approach and continued to reach the top charts. He’s been around since the 90’s and because he figured out how to adapt to his audience’s tastes, he’s just as popular now, as he was before.
Kaesevyn wants to teach this lesson to those he works with. If you’re serious about what you do, you have all of his support. If you’re not, then you won’t have it. Build others up, but make sure they build you up too. That’s what leaders do, and Kaesevyn is proof of that. He wants to ensure those under his label can take care of themselves, so he keeps his contracts fair and easy to understand. This way, the artists can continue on with less stress than if they signed on to a less trustworthy label.
Never get comfortable as a musician, always seek to evolve, and be the change you want to see. Those are the lessons I learned from Kaesevyn.
Kadijah Bulter: Familial Love
Family is important. It’s what impacts a child’s personality and the choices they make down the line. A good family can teach a child the value of relationships and doing the right thing. Even after a family member has died, their legacy lives on. Doing good inspires others to do the same. Kadijah Butler is the example of being influenced by family to do right by others. Her father Craig D. Butler was a hero in her life, and when he was shot dead in 1999, she decided to found the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation. This would not only provide students financial security for college, but also lessen the likelihood of gun violence amongst youth, as the murderer of Kadijah’s father was only 14 years old. Her efforts for her family and community embody the month of love.
When we started talking about her creating her foundation, she admits that she struggled hard, and was learning as she went along. “When I first started the foundation, it was like, I didn’t know the first thing about it.” She was limited in information for specifically starting a scholarship foundation. Thankfully, she had assistance from those who started family scholarships, but she had to get into learning and filling out important documents and tax information, then fully fleshing out the foundation, and then finally proceeding with reaching out to high schools in her city. Then, the last thing she needed, COVID-19, reared its ugly head. This left her with no one to contact, as everything had shut down, but she was still determined to provide for people despite the circumstances.
Interestingly enough, this is where her work as an author came in. When it was initially suggested, she was certain she’d never be an author. However, as a testament to her character, Kadijah ended up going through with it because she knew families and aspiring non-profit founders would need the information she had gained. With that, she ended up writing not one, not two, but three books. I imagine a fourth one’s in the works right now.
One thing to note about Kadijah is her resilience. COVID-19 never stopped her from building her foundation and giving much-needed resources to her community, but even that’s just one example. When her father’s murderer was scheduled to have a parole hearing, Kadijah was barely notified and could’ve very easily missed this occasion. To avoid this scenario, she actively scouted out the court officials and gathered as much information as she needed on the date and time. The biggest disgrace was that Kadijah had to put in all of this effort in the first place, considering how easily the city could find her and properly inform her.
Kadijah’s determination, endurance, and compassion have elevated her to becoming a light in the darkness. A lot of kids now have stronger hope for their future, and can reach their potential thanks to her scholarships. On top of that, she works every day to ensure gun violence in her hometown is brought to an end, so no more children have to face the same tragedy she did. All in honor of her father. Kadijah Butler is exactly what familial love looks like.