Now if you know me well, then you know I'm very big on people following their dreams. If you ask any one of my friends to list words that describe me best, I bet "Ambitious" falls in there somewhere. Ever since I was a little girl, I've always had extreme aspirations. At one point I wanted to be an actress, a lawyer, and for a really long time I wanted to be a fashion designer. However, my Dad called it best when I was eight years old, and told me that I would eventually become a journalist due to my love for wanderlust, words, books and writing in general. This was only solidified when both my high school newspaper advisor consistently rode my back about turning in my columns on time, and always challenged me as a writer. (Thanks, Mrs. Davis, I owe you once I make it to Vogue.)

Naturally, once I graduated high school I knew I was going to declare either a Journalism, Broadcast Journalism or Communications once I got to college. Being that my first school didn't have either one of those majors I was a Liberal Arts major until I took the leap of faith and left for St. John's. Yet these last couple years have me aching to do the one thing I see all my high school classmates doing, that I still haven't done which is...Graduate.

However, as I see everyone graduating I get so depressed. Now don't get me wrong, I've always been the one to love to see my peers grow into such powerhouses once they hold those sacred pieces of paper in their hands. I've "loved" pictures of people in their caps and gowns, I've cried at some of those photo captions with the ultimate gratitude to being finished at this particular milestone.

Now you might be thinking to yourself, "So if you're so happy to see everyone graduate, How come you haven't?" ...and the answer is quite simple: Things don't happen before their time. Now when I left for school at 18, I definitely thought I was going to graduate in 4 years, and finally get to begin my life as an editorial assistant, and then work my way up from there..and then before I know it - 60 years later I'll be at Vogue, dethroning Ms. Wintour herself.

Yet, it didn't happen that way. My parents separated, my Dad got into a debilitating car accident, and my family struggled financially not to mention, my life almost came to a complete halt in a relationship I was struggling in, and then I moved to Florida.

I fought with depression every single day the first semester I had off. I felt like I had made the biggest mistake when I transferred in the Spring semester. I was advised by countless people to stay at my first school until that summer, and then start fresh at St. John's in the fall. However the environment I was in, along with my mental state unfortunately caused me to leave when I did.

I literally complained every single day because I couldn't do what I loved to do which was write, learn, and gain knowledge. I was literally at home, gaining weight, feeling sorry for myself, and being dazed and confused.

However, I did something that all of you should do when you find yourself feeling the way I did. Keep your crown up and don't ever compare your journey to someone else. As much as I struggled, hid the truth for so long, and just tried to overcompensate for my feelings, some pretty amazing things ended up happening in the process.

I interned for Complex media and it literally changed my life. I was so immersed in the culture, the vibe of being in a space with other creatives that literally contribute to one of the dopest publications in both online and print media was amazing. I wouldn't trade it for a thing in the world. While fighting that debilitating relationship I was in, I ended up applying to intern at the Walt Disney parks and Resorts as well. Disney was and always will be my biggest blessing, because it saved me from so many wrong roads, and many sleepless nights. Now I'm not gonna lie, working for the mouse wasn't always fun, and believe me I had my days, but being able to watch Wishes every night and hear my cast at Lion King sing "Circle of Life" every work day will live in my heart forever.

Whilst doing these things during my time off, I became more of an adult and was able to take a look at things through a different perspective. I moved out of my parents house, and learned how to become financially responsible, whilst maintaining a decent social life.

I say all this to say,

It's okay that you haven't graduated yet. Your journey is literally JUST getting started. I know these tools that I've gained while not being in school are some things I'm going to need later on in life. I know that no matter what I'm going to be okay. There are people that I know that have graduated and tell me that the things I've experienced are so cool and they wish that they could have done them. I promise you baby girl, you will graduate. You will grab that diploma and slay across the stage with all that grace. You will grab ahold of your future and be that force to be reckoned with. Just do me this one favor, please don't give up, and don't let your crown slip. In due time, you'll finish.

Crown up, always.