One Of The Many Reasons Why My Sister Is Amazing.

Do you have someone in your life that puts things into perspective for you? I bitch a lot about working hard but my freelance-writing ass has nothing on my sister Shola. This woman has three degrees and works three jobs. She's also the founder of an organization called Public Art Nigeria.

Public Art uses different art mediums to teach students about topics like civil rights, healthy habits and sanitation. The students are a mix of kids from different economical backgrounds. Some of them have never taken an art class before while others have been drawing for years. All of them are incredibly passionate about what they're learning.  Shola has picked artists who are just as passionate about teaching. Some of them are Nigerian while other artists visit from different countries.

So Shola recently announced that four of her students were accepted into a Pre-College Summer Academy program at Parsons. This is a big deal for the students, their families and the organization. This is huge! It's the Project Runway school, you guys! It's New York City! It's an opportunity for these students to learn from the best and immerse themselves in a different culture.

Shola has managed to run her organization by herself, often paying for plane tickets and art supplies out of pocket (hence the many jobs). She loves what she does and I love her for it. She has a lot of the expenses covered for the trip but she needs some support.

I can confidently say art has done a lot for me and has shaped me into the person I am today. Because of that, I'm donating $100. I'm not asking anyone to match my donation (but if you do, high-five!) I am asking that you consider donating something. It's so awesome to see people doing good in this crazy world we live in.

I am so excited to see where my sister's students end up and how the experiences and opportunities they are receiving shape them. Please check out  ur4africa.com to read more about the work Shola is doing, her tribe of artists and the organization.

Please click here to donate: https://www.crowdrise.com/weareforafrica

Also, please share this post! Let's send these awesome kids to Parsons!

So... This happened.

Greetings to the handful of you that still read this blog! Your dedication is admirable. Truly though, if you do still check this blog, thank you. I am the worst when it comes to updating the site with new posts. My embedded videos never come out right. My photos aren't going to win any awards. I appreciate the fact that you guys read Nogobelieve anyway. 

So, as you may have noticed in the pic I posted, I'm in scrubs. Why am I in scrubs? I'm back in school. I've been in school since June 1st.

Let me go back a bit, explain what happened.

This year I finished the final draft of the manuscript I have been working on since 2013. I'm incredibly proud of it and I hope people get a chance to read it soon.

There was a huge, hefty sense of relief when I finished the last round of edits. But then I had a reaction I didn't expect.  

With the book being done, I didn't have a project. It was the first time in my life that I wasn't actively working towards something. That made me feel like I didn't have a purpose. That made me feel SHITTY .‎

After a week-long pity party, I mentally bitch-slapped myself, sat down and wrote a list of things I could do based off of my qualifications. I could move back to NYC or VI and work in magazine editorial again. I could work as a ghost-writer. I could go into marketing or PR. 

None of those options were remotely appealing.

It was time to do something different.

 Most people who know me know it's always been my wish to go back to Nigeria and open a business. I always pictured myself owning a shop and dedicating my evenings to my writing.

My mom and I have talked about opening a spa or health-foods store in the past. It was one of those "some day" conversations. But why wait for some day? I decided to just go for it .‎ I'm in school taking the first step towards making our dream a reality. 

When I graduated from university, I told my parents to cherish my BA because it was the only degree they would ever get from me. So no one is more surprised than me that I willingly go to school Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. I freaking love it! I can't wait to share what I've learned when I'm done.