Memoir of an Imperfect Angel

Growth: (of a living thing) undergo natural development by increasing in size and changing physically; progress to maturity.

Hey guys! Monday, August 29th, will be the first day of my senior year in college. I noticed that a lot of my friends have been giving advice to the upcoming college freshman via YouTube, and on their social media accounts. I thought that was simply amazing because back in my day (which was only 2-3 years ago) no one really did that. Don't get me wrong there were a few freshman on twitter giving their advice with the hastag #DearFreshman but it was more of the upperclassman being "know-it-alls"and judgmental before the freshman even got a chance to hit campus. So anyways, I thought I would blog about how my mistakes shaped me into the woman I am and how I embraced them.

The photo at the top of the page is a then and now post. The middle picture it was my first weekend on campus,probably on my way to a party. That photo makes me laugh now because I was dressed, and was smiling like i was about to run into trouble. In which indeed i did. But it is okay, we are all human. Anyways, i remember I posted that picture on Instagram and I got a lot of likes, but when my mom saw that picture, she didn't like it one bit. I remember saying, "Mom compared to all the other girls, i'm covered up, and all the other girls are dressed like that. She replied with, "I did not raise you to be like everyone else." Now in my mind I was thinking, "Can i live?" But I sure was not stupid enough to say that to her ever. 

When I first started college i thought i knew everything. In fact, all the mistakes I made I now understand why people say "never say never" because you really don't know what the future holds. When I was in high school you could have considered me to have been the "American Girl". I was Homecoming Queen, Cheer Captain, participated in a lot of community service, and I even graduated high school with an advanced placement diploma with honors. I came to college with the wrong mindset. I was thinking it was going to be as simple as it was back then for me. What i failed to realize was, I was living at home with my parents, and was a student athlete which provided me with a lot of structure. Structure is very important while attending college because it is beyond easy to forget why you are even in college that first year. 

Anyways, I am now currently an up and coming media personality with my own brand at the age of 21. I have interned at WAVY News 10/ Fox43, and I have interviewed celebrities such as Kirk Franklin, Mike Epps, Keke Wyatt, Erica Campbell, and many more. I am also on the radio on a gospel station as well. Now let me tell you that if someone would have told me that I would have accomplished what I have accomplished at such a young age and before my senior year of college 1 wouldn't have believed you. I made so many mistakes back then it felt like my dreams were impossible. It was honestly the lowest point in my life, and after that experience I will work extremely hard to reassure myself to not let myself see myself in that state of being ever again. 

They say that after every storm, you will see a rainbow. That is very true. After my mistakes from my freshman year of college, I came home for the summer break, and had to figure out what i wanted in life. It gave me time to reflect, and to get my life back on track. Fall came back around the next semester and I took baby steps to focusing on my goals. I got a part time job, spent less time going out with friends, focused on my studies, and started my career in radio on my college campus. Soon later, my radio mentor, Doc Christian, gave me the opportunity to host his gospel radio show heard worldwide via IHeartRadio and hosting concerts with him. Again, if someone would have told me my freshman year that I would have accomplished all of this before I even graduated college, I wouldn't have believed them.

But, that is the beauty in the mistakes. The Growth that comes with it and the maturity. Now I am not telling you that it is okay to make a mistake. You know right from wrong. As long as you don't continue to make the same mistakes you should be fine. But I will tell you that it is not how you start, but how you finish. That is very true. Also, to some parents who may be reading this believe me when I tell you that your college freshman are not making mistakes on purpose. In fact, they think they know everything at the time, but that is only because it is a lot of freedom to take in, and that first year is very dramatic. 

Believe me when I tell you they are not waking up every day thinking of ways to disappoint or upset you. In fact, they will go through extreme measures to reassure you that everything is okay (even when it's not) but its more of a pride thing. The more you tug them one way is going to do nothing more but tug in the opposite direction because they want to prove you wrong. Am I telling you how to raise your kids/ young adults? Absolutely not. I am just stating why they may not be open with you when they are in trouble. They also know you will be there, and when they're ready they will come to you. However, you could have considered my parents as the helicopter parents (who gave me my space) but they were always there to let me know they were in my corner when I needed them.

The other day on Facebook, Heather Lindsey, made a post on what she would have done different when she started her freshman year of college, and what she said was so true. She was touching on jumping from unhealthy relationships and neglecting what is important which was her Faith in God, and her studies. Here it is below check it out. 

When you enter your first year of college like I said before, it will be very dramatic. A lot will change, in such little time. Some for the better, and some for the worse. But it is nothing to be ashamed of. If anything it shows you what you truly want or don't want in college. Always remember it is okay to be selfish and to put yourself first before you make decisions that you are conscious of. Also, the storm wont last forever. Enjoy every moment of it because it does go by fast, and it shapes you into who you are, so never stop growing. My mistakes, experiences, and Faith taught me way more than any lecture could. Always make the best of it, and Good Luck!

P.S. - If any of you have any questions feel free to comment below, or go to the CONTACT tab and send me a question. I am happy to help in any way that I can, and if you have any advice, feel free to comment below as well.

God Bless!
Asia