Who did you want to be when you were 12? 👧

Spread the love, forward to a friend!

View this email in your browser

#WednesdayWisdom

"Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own." — Michelle Obama

Morning Musings

At my most recent Willie's Warriors session, one of the women leading our self-care workshop asked us, "Who did you want to be when you were 12?"

When it was my turn, I shared, "editor-in-chief of a teen magazine." At 12 years old, I held coveted subscriptions to YM!, Seventeen and Teen People. I was obsessed with the horoscopes, advice columns, posters of Justin Timberlake and interviews with my favorite pop stars, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

What I did not find in those glossy pages, however, were many girls who looked like me. As a result, the hair and beauty roundups rarely applied to my needs.

I decided, at that young age, that I wanted to change that. I knew by then that I was a gifted writer. This is not a #humblebrag. English, reading and writing have always been my best subjects. And becoming an editor-in-chief, the one in charge, felt like a profitable way to make both my writer dreams come true AND add some much needed diversity to these publications.

My goal then, as it is now, was to help other Black girls feel less alone, less isolated, and more beautiful. I vividly remember praying to God in seventh grade to make me white so I'd be beautiful. To think about it now ... and to think that any young Black girl would ever feel that way ... is absolutely heartbreaking and devastating.

One of my fellow Warriors shared that she'd wanted to be a lawyer when she was 12, but life didn't lead her on that path. One of the other facilitators reminded her that she may not have the title, but she's still doing the work as a community advocate.

This struck me: while I may not have accomplished my 12-year-old dream, I am still living out the goal. I'm still doing the work. The method may have changed, but the mission has remained the same ... and has now expanded to include women as well. All women, yes. Women of color, especially. But my heart, my pride and my joy will always be repping for Black women and girls. 

I wanted to be an EIC so I'd have a platform to share my voice, my struggles, my lessons learned, to help others, to pave a way, to make change, to make the world a better place. Now, thanks to the power of the internet, I was able to build that platform and do those things.

Who did you want to be when you were 12? How has that influenced who you are and what you're doing now? You owe it to yourself to check in on your inner tween ... what would she think of you now?

Love,
L'Oreal

Links I Love

1. The Mental Toll of Being 'Twice as Good' in the Workplace

2. You Don't Need to Meet Every Qualification to Apply for a Job

3. Rihanna Opens Up About Her New Clothing Line, the Future of Fashion and Her Next Album

My Latest Obsession

More than two years into this newsletter, I can't remember if I've already covered Bitch magazine, but it's so good it's worth the repeat. Especially this HEAT issue. I've long been a fan of EIC Evette Dionne, a Black woman, if you must know. And what I truly love is how, under her leadership, there is a noticeable increase in Black women writers, such as two of of my faves -- Brooklyn White and Nneka M. Okona. Get your copy today and support independent feminist media!

Now Hiring

1. President of DataKind

2. Senior Editor for NYT Magazine Labs

3. Community Manager for The Well

4. Digital Reporting Internship for Chicago Reader

5. Executive Producer for VICE, Digital

6. Vice President, Corporate Communications for Edelman

7. Print Graphic Designer for Madewell

8. Communications Assistant for United States Artists

Support LT in the City Weekly

Like what you see here? Here's how you can help!

1. Share the love. Like what you see here? Shout if from your (digital) rooftop and tell your friends!

2. Hire me. I'm available for all of your editorial, public speaking and career coaching needs.

3.  Advertise. Have a personal project or side-hustle you've been dying to share with the world? Here's your chance to get in front of more than 8,000 smart, ambitious and engaged millennial women!

Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!