Listen Linda Magazine
LEANN LEANN LEANN
KeepinUp w/Renea
L.c & L.c & L.c &SandraSandraSandra
CONGRATS TO THE 1ST ANNUAL LISTEN LINDA BRAND & MARKETING PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS OF 2024(&
PRESIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT OF 2024 YOUTH)
WILLIE PEARL MACKEY KING
KAYE A JONES
TERESA B HOWELL
CAROLYN COLEMAN. MHSA, BSN, RN
LEONARD & DR AUDREYANN MOSES
JOYCE MZEPENZI
MARY L BEAL
HAYLA AYALA
SANDY U JOHNSON-GRIMES
JERETHA DENISE LAY
DANIELLE HENDERSON MORTON
QUEENIE LOVE
KAI “BOOGIE” MAHALYN (YOUTH)
L.C. & SANDRA WASHINGTON
PAMELA NANCE JOHNSON
PAT GORGE WALKER
COMMANDER SGT PATRICIA RENEE
WILSON (RET. NAVY)
DR LAQUITA PARKS
ALLAINA WASHINGTON
LORI ELLISON
COMMAND SGT MAJOR VICTOR ANGRY
Hala Ayala
LL: What motivated you to write your first book, "Not My Life But Ours," and what message do you hope to convey to your readers?
NL: the first person who motivated me to write a book was my old speech professor Dr. Criswell. Criswell had helped ignite a light in me that shined my love towards poetry. Mr.Helvetius also was a beyond major help for me within this book. Mr. Helvetius helped to keep me on my toes, opened me up to new events, and helped keep me on track as well as put it all together.
LL: Can you share some of the themes and stories that inspired the poems in your book, and how they relate to the experiences of young adults?
NL: Some of the themes and stories within my book were about the mental challenges that teens face throughout their youth years in middle school as well as high school. Middle school and high school can be very traumatic adventures that one may go through. So a lot of my poems within the book signifies some of those moments.
LL: As the president of your school's Fashion Club, what challenges have you faced in organizing fashion shows, and how have you overcome them?
NL: Some challenges that I have faced were convincing my parents that this is something that is right for me. My parents don’t really see the point in extracurricular activities within school, especially fashion club lol. So it took me a while to convince them that this is something that I just love doing and what makes me happy.
LL: How has your involvement in community events and speech presentations shaped your confidence and leadership skills?
NL: This has helped shaped my confidence in leadership skills because I realized how much people really support and love me in this field. A lot of my friends and teachers really helped guide me and have my back every time it comes to these events and it makes me feel 20 times even better about myself.
LL: What advice would you give to other young writers who aspire to publish their work and share their voices with the world?
Advice that I would give young writers is that this world is harsh world. People have their own opinions and not everyone will be there for you, not everyone will like you, not everyone will support you. So at the end of the day just know, if you’re trying to achieve something and someone is telling you no, you’re speaking to the wrong person. Once you have your mind on something go for it. That is how you will continue the road to success.
LL: How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your creative pursuits and extracurricular activities?
NL: I balance it all by doing my school work at school and then planning all of these activities once I come home so I can be able to have an easier peace of mind.
LL: Looking ahead, what are your future goals as a writer and a leader in your community, and how do you plan to achieve them?
NL: My future goal is to become a model with my own series of published books on the side inshallah, and then to be able to give back to my community as well as country Senegal, in West Africa. I plan on achieving them by completing school and continuing to focus well and finish right on the path of success.
LL: Jonnay, you were born prematurely at just 27 weeks, weighing little more than a pound. That's an incredible feat in itself! Can you share what it was like growing up and defying the odds as an autism-diagnosed child with such a strong fighting spirit?
JD: I never knew I was autistic. I remember different people coming to my house. I later learned they were called Therapists. My grandparents erected a playground in our backyard with a climbing wall to help strengthen my body. We lived in Long Island, NY. My special preschool was in Brooklyn, NY. My grandparents drove sixty miles a day to make sure I stayed there. I am also echolaric. That means I can repeat anything I hear in any language. When I was three years old, my grandfather Rob gave me a microphone with a stand. I would sing Peppa Pig with a British accent. I learned Chinese by watching Nihao Kai Lan and practiced when we ordered Chinese food. I have Cuban, Filipino, and Puerto Rican families, and I also had Spanish in school. But mostly I enjoyed singing and acting. I started taking theatre in elementary school and still have it in high school. Oh yes, I also have a slight stutter. Grandma has always worked with me to limit it by having me watch others, including President Joe Biden, talk about the poem he read to help him. However, I don’t stutter when I sing. She also keeps me in church and prays.
LL: Maintaining a 3.5 GPA as an 11th grader is no small accomplishment. What drives you to excel academically, and how do you balance your studies with your other passions?
JD: Because I had a grandmother who constantly challenged me regarding schooling, failure was never my option. She was and is so involved with my education; my teachers are too. In Middle school and when we moved to North Carolina, she always pushed me. I remember being sad when some kids said I was “different.” After my grandmother started coming to the school to set them straight, some called her “ that crazy black lady from New York,” I never had any more problems with bullying. She also homeschooled me for a year. The one big thing she did was to make a slide show that showed my birth, my growth, my challenges, and how I overcame them. Because I love theatre and perform in school and church, it's never a challenge. And I pray about everything. Being an NSHSS student since the ninth grade has opened several doors and opportunities for me. I work hard to keep my 3.5 GPA and want to improve it.
LL: With a family legacy in music and theater, it's clear the performing arts are in your blood. What about the stage captivates you, and how do you hope to pursue this passion in the future?
JD: I remember being little and going with my grandmother when she performed. I loved the way the audience clapped and took pictures with her. Also, my paternal grandfather is the late award-winning musician and organist Cliff Driver. He is on YouTube. I have another cousin who produces, plays instruments, and sings. Her name is “Maya the Muse,” and she has music on Spotify and other places. I have several other relatives who are in the Arts. As far as pursuing my passion, I have theatre, dance, and piano. I hope to attend either Clemson or Appalachia Universities for theatre. My maternal grandfather also played with Lionel Hampton. Grandma sang with Arlene Smith and the Chantels and a group called Phantasy.
LL: You've already received a second invitation to visit Sweden - that's amazing! What has that international exposure and experience been like for you, and how has it shaped your worldview?
JD: I was excited to get the invitations. However, around that time, we had several deaths in the family, and I couldn't attend without an adult. To make up for it, my grandmother chose to take me to Beliz and take me on a trip to a rainforest. Next year, one of my guidance counselors has offered to go to Sweden with me.
LL: Your grandmother, bestselling author Pat G'Orge-Walker, must be an incredible role model. How has her success and guidance influenced your journey and aspirations?
JD: I am very proud of my grandmother. I love that she is known for her writing and stage performances, but I love her more for our prayer time. We pray all the time. I don't get on; sometimes, I take the bus or go to bed without praying. I also sometimes study the Bible by myself but depend on Grandma to explain things. I have a praying Grandma. Before my grandpa Rob died, I would hold his pinky and pray.
LL: As a National Society of High School Scholars member and a Prayer Warrior, you have a heart for serving others. What does it mean to you to be a young leader, and how do you hope to inspire your peers?
JD: It means a lot to me. I always remember being counted out as a Preemie, and Grandma said only God’s math was correct and not man’s. She also takes me to feed people experiencing homelessness. She reminds me to thank the Lord because I never know if one day I could be in that same situation or how many times God has stopped it from happening in the past. She also does not like it when I am not kind. She tells me she is big on kindness…to be kind doesn't mean to be a fool. I hope that others will be inspired through my words, actions, and prayers.
LL: What are your biggest dreams and goals? Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years, and how are you working to turn those visions into reality?
JD: My biggest dreams and goals for where I hope to be in 5-10 years have never changed from what I work for now. I hope and pray that they are the same as God's wants. I also work hard to stay on the theatrical path and pray my grandmother will still be around to see it. In addition to studying theatre, I am also studying piano. I had begun studying violin when we lived in New York, but it wasn’t available for me once we moved to North Carolina almost seven years ago. I also want to thank Listen Linda magazine for this awesome surprise. God continues to shower me with His blessings, and I believe He always will as long as I remain looking to the cross.
Dead Girl Walking
By: Dr AudreyAnn Moses
AVAILABLENOW ONALLDIGITAL PLATFORMS
