For most of my life, I knew I wanted to become two of three things: a writer, fashion designer or entrepreneur. As an adolescent, I wrote fictional plays and short stories, created collages of different fashion designs and planned out different business routes I would take. No matter how many times I would ponder which career path I would take, writing was always the thing I would always revert back to.

It was the fall semester of 2013 when I became a college freshman at Delta State University. I decided to try my luck in journalism to see where it would take me. I knew I loved to write, but I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with it, so I picked journalism. It seemed to be most fitting at the time. Not being aware of what journalism consisted of, I did not take it too seriously.

I was very shy at first, but I always completed my assignments whether it was to interview someone or to learn how to craft good ldeas. After two and half years of learning, I had the basics of journalism down, but I knew there was something missing. It was something I had become bored with. I did my work to maintain good grades.

I kept asking God what was my purpose in life and to guide my footsteps to lead me to what I was destined to do on this earth. I was unsure if my prayer worked, but three years later, I knew my prayers had been answered. Three years into the journalism program, I started to value what journalism was. Instead of focusing on strictly news stories, I ventured into other forms of writing. My interviews had become more meaningful, my storytelling had become more intriguing and I wanted to share the stories of others.

I interviewed a few people and what struck me from those interviews were the things they said to me after the interview was complete. In similar forms, they all told me that they were happy to share those things with me because they needed to get those things off of their chest. They wanted to confide in me and no one else.

That's when I realized that not only was I telling the stories of others, but listening to them became therapeutic to them. I knew at that very moment, my purpose was to tell other's stories by becoming a listening ear and acknowledging things that others may have failed to realize. I also knew I was supposed to shine light on the issues that others will be afraid to talk about. When someone is afraid to speak up, I will be their voice. When issues are being covered, I will help uncover those issues. I want to become an advocate for change and truth in journalism. I want to be the light at the end of the tunnel to help guide someone who was lost or someone who needs encouragement.

I am not where I am supposed to be yet, but I am a work in progress. Now, that I know my purpose, I will do all I can to make sure I fulfill my goals.