How To Say F*** It! And Follow Your Dreams! (An inspirational story about getting started!)
- Neriah Kharece
- Jul 22, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2022
Okay soooo here’s my origin story…It all started when my mom met my dad, kidding! What started it all was a series of discriminating events and a life-altering layoff. So the same week I graduated, a company called me for an interview. And by the end of the interview, I was signing a contract to start on Monday. I couldn't believe I would be working a full-time salary job with benefits at an ad agency, shooting and editing all of their content! I was so excited. How many people get hired the same week they graduate to work at 18 years old, making 40K a year doing what they went to school for. I cried; for the first time, I was so proud of myself and to see that somebody out there believed in me and my work!
Life was good; I had a great job, great friends, a great apartment, had my car, and was paying my bills, being very independent and proud of that! But unfortunately, the bliss didn't last long. I noticed that co-workers at the company did not want me there, and I couldn't understand why. One older white woman, in particular, made it her mission to run and tell the boss any little thing she saw me do. I eventually felt very attacked and unwelcomed at this company. I was only the second black girl in the whole building, so maybe that had something to do with it, I don't know. After six months of working there, I got pregnant with my daughter, which only made me an even bigger target. Everyone started judging me and treating me like an outcast. I was 19, and they were all in their mid 30's and higher, so I think they didn't think I belonged there. But unfortunately, after a year of working with them, after returning from my maternity leave, they laid me off A MONTH AFTER HAVING MY DAUGHTER! I was shocked and felt like it was all apart of the plan to get rid of me the whole time. So now what am I going to do? I have all these bills to pay and a daughter to take care of with no income. Things quickly went downhill. I stayed unemployed for a whole year and a half. I lost my apartment and my car and barely could afford to buy food; it was horrible. I applied for many jobs and didn't get called back for anything. But one day, something unique happened.
A recruiter left a voicemail and asked me to call her back, and she told me they needed a video producer and editor to start work immediately, and I said yes before she could even finish telling me the details of the job! I applied to so many jobs, and the job I got happens to be one I didn't even apply for. Finally, the drought was over, and I was going to be able to get back on my feet and move out of my mom's place and provide for myself and my daughter. The job was fantastic the people were terrific! But even though it was a great job with great people, it was not feeding my artistic soul. I had to ask myself if this was what I wanted to do because I was starting to fill miserable. So when I turned 22, I made a plan. I said I'm giving myself six months to save up as much money as possible, and then I'm going to move to Atlanta and chase my dream with no hesitation. So my friend and I, who helped me move, packed up a U-Haul and drove from Texas to Atlanta. I got my LLC and started pursuing this head-on.
It was a risk, yes, but it was worth it. I have done so much since I moved to Atlanta. I've gotten to shoot for celebrities and work with great people in the film industry. Georgians are so nice! They have welcomed me and helped me when I needed it, and given me direction and connections; I am learning and growing more every day. I am thankful for the struggle I went through because it made me fearless and strong I didn't think I would make it through all of that when I lost my job, but when I did survive, I was like, okay, I got through that so NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW! The moral of the story is just bet on yourself and say fuck it, pick up a camera and call yourself a filmmaker and go for it! It worked out pretty well for me!
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