I clearly remember wanting to be a professional tennis player as a child. Sports had me feeling invincible. The vibrant energy (some call it Black girl magic) of Venus and Serena Williams playing the game captivated my attention on the tv through grainy VHS tapes that my dad had. Their athleticism, power, and unwavering determination ignited a spark within me. I yearned to emulate their grace and conquer the court, a dream that manifested with my first tentative swings of a tennis racket at the age of seven. High school offered a platform to nurture this ambition. I remember approaching the tennis coach and letting her know that I had little experience playing the sport but I was truly interested in learning more. I dedicated myself to the team, navigating the rigorous demands of both JV and varsity squads; I also took up the additional commitment of club tennis during the summer between my junior and senior year of high school. However, the relentless grind of training, the constant pressure to improve, and the physical toll began to weigh heavily on me. My family was in the middle of a financial crisis-- affecting our living situation; we lived in different extended stay hotels for the majority of my teenage and early college years. Ultimately, the joy of the game faded, replaced by a sense of exhaustion and disillusionment. Today, my career path has taken a surprising yet fulfilling turn. I currently serve as a Social Media Manager for a thriving Black-female owned design studio in Los Angeles, a role that allows me to blend creativity with digital strategy. At the same time, I'm pursuing a graduate degree while assisting as a Teaching Assistant, fostering a love of learning in the next generation. While my professional trajectory may seem distant from the tennis court, my passion for sports remains unwavering. I continue to follow athletic competitions (in many sports), finding inspiration in the dedication, teamwork, and resilience displayed by athletes worldwide. Furthermore, I have a long-term aspiration to contribute to the success of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, perhaps in a role that bridges my love for sports with my professional expertise. Looking back, I realize that the journey towards my career goals has been a series of unexpected serves and volleys (pun intended). While the path may have diverged from my childhood dream, the lessons learned from tennis – discipline, perseverance, and the importance of finding joy in the process – continue to guide me.

Holding myself accountable by finishing this essay in 3-2-1....Go: Hi there, my name is Victoria Makanjuola, I'm a student, digital creator and podcast host based in Plano, Texas. Currently, I'm pursuing my second Master's degree in Integrated Design, Business and Technology from The University of Southern California. It hasn't been easy, I'm an online student who also works from home as a remote Social Media Specialist for a company called Mavan. Meeting my own expectations for where I want to be in life as a 26-year-old young woman still living with my Mom and Dad are hard. Lately, I've been pushing myself to get outside of my parents house by going over to our local library in Plano, where I am writing this essay from right now. I am making plans to relocate to Southern California next month, I've been planning a move there since January 2024, when I began apartment hunting. My grad program allows me the opportunity to visit campus at least twice for Professional Practice Residential's or PPR's. To be real with you, I'm kind of scared, nervous and intimidated. I don't know how I'm going to be able to sustainably pay my rent in full each month, without the assistance of student loans. It's tough but I'm holding my January self accountable - the girl who initiated these plans in early 2024. She felt like moving across states was the right move. I trust her. I'm starting to read various books like "The Artist's Way" and "Super Attractor"; I listen to new podcasts that talk about finances and pursuing my passions as a young person. Navigating my mid-20's is another struggle as I constantly feel like I'm not doing enough or that I have to prove people wrong. I'm setting the foundation of my life up now and no one else can really do that for me. I have a vision for myself. I have big dreams of traveling, working in the intersections of entertainment, technology, and sports. No hold backs! I'm not perfect, each day I choose progress over perfection and faith over fear, even if my bank accounts are not reflective of my earning potential right this minute. I also have big dreams as a creator. I want to have inspiring people on my show, filling me and my listeners with great wisdom. I want to start my own pod merch shop as well. How will I do it all? Building out a system of accountability, strategy, passion, and communication. I'm a person of faith as well and I truly believe that with God, ALL things are possible.

There is something so refreshingly forward, dynamic, girly, and reminiscent about the amazing Sabrina CarpentHER! She doesn't cease to amaze me with her singing skills and ability to relate to my feelings, I mean I'm just a girl after all! I first heard her hit track "Espresso" (straight fire by the way) while listening to my Spotify jams and her song popped up in my headphones. As soon as I heard the beat and the lyrics and felt the rhythm, I KNEW it was a smash hit! When I checked who the singer was, THEEE Sabrina Carpenter, I was shocked but not really surprised. I didn't grow up watching her on Disney Channel. I was of the "Shake it Up," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Proud Family" and "That's So Raven" era. This means that I am a huge Disney fan and seeing people who looked like me and thrived on that platform gave me hope that I could make it in the entertainment industry too! While I'm not at her level, Sabrina's career has shown me that I'm on the right path. I'm an online grat student at The University of Southern California and I plan to move to LA next month. Am I intimidated- YES! But she's developed the best version of herself and quite frankly . . . so can I.