Despite my artistic side, I was raised to believe I needed a "real job," preferably one that was not art. Growing up, I was always drawn to filmmaking. My family valued watching movies together so much that when I met my husband, he got me a Cinemark subscription because I was obsessed with going to the movie theater.
Everyone always asks you what you want to be when you grow up, and I made that decision in my fifth-grade Career Development class. We declared our careers on a piece of paper and after extensive research I decided to become a cardiothoracic surgeon to help people, which is still a core passion of mine.
However, my high school art teacher saw a different route for my future. She encouraged me to apply for the Arkansas Cinema Society's Teen Girls Filmmaking Lab, cultivating my artistic abilities into a career field. Though I doubted myself, I prayed and took a chance—and I got in
I thought the lab would be a good creative opportunity for the summer and nothing more, but little did I know it would be a career change. I met industry professionals—like the writer for the TV show Nashville, learned about film production, and built lasting connections and experiences. One night, I had a detailed dream about my future in film and other goals. I knew then that God was calling me to pursue film.
Inspired by filmmakers like Tyler Perry and Ryan Coogler, I set my sights on Georgia State University in Atlanta. I felt it was where I was meant to be. But when I got waitlisted for housing, my plans crumbled. At my mom's insistence, I enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) as a backup. A month passed with no dorm availability at GSU, and I began my journey to stay at UCA.
At first, I struggled with disappointment. But looking back, I realize that God placed me here for a reason. During my first year, three family members passed away, and I went through depression. During this difficult time, a friend led me to Chi Alpha, a campus ministry, where I truly learned about God in a way I never did previously in church.
I had always believed I knew God, but I was blinded by pride. In November 2023, I fully surrendered to God. That decision transformed my life. I excelled in ways I failed to do in previous New Year resolutions—and my faith deepened.
As I navigated college, I realized that breaking into the film industry would take time. I had been overly ambitious, assuming I would succeed instantly after graduation. But what if God had other plans for me?
I remembered a conversation I had in Atlanta with an apartment employee who studied public relations. Curious, I researched the field and realized it combined everything I loved —storytelling, media, branding, and strategy. I took an Intro to PR class and fell in love. I added PR as a major, dropped my theatre minor, and picked up marketing instead. My advisor warned me that the workload might delay my graduation, but I knew I could do it.
Now, I am a junior at UCA and am on track to graduate in May 2026 with a PR and Film major and a Marketing minor. PR has given me a new way to use my creativity while staying true to my purpose.
I've learned that my identity isn't tied to a career, it's rooted in my faith. No matter where I go or what profession I take on, I know my purpose is to serve others and honor God in all I do.
I will be sharing my #CGXperience on Instagram and LinkedIn this semester, so follow along for an inside look at my internship. I can't wait to see where this opportunity takes me—and the stories we'll create together along the way.
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