Our March Feature Jaila Johnson
We were all created with purpose! How many of you have an idea of what your purpose is? Our feature for this month is a great example of not fully walking in your purpose, but realizing that you have one and taking the steps to prepare you for your purpose driven life. Let’s hear what Jaila Johnson has to do say about her journey thus far to prepare herself for her purpose driven life.
Style-Ography: Tell us about yourself.
Jaila: I am twenty-one years old and born and raised in St.
Petersburg, Florida. I am currently a senior at Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Tennessee, double-majoring in
Molecular and Cellular Biology and Spanish with a minor in
Chemistry. My extracurricular activities include serving as the
co-president of VIBE, Vanderbilt’s hip hop dance organization. I
am also the co-president of an organization colloquially known
as STRANDS, which aims to promote the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual well-being of black female students at
Vanderbilt. In addition to schoolwork and social clubs, I am also
an employee of both the Vanderbilt Dance Program and the
Student Center.
Style-Ography: Do you feel that you are walking in your purpose? If so,
please tell us how.
Jaila: In many ways, I feel that I am not yet walking in my purpose.
However, I have had instances in which I was exposed to the
purpose for my life. These experiences usually involved mentoring first-year
college students or middle school girls. As a mentor, I am able to share with
them my college experiences and the struggles that I’ve
overcome. In doing so, I help them avoid making the same
mistakes. I also feel closer to my purpose when I am able to
combine by passion for the Spanish language with the skills I
have acquired in the natural sciences. For instance, I
volunteered with a pediatrician at Vanderbilt Medical Center,
whose patients were primarily Spanish-speaking. Working with
her was so fulfilling because her job combined the aspects
mentioned above with child interaction. Although I am not
walking in my purpose, I certainly believe that I am taking steps
towards it.
Style-Ography: Briefly describe your journey to getting connected to your
life’s purpose.
Jaila: The journey to connecting with my life’s purpose has been a
challenge. One of the biggest obstacles that I have faced has
been overcoming feelings of inadequacy. I am often my own
biggest critic, and have discounted my own desires and dreams
because I thought I wasn’t capable of such feats. This negative
energy not only discourages me from achieving my goals, it
creates a toxic environment for my purpose to thrive. I am
thankful for a support group of family and friends that
constantly speak life into me. They motivate me to look past
what I see right now and look towards what I want to be. The
recognition of my potential is what pushes me towards my
purpose in life.
Style-Ography: What advice would you give to a group of young teen girls
who’s pursuing a dream or their purpose in life?
Jaila: Pursuing your dream requires an intimate knowledge of
yourself, which is a never-ending journey. You are so
unique and complex that there are new pieces of you to
be discovered every day. In discovering who you are, you
will ultimately find your purpose. Pursuing that dream or
purpose takes bravery and determination. Despite
external obstacles, you must not be moved. I would
recommend making a plan, writing it down to actualize the
vision. Once you’ve written it down, take actionable steps
towards that goal and check back occasionally to see how
far you’ve come. You will be surprised how much growth
you experience when you are focused, determined and
brave.
Is there anything important that you would like to share
with us and for us to share with our audience?
Make sure to follow and subscribe to Jaila’s social channels:
Check out her YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/JaiChanel13
Follow me on Instagram @jaichanel
