CHIONE MAGAZINE Special Edition Issue 'Prosperity' | Page 34

y earliest memory is around five years old, asking my parents what type of job is it when someone who sings, acts and dances and they told me that was an entertainer. I knew that was my goal. I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be apart of the entertainment industry. I had an amazing amount of confidence at an early age and I knew I wanted to display that confidence in the entertainment industry.

Growing up as an only child that described my interests early, my parents took it upon themselves to ensure that I was involved in a multitude of activities that would expose my in every area possible and continue to enhance my work ethic and self esteem, and add and develop skill sets that would help to carry me through adulthood and eventually also into the entertainment industry.

M

When I was around age 4, I was immediately exposed to singing, dancing, swimming, tennis, and other sports through a summer camp in Coatesville where my mom directed the city’s recreation department. I continued enjoying these sports and was able to experience others like archery, golf, hockey and rafting as I became an older camper. The camp exposed us to everything and my mom made sure that I was right in the mix.

I even learned shotokan karate through the camp, which I took extra classes with my dad, and we both earned our green and white belt, under the instruction of Sensei Carl Martin at the Traditional Okinawan Karate Institute (TOKI) in West Chester, PA. My mom was a huge advocate of exposing children of color to nontraditional activities that we were often unable to access and she was able to secure grants to make it easier for parents to afford the camp through scholarships.

MY SAGA