Empowerment Issue January 2018 | Page 61

MADETOLEAD office and it was like a spiral staircase. It was everything I ever dreamed of. It was really crazy and there were papers everywhere. All these big names that I loved with their name plates in front of their office. I’m just like, “Wow, man.” I’m like, “Yo, where’s everybody at?” He’s like, “Everybody?” I was like, “Yeah, you told me there was going to be 300 people.” He was like, “Oh, yeah, yeah. I just said that so you’d be scared. I didn’t want anybody scared up here.” I was like, “What?” Yo, that shit just bugged me out that he was so nonchalant about that and I always say what if I was shook of competition and worried like, “Oh man, there’s going to be too many people. I’m not going to get seen.” It just gave me this early lesson on how to just show up and be there, be present and account for yourself rather than just for the moment. Just be there and be like, “Well at least I went.” Rather than, “I went for this.” At least I went for me and that’s helped me in so many instances since that moment. Ever since that moment I always keep that in mind. It might not be what it is. It might be in your favor. I’ve shown up and been like, “Wow, it worked again.” the craft, and writing, it offered me a network and a family within the industry where we all helped each other and propelled each other to the next level. MADE: That’s a great takeaway. Can you talk about the importance of interning, whether paid or not, and how it can change the shape of life for someone who may be struggling with the idea of an internship? DT: Yeah, there are so many aspects to an internship that helps the makeup of where you’re going and whatever field. My particular field, I had a unique one, which doesn’t happen the same because they have all these new rules and regulations, but I didn’t get college credit and I didn’t get paid. I was able to stay longer because of that and since I stayed longer my networking game was enhanced. I was running into all these different artists and industry movers and shakers within the Vibe system. The main thing that it did, besides honing my skills and learning made-magazine.com | Sometimes if you just get in on the game and somebody just ushers you through, you’re not going through the essential steps that can help you later on in your career. MADE: People may or may not know that you actually have influenced and have been the 61