Wild Wild West

This year I have been challenged - daily - to grow into the woman I know I am capable of being. In less than eight months, I went from birthing my baby at home during a pandemic lockdown, to speeding out the door (sometimes girls in tow) to get to campus. J-School is not how I envisioned maternity leave…

journalism, self-developmentAlyestal Hamilton ThomasDecember 16, 2021what i'm learning, Goals, journalism, self-developmentComment

Making Moves

Dressed in white, standing waist deep in a community pool, I made the first major adult decision that changed the course of my life. It was June 2007 when I decided to be baptized and officially become a Christian. The second major adult decision was marrying my husband. This decision resulted in not only becoming a wife, but a mother. With so much at stake and a lot to sacrifice, I decided to bet on myself once and for all. My third major adult decision came…

self-development, journalismAlyestal Hamilton ThomasNovember 16, 2021self-development, Goals, what i'm learning, journalismComment

Future Ancestors

In these times of uncertainty, we can easily become swept up in the fear and panic swirling around us. But, we must remember we are currently living out history. While we are always future ancestors, this particular moment will be marked in history. Which has raised these questions for me – how will we remember and be remembered for this time?

self-development, think differentlyAlyestal Hamilton ThomasMarch 20, 2020self-development, self-careComment

A Force to be Reckoned

When I learned I was pregnant, I did not feel blessed right away. But I knew, that regardless of how I felt about my pregnancy (which was unexpected) or the gender of my child (I wanted a boy), I was privileged. Not only to be with child, but with the honor of birthing and raising a black child. With the current ways of the world, being black can be challenging. But with the way my ancestry is set up, being black is a blessing.