Starting on the Path

I’ve been in this field for more than twenty years, yet somehow it feels like I’m still at the beginning. I’ve gone from Production Assistant to Associate Producer, from Producer to Head of Production — but even with all those titles, I often felt like I hadn’t truly found my place in this industry.

Now, I finally feel like I know what I’m meant to do.

Ever since watching Polly back in the ’90s, I wanted to be Debbie Allen. She was everything; a director, choreographer, producer, and visionary. I couldn’t dance, and I never had much interest in directing, but I knew I wanted to produce stories for people like me. I wanted to see more faces, families, and communities that reflected the world I grew up in, a neighborhood where Black, white, Asian, and Hispanic families all lived on the same block, sharing meals, laughter, and life. Debbie Allen showed me that it was possible to create that kind of magic through storytelling, and that spark has never left me.

Now, sitting here in my forties, I feel like I’m starting over, but this time with clarity. I’m back in school, pursuing my master’s degree and working toward becoming a top executive in television and film. I’ve always seen myself as a leader, but I also know leadership has to be learned, shaped, and earned. My years as an athlete taught me discipline and teamwork, but life has taught me resilience. The kind that only comes from experience, setbacks, and faith.

When I moved back to California in 2020, right after the pandemic, it felt like God was giving me a pause, a moment to reassess what truly mattered. I no longer wanted to just “go with the flow.” I wanted to create the flow. This new chapter is about pushing beyond what I’ve done before while giving myself grace to grow at my own pace. Gone are the days of overworking, overstressing, and underliving.

At 44, on the road to 45, I want to enjoy the journey. I want to lead with intention, create with joy, and tell stories that connect people across cultures. I want to spark something in others, the same way Debbie Allen sparked something in me.

This is the beginning of my next story — my new chapter. I’m ready to see where this path leads, trusting that wherever God is guiding me, it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.