A confidence makeover...

There are some mornings that I wake up feeling renewed, energized, and like the princess that God has made me to be. Then there are mornings, like today, where I struggle: where I question my abilities and my dreams. After breakfast, I opened my devotional app on my phone (one of the very few I figured worth spending money on) and this bible verse greeted me:

Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. - 2 Corinthians 3:4 (NIV)

I smiled. Who am I to question God's abilities? For my abilities are only His abilities. I have not come this far on my own, and I can feel it in my bones that God has so much more for me! So, today may be a rough day - and just because I've seen this verse and feel a sense of calm now does not mean that the struggle is over. Because it is far from over...but, I will continue to remind myself of God's promise to give me competence and confidence, and to help me overcome feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy.

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I wanted to type this blog to be open and honest. To show you that we all struggle and no one's life - not even that of a titleholder - is always rosy red. It is the foundation of a person, what grounds them and gives them strength, that allows them to overcome obstacles and defeats. It is my foundation in Christ that gives me the courage and tenacity to keep moving towards my next goal.

Two-Time Winner

GUESS WHO IS GRADUATING WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE??
THIS KID!!!


If you can't tell -- I'm very excited about this most recently accomplishment of mine. Next to winning the title of Miss HNN, this might be one of the most difficult achievements I've made in recent years. There were days I wasn't sure I would be seeing this moment. The first four years of school were relatively easy, I studied (and had fun) and made it through with my Bachelor's degree - no problem. But, it seems that once my friends had graduated, and I was living back at home, and I won a title, and I was working part-time, again, that I just didn't feel as focused or motivated to get my butt into gear. My mother didn't coddle me - she pushed me, reminded me that I didn't get this far by slacking. My friends reminded me that I only had mere weeks separating school and the summer. I had to remind myself that I didn't come this far to slip and fall. So after 5 years, 10 (long) semesters, 166 credit hours (24 of which came from my International Baccalaureate diploma), I have graduated from Hampton University (Cum Laude) - twice.


Special thank you to my parents for helping me foot the bill for my undergraduate degree. To my sister for being my saving grace these past two semesters. To my girls who held me down - through drama, and boys, and crazy nights. To "my boys" and my brothers (Ow~Sweet) who always had my back with no judgement. To my professors who challenged me. To my family and friends who just offered encouragement and a belief that I could do anything I set my mind to do. - I thank you.

Phyllicia Whittingham, MBA

Blessed is the [wo]man who remains steadfast under trial, for when [s]he has stood the test [s]he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - Jame 1:12 (ESV)