“Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.”

The title of this post comes from a quote by writer Truman Capote and it is absolutely perfect because today I’m going to be sharing with you my experiences with failure.

Last weekend I was hanging out at a friends house.  We  were on our computers uploading photos when I decided to take a detour and check my email. In my inbox was an email form the ConnectHer organization I knew instantly it contained the results of the Girls Impact the World Film Completion which I had entered. My friend and I were so excited, I was feeling confident about the results. But the second I opened the email it was as if I had been shot, my excitement and confidence lied dead; my video was not listed as one of the finalists. 

As of today I am not in the running for the $5,000 prize or Harvard red carpet event or the chance to meet with some amazing people in the woman's rights and film industries. I Failed.

My thoughts were: I worked for two months on that film. Woke up at 5am, went to bed at 2am researched, filmed, and edited it all by myself,  when I was done I shared it with everybody – literally - all my Fb, Instagram, phone, and email contacts.  Not only was I letting myself  down but I felt I had failed all the people who believed and supported me as well.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
   ― Maya Angelou

Failure, losing - not winning,  it’s something I’ve been dealing with a lot recently. At this point in my life I’m trying many  new things, putting myself out there, and yes failing…a lot!  But at a certain point I’ve come to realize that sometimes no matter how much effort we put in, winning is out of our control. My friend said something to me after she watched me cry over the results, she said “your time will come. I promise”,  that simple statement gave me comfort because it  reminded me that sometime we just have to  surrender and  have faith that all is working out for the best.

If I’ve learned anything from loosing , its that every failure is a lesson in success, and by learning from failures when success is achieved it  has soooo much more (as Truman Capote put it) flavor.

You know,  looking back on this experience it was hardly a failure at all. For the first time I created a film, for the first time I used my creativity to make a difference, for the first time I was able to get people to listen, and I loved every moment of it. I may not have won in the way I had imagined but I won in a way that meant so much more.  

xoxo Summer

PS: The amount of support I got on my Girls Impact The World film was just amazing, thank you, thank you, thank you! I encourage you to keep sharing this video so that we can work towards the better representation of women in the media! http://bit.ly/girlsimpact1

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” ― Robert F. Kennedy

My Camera Has Arrived!!!

 

It has arrived.  The Canon Rebel  T3i that I had been saving up for, for a very, very long time, is finally in my hands! My pockets are empty - down right depleted, but my creative mind is full and I cant wait to introduce you to the creative genius up in there.

“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.” - Destin Sparks

Simply said,  this camera is going to give me the magic ability to create and express with you in ways beyond words! I currently have hundreds of blog post ideas , and now with my camera the list  includes photography, fashion shoots, videos, and morrrrrre….yep I can’t wait!

Beyoncé and Chimamanda: Tell’em Ladies!

While all of us were writing our new years resolutions Beyoncé and Chimamanda Adichie were already checking 10 things off of their lists. Beyonce dropped her visual album Beyoncé that has exploded into outer space since it’s release this month.  One of the songs featured striking words for women all over the world.  by author Chimamanda Adichie!

I'm sure you already know a few of Betonce's new songs such as “Pretty Hurts” and “Drunk in Love” ft. husband Jay-Z. But listening  to the whole album (which I have done multitudinously), what I’m liking the messages of empowerment  many of the songs have. As you know  I have become a die hard feminists over the past few months so I highly approve!

***Check out my documentary Women in the World of Media , results of competition coming soon!***

Anyways, back to the facts.  As  provocative  and risqué  as some may say  Beyoncé's new album is, I think she did an inspiring job at speaking her truth about feminism and sending an empowering message to women. One of these powerful songs is  “***Flawless” which will have you saying "BOW DOWN BITCHES" Here's a preview...

YES!!!! "Flawless" features rousing words about feminism by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah! REPRSENTING NAIJA! Here are her words...

“We teach girls to shrink themselves,
to make themselves smaller.
We say to girls,
‘You can have ambition,
but not too much.
You should aim to be successful,
but not too successful.
Otherwise you will threaten the man.’
Because I am female,
I am expected to aspire to marriage.
I am expected to make my life choices
always keeping in mind that
marriage is the most important.
Now marriage can be a source of
joy and love and mutual support.
But why do we teach to aspire to marriage
and we don’t teach boys the same?
We raise girls to see each other as competitors –
not for jobs or for accomplishments,
which I think can be a good thing,
but for the attention of men.
We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings
in the way that boys are.
Feminist: the person who believes in the social,
political and economic equality of the sexes.”

Click Here to view Adichies's talk titled “We should all be feminists.”  .

WE FLAWLESS, LADIES TELL’EM!

Hello 2014 | Day 1 of 365

Happy New Year y'all! 2013 went so quick, but I guess I must face the fact that it's over. 

It was a pretty good year. Turned 16. Learned how to Ski. Got a Car. Spent time in NYC. Started this blog. Met amazing new friends. Found a way to make a difference. It's been good. 

But I have a feeling this year unlike 2013 is a year of intention, and opportunity. A chance to dream up a new future and put out what I want to come in.  Things are going to change, I'm going to change. Just a feeling ya' know.

Truth is we are always changing, the question is how. I think 2014 is going to answer that question in more ways than I have time to explain. 

Here's to the past, future, and day 1 of 356. Have a good one. - Summer