Today we’d like to introduce you to Ama Kessie.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ama. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Being in your twenties is quite an experience because you are caught in this duality of being hopeful and to be honest, also fearful of what the future holds. However, even in the hustle and bustle of this thing called life, when sometimes I can have an uncertainty of where I may end up; I know that God is with me every step of the way. First things first, my name is pronounced Ah-ma Kess-see, and I was born and raised in Georgia, so I guess you could call me a real “Georgia Peach”. One twist though, I was born to my amazing Ghanian parents, and I will rep Ghana all day every day. Being raised by them has been nothing short of a blessing because it has given me this distinctive view of everything around me.
Now, Let’s fast forward to a few months before my last year of college, where what I would call a divine nudge from God caused me to make a pivot into an unforeseen direction. There, I was about to finish my undergraduate studies in Nursing when God called me to a totally different field that I had no idea I was going to pursue. Moreover, in the back of my mind, I always knew that I was destined to do more than one thing in life because one can be appointed for more than one purpose. I did vacillate with the idea of entering into a field totally mysterious to me or sticking with what I knew, but I understood that I had to make a decision.
With just a word from God, I went for it and within a few weeks; I had registered at my university for a minor in Journalism [ya girl felt official]. Next, I joined the National Association of Black Journalists and was eager to get some experience (an internship), so I could really see if this was actually for me. The funny thing is that trying to find an internship with no experience at all and only one month left before school let out was such a daunting task for me to accomplish. However, it is important to remember that God can call the “unqualified”. One thing was for sure, I was determined and ended up getting an internship at one of Georgia’s major television and radio networks. Also, taking Journalism classes exposed me to a world that I have truly grown to love. However, I knew I wanted to do more, so I started my own project. “Everyday I’m Grinding TV”! It is an interview series that highlights people around Atlanta who are just grinding in life. It is a plus if they have a strong belief in God. I believe that people need to see those who are grinding for His kingdom, as well as in real life.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would be remiss if I did not mention that there were obstacles that I faced along the way, but I will only narrow it down to the most significant ones. I came across the challenge of sharing my time literally between two totally different worlds. I had to make sure that I properly managed it so that I could continue to be effective in my actual major of Nursing and balance doing things for Journalism, which included other projects I had my hands in. Also, there was the battle of dealing with self-doubt and wondering if I would be able to do it all. Y’all self-doubt is real [but don’t give in to it], it is both laughable and unnecessary how much time you waste going back and forth with yourself, instead of taking the chance and just doing it. Even dealing with these obstacles, I pushed through. In retrospect, I am so happy that I listened to God and leaned in.
In addition, my advice for other women may sound like a cliche, but I think it’s justified to conclude that when you love something, you invest in it, take care of it, and will have the courage to fight for it. Therefore, I maintain that loving yourself is really crucial to how your life will develop. Also, take time to figure out what you want out of life, plan to the best of your ability [because I have realized that you cannot control everything], execute the plan, and trust God to take care of the rest. I believe that you can apply this philosophy at any stage of your life.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
Everyday I’m Grinding TV is what I would say is my first project. It showcases people who are doing amazing things in Atlanta [I pray that I will get to expand it in the near future]. I write, direct, and edit it by myself. What’s different about my show is that I want to give others a platform to talk about their work, what makes them happy, their impact, and give them the space to discuss their faith. The group of individuals this season has been phenomenal; I’ve had anywhere from a comedian, female entrepreneurs, and an even an activist. I could not be more grateful for them allowing me to share their story and brands. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences and I am planning on the talent for season 2! Also, even though I am a creative to the fullest degree, I am currently also a cardiac nurse. I just wanted to add this part in to make sure that people realize that sometimes you have to take gradual steps towards building the life you want and you may have to do more than one thing for a moment, before you can pursue something full time and that is perfectly fine.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well-positioned for?
In my opinion, women are fearless and every day they are knocking on the doors of opportunity, while also making sure that the ones who come behind them have room to get in. As a young woman, it is refreshing to see so many women grinding [pun intended] in all walks of life, from politics, sports, entertainment, business, tech, etc. In this day in age, one can really feel they can do or be anything, you just must be willing to put in the work.
Do not get me wrong, while we have come a long way as a society, we still face challenges like wage gaps and day to day microaggressions. However, to answer the latter question, I am convinced that women are more than capable of being successful in any field. It is all a matter of everyone working together [that means both men and women] to create a world that is equal in opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Email: amakessie14@gmail.com
- Instagram: @keepingit_kessie , @everydayimgrindingtv
Image Credit:
Kirsten Winston (for the main profile photo)
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