Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Hardy.
Lena, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a child, I realized very quickly that I was extremely creative and driven. From winning talent show competitions to writing contests, I knew that I would find my way in the world if I continued to work hard and remained prepared for every opportunity.
Throughout my education, I was involved in a number of activities, I loved performing on stage, playing sports, and being a part of a team. I had a lot of dreams and I knew the woman I wanted to be but I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my life. During my junior year of high school, I joined the yearbook staff and later became the editor. From my time as the yearbook editor, I became interested in being a journalist which is what I decided to study in college. I was accepted into the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. My original major was journalism but after a conversation with the dean, my focus shifted to Broadcast News, Apparently to the dean, I had the face for television. After four years of long nights at the tv station, early mornings in the library, and lots of hotcakes from McDonalds, I graduated with my degree and returned home…without a job.
Before and after graduation, I applied for several positions and when I didn’t hear back from most of the companies in my field, I started looking for other opportunities of employment. I found a position within my county’s government and started my professional career. This particular position required work ethic, self-motivation, and organization. After two years in this position, I transitioned to the Communications Department where I’m currently employed. It took almost three years post grad but I was finally able to get a job in my field as the Communications and Media Specialist for Douglas County Board of Commissioners Office. As the Communication and Media Specialist, some of my responsibilities include writing press releases, updating our county newsletter, and hosting, producing, and editing content for our original shows on Dctv23.
From my degree, work experience, and need for a creative outlet, I created the digital publication named Legends Magazine which is hosted on Issuu.com and under the umbrella of my communications consulting agency, Lena Media. Legends Magazine would not be possible without the support of my family and friends who contribute each issue with original work on a variety of interesting topics for our readers. These individuals must be acknowledged by name, they are Brittney Bonner, Ashlee Rouse, Zoe Ruddock, and Lauren Franklin.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As I previously mentioned, it was definitely a challenge to land my first full-time job after graduation. I was in an uncertain space, trying to find purpose in my life. However, I’m glad I decided to return home and gain work experience where I could make an impact in my community. I also started back competing in pageants due to my new income.
For four years straight, I competed and represented as Miss Douglas County USA in the Miss Georgia USA State Pageant. Although I didn’t walk away with the crown, I found and discovered parts of myself I didn’t know before and I was able to inspire the young women in my community to think and dream bigger.
Elaine Welteroth says in her recent book, “More Than Enough”, “When the world tells you to shrink, expand.” Well you can say, I became extremely tired of the world telling me to shrink; therefore, I no longer believe in limitations or fear and I expand with my goals and dreams everyday.
Please tell us about Legends Magazine.
Legends Magazine is a publication for the individuals that have never felt quite normal and never aspired to be ordinary. It’s the publication intended to make you think, feel, and believe. To believe in yourself and believe in others around you. Imagine what we could accomplish together if we all believed we were legends? I truly believe we are all legends. We just have to take the time to figure out what we’re legendary in.
As the Editor in Chief and creator of the magazine, it’s my job to organize, edit, and design content for each issue. Each columnists, provides design elements and writes on a specific topic relating the theme and relevance of that particular month. Each issue, we also spotlight one person as the “Legend of the Month” with a full interview.
Since its launch in September 2019 and three issues, we’ve reached approximately 1,000 reads and over 3,500 impressions. For the year of 2020, each issue will publish once every other month to maintain quality and substance.
Legends Magazine is different from others because this magazine doesn’t have any aspiration of being contained in a box. We’re far more concerned with building the box, painting a mural on the box, and knocking the box apart to create something else.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wish I would’ve started the magazine earlier. That’s the only thing I would’ve done differently so far. Sometimes my mind moves a mile a minute and sometimes, I wish I could slow it down so I can write down all of my ideas and follow through with the good ones.
My advice to anyone with an idea that keeps popping up in their mind, write it down and turn your vision into action. Don’t wait until the idea is perfect or the timing is right but you’re just wasting time. Nothing will ever be absolutely perfect. Start and improve with time. God has placed that idea on your heart for a reason. Just do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://issuu.com/legends_mag/docs/legends_janfeb2020
- Email: lenalegendsmag@gmail.com
- Instagram: lena_muree
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.hardy.5
Image Credit:
Johnny Cain, Cat Harper, Brittney Bonner
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