Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessika Dickerson.
Jessika, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always knew I had a strong voice. I was told at a very early age that my voice would be used to do great things in this world. I never understood why or in what space but it was spoken over me so it became a question of if I believed it. In kindergarten, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Unlike other kids who name traditional careers like being a doctor or a policeman, I stood up in front of my class and said ‘when I grow up, I want to be me”. The silence in the room was broken up by my mother clapping and saying she loved me from the crowd of parents. From that day forward, the best thing I could ever be was me. I entered the gates of Spelman College in August of 2015 and coming from northern Virginia, my suburban white-dominated community never felt like home. Within my first year I learned more about who I was and who I am destined to become in all of my 18 years of life prior. I owe that to Spelman and all who entered my life that first year.
In the spring of 2017, I had a dream that I started a women’s community that focused on God, Career and Selflove through blogging. If you know me you know that I always keep a journal on me and besides my bed because when an idea hits me, I have to jot it down. This dream reoccurred for three days and each night I wrote down something different in the notebook. The name Workin Girl, a blog focusing on helping women grow in Christ, Career and loving themselves always. I wouldn’t say that from that moment things took off but I will see that through the journey of getting to where I am today started because of I seed I decided was worthy of planting.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I embrace challenges, in fact, I ask for them but starting a blog and getting people to buy into what you are putting out has been one of the hardest things I have been working through over the last 1.5 years. For starters, I have never done this before. I have never shared my personal thoughts with strangers, publically talked about my love for God, or even built an “Instagram brand”. I always asked what if I say something that offends someone, or what if my interpretation is wrong and through this journey of understanding what Workin Girl looked like beyond my paper I was learning more about myself. Bringing forth gifts that I didn’t know I had and that has been the most fulfilling part. That through this challenge of “figuring it out”, I have realized three things. 1.”figuring it out” comes with no real finish line. I’m going to always be learning and growing in different ways for the rest of my life. 2. In a struggle, there is self-discovery and three. I am the only person stopping me.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Workin Girl is a women’s empowerment community focused on helping women grow in areas in life that matter – God, career, and self-love. In the last 1.5 years, I have introduced a range of ways I push this mission but primarily it has been through blogging. Taking my thoughts and sharing them on paper for those to read, resonate and grow. The key here is growth and my goal are to push women to become better in these three areas. Areas that I have and currently are struggling in, that’s why our motto is “women workin to win together. In addition to writing on the topics of self-love, career and God, I also have a professional service offering where I help young adults with their professional identity and development. Through this, I offer resume consultations, Linkedin review, interview preparation, and recently a job and resource service. Through this service alone I have helped 23 young college students begin to answer the question of what do I want to do post-graduation and what steps do I need to take to get there.
During this one-hour session, I combine my career goals service with an added 30 min job and opportunity search to give students a live demo on how they can find their next move. Students I have worked with have gotten more views on the LinkedIn, have made realizations about their passions which resulted in college major changes and prepped students for upcoming interviews that they got!
I am so proud of how much I have grown in myself and also how much Workin Girl has impacted the women who engage with me. I have received so many kind texts and DM’s from women around the country telling me that my content really helps them and that they are routing me on. Of course, I love that but that isn’t what keeps me going. What keeps me going is that Workin Girl is not about me and neither is it being carried out by me alone. I am simply a vessel to reach people in the way that God wants them to be reached through his word. I give thanks to him for allowing me to be a part of this greater plan and see with my own eyes how it is working.
Workin Girl is a community. I don’t just post blogs and leave them for readers. I create opportunities to engage and interact with me as well as other Workin Women. On Wednesday I host an IG live series called “Workin Girl Wednesday” where I interview workin women in various fields to talk about their journey, passion and purposed filled work. We have had a Ms. Tennesee, a 3rd-year law student, and Nzali Scales of Zaza’s Kitchen. And our line-up for the upcoming months is going to be amazing! We really are women workin together.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First and foremost I give glory to God. He has truly shown out in all areas of my life including the beginning stages of Workin Girl. I am just a girl trying to bring people to Jesus and give hope to women that they can win in Christ, Career and Self-love.
My mom is amazing. She has been a warrior and true superwoman throughout my life. She always made a way when there seemed to be no way and I am appreciative of the woman she is because it is why I am the woman I am. She still doesn’t understand this Instagram stuff but every time I post a blog, she is always the first person to read and text it out to her friends. I can tell that she is so proud of me and I am happy to say that I have given her joy through my works.
My boyfriend Amir has been a light in my life from the moment I met him. If there is a cheerleader of all cheerleaders it would be him. He has been my soundboard for crazy ideas, my YouTube partner when trying to learn how to do something and even a Workin Girl unpaid editor. He means the world to me and to have someone who believes in you is one thing but also speaks life into your dreams is truly heaven sent. I am beyond thankful for who he has been to me through this process and the many hats he continues to take on.
I would also say that I am fortunate to have my friends and sisters through my sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and through my alma mater Spelman College. I have been gifted with being surrounded by amazing black women who have poured into me over the last four years and 1.5 years with Workin Girl. Through late-night calls, tears rooted in doubt and inspiring words of encouragement to keep going. It has been a journey for sure but having my Spelman sisters and sorors along my side has made all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.workingirlblog.com
- Email: info@workingirlblog.com
- Instagram: @workingirlblog
- Facebook: @workingirlblog
Image Credit:
Jordan Mateos Photography and Ross Gordon
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