Check Out Aniya Hicks’ Story

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Aniya Hicks.

Hi Aniya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia; I grew up mostly on the southside of Atlanta, where schools didn’t teach students about computers and technology, and to get that type of learning, you had to go to an expensive school or “rich people school.” I’ve always been a down-low type of girl who does not like being the center of attention, and to this day, I am still like that. I suffer from clinical anxieties and severe depression, so that would mostly explain why I like being down low and not too much out there. 

With my anxieties, I always have doubts and fears about everything and everyone, and sometimes, it stops me from doing things I want to do, like meeting new people. So, when I figured out that I wanted to go into the gaming field I had many doubts about whether I was capable of doing it or not, and I have to say I shocked myself in many ways. I’m currently a full-time student majoring in game design and development with a minor in software engineering at Kennesaw State University. I’ve always had a thing for games and an interest in how they were made since I was little, but I didn’t start to play games until 2019, which is the year I graduated from high school and the money that friends and family gave me as a graduation present, I purchased a PlayStation 4. 

I was one of those kids who knew what they wanted to major in as soon as they got out of high school and into college, but I was also one of those kids who had a lot of self-doubt. I am now a junior, and my expected graduation date is May 2025. As a black woman going into a predominately male field of work, I can say it is nerve-wracking, but I always say that when you’re doing what you want to do and have a passion for it, things are going to go your way, whether you are scared or not. But it only gives me a push because, in this field, a lot of people doubt that “you won’t be able to do “or “you’re not smart enough,” especially males because they think they are the only ones who can work a computer and understand it, but those doubts only conceive you if you let it. 

I’m pretty good at blocking what people say and what people think because some people are just projecting, and that is mostly how they feel about themselves. I would like to grow my social media, for one, to let other black girls who are interested in gaming or technology chase their dreams and never let anybody tell them they can’t or “they can’t make money playing games” because you most definitely can and I am walking witness to that and always give black girls a little insight of what the daily challenges are and how to overcome them. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey of becoming a game developer has not been smooth and perfect, but I never let that stop me because not everything is perfect, and challenges are always going to be faced. I struggle with doubts about whether I’m smart enough to do this or if I will get the job that I want. 

I struggle with finding like-minded women like me who are interested in the same things I am interested in. I struggled for a long time with getting comfortable in a PWI, and I am a junior here at Kennesaw State University. It is still a cultural shock to me because I grew up going to a mostly black school with black and minority students. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I would like to own a gaming company created by me and I want to grow my social media so that I can be an outlet for other black girls or girls in general that would like to go into gaming or some type of technology field. I am also starting my content creator journey that mainly focuses on fashion right now and mini day-in-life videos. 

I would like to add more to my content, get more into the gaming side, and start streaming different video games and some video games that small creators created to bring more attention to their games. I am most proud of sticking to something I want to do and not letting my fears and doubts and other people’s fears and doubts block my judgment and stop me from doing what I do now. 

I am proud that I will soon have a bachelor’s degree in game design and development with a minor in software engineering. That is a huge flex, and I love every bit of it. Something that sets me apart from others is going into a field like gaming because there are not too many who go into this type of field. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To stay true to myself and never let the outside world come in between your world. Never let anybody, or tell you it is impossible or you’re not smart enough. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Aniyatrinity
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Aniyatrinity/featured
• TikTok: @AniyaTrinity & Twitch: @AniyaTrinity