Today we’d like to introduce you to Charmaine Simmons.
Charmaine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m originally from a small military town, Hinesville, GA. It’s one of the perfect locations Georgia offers in my opinion. It’s close enough to the beach to catch a glistening tan, but a central enough location to travel to experience the arts and culture of Atlanta.
I recognized at an early age, that opportunity is what allows us to create the space in which we thrive on a high functioning level. Coming from a long line of educators, a grandmother who taught in the school system for over 35 years and my mother over 30, they spent a lot of time encouraging and molding the leaders, innovators, and talents of today. I’v always found that to be inspiring. However, following in their footsteps, I wanted to make my own impact on future generations, but wanted it to look different and make it my own. It’s one of the greatest feelings, knowing something I instilled in a young life today just may have a positive impact on our future world.
I’ve filled an array of job capacities in the educational system. From classroom educator to a program specialist. Possessing the opportunity to have different viewpoints in the education sector really pushed me to bring all of my experiences together to start Rock Positivity.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting anything is never at first a smooth road. My all-time favorite quote, “When something is easy, you usually let it go the same way” by Nora Roberts. I apply this to every aspect of my life to keep me focused on what’s important to me. I’ve had to learn a whole new world of business, marketing, and service all at the same time. Starting a business definitely takes time, a few dollars and determination. YouTube has been my friend throughout this process since I’ve had to learn how to do many tasks myself. It is time-consuming and can sometimes be frustrating but, a great business owner once told me, learn how to do things yourself, when your help fails you, you can keep running your business because you know how to operate the different functions of it. Also adding, it’s a marathon, not a race.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rock Positivity story. Tell us more about the business.
Rock Positivity simply Inspires. We provide tools and resources to inspire all youth advocates to create positive environments for our youth to become confident, self-directed world changers. Rock Positivity is a movement for our youth! We support non-profit organizations and other institutional settings that improve their lives. We are heavily involved in the organizing and facilitation process of workshops, camps and other developmental programs for kids and teens combining the worlds of S.T.E.(A).M and Social & Emotional Learning. My background with gifted education and being a certified school counselor provides the opportunity to build up the whole child simultaneously. I also write a blog about an array of topics beneficial to youth advocacy, topics range from events happing here in Atlanta that will elevate our youth’s experience to training that can further develop the advocate.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The education industry is one industry that has been here for a long time. Often rapidly changing with trends that are beneficial to the student and advocate, but often times placing much pressure to perform in short bits of time and then quickly transitioning to the next trend. I believe that’s what’s special about Rock Positivity, we offer the support for kids to be able to express their feelings and emotions in positive ways while understanding skills that will assist them in competing in our competitive global markets.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.rockpositivity.com
- Email: info@rockpositivity.com
- Instagram: @rockpositivity
- Facebook: @rock_positivity
- Twitter: @rockpositivity
Image Credit:
Fred Wilkins
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