Thanksgiving

Well Thanksgiving is coming up and I hope I get ham instead of turkey. lol. Either ay I will be in Houston with the family and my little nephew. It will be nice to have a week with the family and just chill and relax.

Today was cool, work tried to stress me. Two clients just had outrageous demands and I had to quell them. The bottomline is this is my company and I hold the upper hand, as much of a learning experience this is, I will not be undervalued. I really sounded like I went up onto a pedastool, but remember when you go into business for yourself the only person who puts a price on your work is yourself. Have confidence in your abilities.

My cousin is coming in town this weekend. Its so funny because he likes this girl a lot and I've been in his same position before. He's young though he will learn not to put all his eggs in one basket. ;) Either way her and her cousin are coming in town with him and it should be a hell of a weekend. We are going to party Friday and maybe chill with some jschoolers on Saturday.

My love life? All is good I've learned to be more patient and understand I know what I need and want. Hell idk everything is just good right now. The funny part is I ran into this girl I started to have a crush on at the photo store today. Always interesting when you see a crush somewhere and its like 'do I go over' 'do I not go over' its so funny. Either way I did and when we talked everything picked up like it never left, I like that about her. She is going back to Brazil for a while near December. I have kind of been ignoring her, but only because I started liking her and we were just supposed to be friends. Anyway, hopefully I can see her before she goes back for a while. I'd really like to show (not tell) her how I feel. Its funny I talked about my cousin obsessing over one girl, but I wrote a whole story about a woman I like. Lol I guess we are related.

Anyway, I hope anyone reading this enjoys their holiday and my random rants. Remember, never give up on your dreams!!

Life is amazing!

I can't even describe how amazing everything is in my life right now. It is really a surreal experience that is hard to explain. All my dreams and wishes are coming true faster than I ever imagined.

I'm only 26 years old and I already have a master's degree, my own company, and live in the city of my dreams. Every day more and more amazing things are happening to me and I just have so many people to thank for putting me in this privileged position that I am currently in.

To have the privilege to be able to go back to my alma mater and speak about my experience leaves my speechless, and to be a keynote speaker at that speaks volumes.

Sometimes you work really hard and have to take a step back to see everything that you have accomplished. Since, I went to grad school I have not really had time to do that, even after I graduated. Now I feel like fame's homecoming is a chance for me to reflect.

Not only to reflect, but to educate, party, mentor and re-live the place that is so epic to me. I never realized how big a homecoming could be until now. It is really everything wrapped up in one.

I can't wait and I'm only 4 days out. (3 as I speak really.) I've accomplished so much and only have more in store. I'm so excited to be in this current moment!

Famu Keynote Speaker on Graudate school

I will have the honor of speaking at my alma mater about graduate school and the importance of it down the road. I sent this bio to the Dean and it made me reflect on my journey. Take a listen.

My name is Tommy Hawkins. I'm 26 years old and from Dallas, Texas. I recently graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism with my masters in journalism in May 2014. I graduate from Florida A&M University in Fall 2012 with my bachelors in broadcast Journalism.

When I graduated from high school I started at community college because I didn't know what I wanted to do. After receiving an opportunity to go to FAMU, I began to develop my journalism skills by becoming a staff writer for the FAMUAN covering the Women's Basketball beat. As I continued to develop my writing I became interested in video. I then interned with TCC and FAMU Athletic departments working as multimedia intern. As I began to take advanced video course at FAMU my skills and confidence grew. During my last semester at FAMU, I took Advanced TV News and SPecialized TV News (although it was recommended not to.) along with 5 other classes, I was interning at TCC's television station 15 hours a week, and I had a part-time job as an apartment leasing agent where I accounted for %30 of the %85 percent of move ins.

One professor planted the idea of grad school in my brain about a year before I graduated and considering everyone in my family had a master's, and salaries were not looking promising after graduation, I decided to apply to 3 grad schools. I was ecstatic when I found out I got into Columbia and embarked on a 10 month journey of some of the most incredible journalists in the world.

I minored in science at FAMU and despite my expertise in sports, I decided to focus on science video. I took advanced video seminars with the top professors at the University and also completed 2 science courses where I had the opportunity to work with Marguerite Holloway, a renowned science journalists.

After graduating, another student and I started a video production company called Hawk IV Productions, LLC. We started the company on July 1st. So far we have grossed $6,000 dollars in sales during our 4 brief months. I am the CFO and CEO, which means I handle the financials as well as the generation of new revenue and all other business matters. Its challenging its tough and I love it. I'm happy to be where I am and wouldn't change my journey for anything. 

Back at it

Yes I took a little hiatus, but I'm back. You know I'm all about the money so business has been great.

Essentially, I graduated almost 5 months ago, but it feels like just yesterday. People are so caught up in what your job is and what your doing that they are not taking time to absorb such a high level of self-discovery. I really believe you leave grad school with more confidence you ever had in your life. Your surrounded by people of such high esteem that when you leave school with their stamp of approval it feels like a writ of passage.

I now know that what I'm doing is exactly what it should be. I want to make this post short because the lesson is. "There are always more steps and growth to be had in life, but remember your core character is what carries happiness into your life."

#thatisall

peace.....

Good Days

Right after the tough days come the good days, which is the yin and yang of the world that you must accept.

Currently Wiz Khalifa speaks about this in his latest album when he says relax everything is coming to you, just relax.

If I didn't experience the tough days, I wouldn't be prepared to make that same tough day a good day later in life.  In this case I gained a lesson and it made my good day that much better. (mo betta blues)

Anyway, this is a short post because the lesson is simple. No=Yes

Sounds weird, but all it means is as much negative there is positive. When you believe, have faith, and love whatever you desire in life you will attain.

Your reality is your own. It cannot be duplicated. It is only understood by you. Love Yourself because when you do loving everyone else is easy.

PEACE AND LOVE!!

Tough Days

Today was a long stressful day, filled with my roommates bitching about non-sense. I could get into all the semantics, but it would be pointless, what is that really going to solve. Anyway, besides all the bullshit I dealt with today, I had an amazing day with a beautiful woman. It's so refreshing to see black pride and power prevail through the chains and shackles of America. I live in Harlem and I'm honored to walk these same gritty streets as the greats who came before me.

Sometimes I get wrapped up in all the drama of life and I don’t step back and realize how far I have come. The young man who my family is so proud of. The entrepreneur that I always aspired to become. The courage to endure critics and take rejection because I know I love myself and that is all that matters to me. The mastery of love is a difficult and complex thing that will take me years to perfect.

I guess ultimately what I’m trying to say is that despite all the drama we create in our lives and yes we create it. We must understand that it is there for a reason and it is there to teach us. To make you a stronger person than you were before. The power to realize you made a mistake and rectify it. The chance to say damn I didn’t charge enough or I didn’t have the greatest audio. Don’t beat yourself up about, accept what you learned from the experience and move forward. Life is about capturing the brief moments we have and at 26 I’m happy for every breath of air I take.

Late Night Blog

So this is the late night blog. Life After graduation. Listening to Check me Out with Nipsey Hustle. My good friend Antonio next to me, about to hit the LES.

Everyday I wake up I feel privileged to live another day on this beautiful earth. The mind is what it creates and through those experiences your personal feelings of inner happiness guide the essence of your life. IF you have positive thoughts all the time than you have positivity in your life. You definitely experience negative emotions, anger, sadness, annoyance, etc. Despite all of these thing you know their is a silver lining and you understand the bad only leads to more good. If you believe this it will happen. I want to give you a PERSONAL LIFE AFTER GRADUATION MOMENT.

Went to the CPA at Score mentors and discussed options for my financial situation. Found out I was worried about too much and needed to focus on revenue. Music to my ears. Sat home and thought about what my good friend Joel said. Wait if I have a business location I can write off that space as an expense, then when equal that in revenue, the money isn't taxed. This is a genius concept. I feel so empowered. Loving life. Onto the next beautiful discovery.

Early morning grind

I went to bed at 4 a.m. and woke up at 8 a.m. had some french toast (did not cook) and then went to work. Its currently 10:30 and I've taken pictures and posted my apartment across social media and on 2 website listings, secured a steady video gig for sundays and sent an invoice. Good early start, but still plenty to do. I'm actually kind of tired because I'm not used to being up this early. Having lunch with a friend an then having a couple of conference calls to hopefully generate some more money. We will see what happens, but until then keep hustling and remember after graduation is when life really starts.

My latest post

So  I'm posting this to my blog because I have to write everyday. People say you should only be good at one thing. They settle too much. You can do anything you want to. Now I'm running a production company and despite my inexperience I will prevail. However, does that mean I don't want to be a great writer? No. It just means that my mind can only focus on so many things, but if we could get rid of sleep somehow, then there are no excuses.

Since this is my life after graduation blog, I'm really just going to say how I feel. Its crazy moving from the suburbs to New York. I'm writing its crazy and wanting to erase it because what happened was supposed to happen. You must believe that in every part of your life. Its not crazy it was supposed to happen. It was what the Universe had in store for you. If I could recommend anything, I would recommend reading the Alchemist. This book is about a path that everyone can understand. In that book is you and in you is everyone, we are all part of a larger Universe and larger conciseness. Love yourself.

Columbia Journalism School 6 weeks before graduation.

Well my 10 months of graduate school is winding down. I am sad and happy at the same time. Happy to reach another milestone in my life and sad that my 10 months at Columbia University is coming to an end. I don't know if I'm staying in NYC, I don't know where I'm working and I don't know what my future holds. All I can do is live in the moment.

So currently I'm applying for jobs and finishing up my numerous environmental science assignments. Three stories, nature assignment and a long form magazine article. Multimedia storytelling, on-air skills and audience/engagement are the few classes I have left. I plan to take full advantage of the time that I have left to perform in these classes.

Although the year is coming to an end I will be working harder than ever as I close out my career at Columbia University. Do I have any regrets? No. What did I learn that was most important? I am capable of anything I put my mind too. The People? Everyone has their own unique gifts that can be utilized in an open journalism market. What was the best part? The people of course, never a dull moment. Would I give any advice to future students coming in? Try everything and be open minded to learning new things, 10 months goes a lot faster than you think.

What are my plans afterward? Well that's the most interesting part actually. Going to the career fair made me realize all the potential talents I have and how they can be utilized in a multi platform media company. I have sports experience in all aspects of journalism. I have also done traditional broadcast news which allows me flexibility in the corporate network world. I have a unique skill set including writing, reporting, social media, videography, editing, and producing. Making me extremely versatile and available for more opportunities regardless of where I work. Then my environmental science reporting gives me a lot of freedom to freelance and become my own expert on important science topics. Then you factor in my entrepreneurship ability and constant thirst to become my own boss, I feel extremely confident. Even in talking to other students, I believe thats an important thing that is missing from the conversation, everyone's own unique gifts. People at columbia J school have many gifts including:great editing, investigative experts, html wizards, programming experts etc... As your time comes to an end you begin to grasp the potential of yourself and learning about yourself is the most important thing, especially in your 20's.

Overall I would say use your creativity to the fullest, and enjoy every moment of life because you never get it back and you never know when it could end. 

Columbia Journalism School 7 weeks before graduation

Yes its been a while since I've posted in this blog. School has kept me extremely busy of course and I like it. Both my classes this semester have been amazing and after the career fair I'm confident about my future. My future will be brighter the harder I work. Personally people believe you work your hardest in school then you become comfortable with a job. I'm the opposite I have never been a fan of grades or the whole process of completing assignments without pay. Yeah I know its probably weird, but the idea of fending for myself and hustling with my talents and skills is so much more appealing. Freelancing, A steady job and another part time job is my plan. I do have a lot of student debt. The most important thing is I'm confident in my abilities and myself. During the career fair I was able to talk to science magazines, digital publications, traditional broadcast news companies, sports, and freelance video. This really made me realize the eclectic mix of skills I have and that I'm not limited to a job. There will be a lot of opportunities to entrepreneur my abilities on my own.

So now I'm focused on working really hard before graduation so I have strong material to show after I leave. I have 2 documentaries in the works and a potential of 4 articles to be published for my Environmental Science class. Mastering the craft of Science writing is important and will further enhance my freelance freedom. My multimedia piece about Superhero's is going great and my camera skills are improving everyday.

I guess the most important advice I can give is have confidence in yourself. Sometimes you can be hard on yourself and I'm like this all the time. However, when you sit down and have fluid conversations with recruiters and they like your work and attitude, its a great feeling. It shows you the hard work you put in throughout your career has paid off. It gives you a true realization about how talented you are. I'm a pretty modest person and I don't like to brag. I have confidence in myself and don't have insecurities. However, when you put value into what I call 'proof in the pudding' or letting my work do the talking and not myself, hearing a potential employer notice your strong suits and show interest is extremely gratifying.

But I'm here to give you advice about life after graduation, well undergrad graduation at least. I think the best advice I can give is in graduate school you really figure out who you really are. At this point I know what I want to do, what I can do, and that I want to do it on my own. What does that mean? It means I don't want a relationship, I don't want to work for the same company for long and I know I need to continue to enhance my resources to navigate the new journalism business climate. At this point I feel like no better profession fits into my hustler mentality than this one. So to the reader I would say, whatever makes you happy and doesn't feel like work, that is what you should do with your life!