I always knew that one of three things would happen to me. One, I’d become a singer in a psychedelic rock group. Two, I’d end up a penniless poet. Or three, I’d go to college and strive to be a journalist. My life went with the latter.

Hello new friends! My name is Jessekah, and if that’s too boring, then you may call me Baby if you’d like. I got that nickname by being the shortest and youngest one in all seven of my ninth grade periods. Ever since then, it’s stuck to me like hair sticks to cheap lip gloss in the breeze. Go ahead and laugh, that was pretty funny.

I was born on the twenty-ninth of February in East Point, Georgia, and moved to my granny’s house when I was three. As a child, I loved the outdoors. I loved when clouds would crack open and spill their guts on top of me, rain water soaking my holey socks. There were times when I tried to take walks by myself, only to run back to my mother complaining that I had gotten yet another set of splinters lodged deeply into my hands and legs. Tripping, landing on rocks, running into stumps, you name it. I’ve definitely done it. However, no matter how broken and bruised I came back from the war called the environment, for as long as I can remember I have been deeply in love with the endless acres of nature. From her tangled branches, to her unfurled roads, I have fallen for it all. She is my muse.

Fast forwarding to highschool, because middle school was the pits! During those years, I had my first ever job of teaching piano to children and beginner adults. It gave me the opportunity to share something of mine with others, and that’s what I live for. I was also a very good student, and so many of the school kids liked me. I used to always think about how lucky I was, being liked that much. They would tell me all the time that “you’re the nicest thing” and “honey, you couldn’t be any more adorable.” And I’d be the one that people brought the new kids to. They’d ask me “hey, could you show them around?” And I did. By the end of me and the new kid’s tour, we’d be chatting to me like we’d known each other for eons. But that was the thing, no one knew me at all. Not even my friends. They knew stupid things like my birthday and my favorite color, but nothing important. And I’m not mad or anything, it’s not their fault. If anything, I just didn’t want them to know. It was easier to hide that way. I am very secretive and hard to figure out.

One thing that I’ve never kept secret from anyone is that I adore writing. It’s been my only favorite hobby since kindergarten, and my infatuation with it only gets deeper as the years creep upon me. The stars made me a poet, and so I’m just carrying out their work. However, in the long run, I want to be a journalist. Interviewing celebrities, world figures, social workers and everyone in between would a dream. A very, very sweet dream. Being a freshman at Piedmont College has only made me want to strive harder toward my ultimate goal, and I know that with the support and criticism of my professors and fellow peers, I will get there one of these days. I can’t wait to see what my future holds, and I’m so honored to be part of a wonderful establishment!