Full Circle Moment

"To travel a circle is to journey over the same ground time and time again. To travel a circle wisely is to journey over the same ground for the first time. In this way, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the circle, a path to where you wish to be. And when you notice at last that the path has circled back into itself, you realize that where you wish to be is where you have already been ... and always were." -Neale Donald Walsch

14 years ago, I was a sophomore at Temple University when NAMIC Philadelphia extended an invitation to students from the Temple Association of Black Journalists (TABJ) to attend their executive speed networking event at Comcast .

Now the day of the event, for whatever reason I was running late so I missed the entire opening. By the time I walked in, the speed networking had already started. I’m flustered with doubt, overwhelmed with all of these thoughts of why I didn’t deserve to be in this room. But at this point there was no turning back.

We had about seven minutes with each executive to share our elevator pitch. I had enough time to sit with three of the six executives.

I’m paired with Tina Simmons last and I’m nervous as hell because I had already convinced myself that I missed the opportunity to make the best impression because I was late.

But Tina saw something in me that I clearly didn’t see in myself.

As our time winds down, she asks me what my plans were for the summer. I’m thinking I’ll just pick up extra hours at the retirement home I was working at since I wasn’t planning on taking summer classes. I was working nights so I could go to school during the day.

She says “how would you like to intern at Comcast? It’s a paid opportunity.”

I was searching for a job that aligned with my studies (journalism) and this was it! Of course, I said yes. After some follow-up, I went on to intern in Corporate Communications and Community Investment. I showed up to that internship every single day like it was my full-time job. I didn't have a choice. I was a non-traditional student with a three-year-old son and another baby on the way. Showing up paid off when I got hired full-time as an executive assistant, where I worked for five years.

I kept in touch with Tina periodically throughout the years but had not seen her since that day 14 years ago.

Fast forward to the 2024 Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania #TaketheLead where Tina was among the honorees. My heart was bursting with pride to not only tell her thank you, but to show her— that chance she took on me, I was paying it forward.

When I took my summer interns to Comcast last year, we spent the day in the same room that I met Tina in on October 21, 2010 (yes, I found the event flyer).

I shared this story with them— the importance of showing up, on time…and if you’re late, be prepared! (But seriously don’t be late).

All of the relationships I developed as an intern ( Tiffany T. Charisse Lillie Ky'a Jackson Christine Jereb Marcia Gelbart Jamila Patton Anderson ) I still have today.

Value and nurture relationships because you never know when life will come full circle, and where you’ll land!

14 years ago, 埃森哲 was one of the sponsors for the NAMIC event!

Look where I landed.

Thank you, Tina, for seeing me.

#TaketheLead #LetThereBeChange