Life Been Lifein’ — But I Ain’t Stopped Yet

Hey y’all,

Whew. I know it’s been a while since I tapped in on here, and trust — I didn’t mean to ghost y’all. But life had hands, and I was catching all of ‘em.

Let’s start with the truth: I’ve been going through it these last few months. Some of y’all know, some don’t — I lost my job back in July. That was a heavy hit. Bills didn’t stop, responsibilities didn’t let up, and the stress? It was sitting real heavy on my chest. Money got low… like real low. But somehow, some way, the miracles kept coming. I ran out of money but never outta grace, support, or favor. That part.

Even in the middle of all that, I had to keep pushing. I defended my portfolio and officially stepped into this dissertation life (pray for me, please!). I also started a new job, which was a blessing, but came with its own challenges of adjusting and balancing everything on my plate.

Y’all know I’m a mama first, and my daughter? She been doing her thing in sports — so guess who ended up coaching her flag football team? Yep, me. And now I’m also coaching track and field. Didn’t see that coming, but it’s been beautiful watching these kids grow and knowing I got to be part of their journey.

On the academic side, I wrapped up teaching my Social Transformation Studies classes at Kansas State University, which was a proud moment. Then, I dug deep and turned in the first three chapters of my dissertation. It took everything in me to get those words out, especially while dealing with so much emotionally and mentally.

And this Friday? I’ll be defending my dissertation proposal. I’m nervous, excited, and ready all at once. It’s a major step in this Ph.D. journey — and I’m learning to celebrate the small wins while still climbing.

Oh! One more thing — I’m heading to NCORE in New York City for the first time! This conference is about equity and justice in higher ed, so you know I’m excited to soak it all in and be surrounded by other changemakers.

But let me be real — I almost didn’t come back to the blog. I kept telling myself I didn’t have the time, or the words, or the energy. But this space? It’s sacred. It’s where I get to be fully me, where I get to pour into y’all and pour out the truth.

So this is me, recommitting. I’m back, and I’m ready to give y’all the real — the wins, the losses, the lessons, and the tea.

If you’ve been holding on too, just know you ain’t alone. I’m right there with you, figuring it out day by day. And I promise, even when it looks like you’re running on empty — miracles still show up.

Stay tuned, fam. We just getting started again.

With love & resilience,

Char’dae