The summer before my freshman year at The University of Texas at Austin, which was the year 2005, I competed on a reality show on MTV, and after allowing myself to be used by the network and get type-casted as “an angry black woman,” I felt depressed and removed from everyone. However, I picked myself up and decided I would retaliate with success. I was determined to let some positive come out of the experience and use my contacts and knowledge of the television business to make some changes. I begin to have this dream: I will start my own television network for teenagers and young adults ages 14-30 and the concept is all about providing “purposeful content.” That type of content will make you laugh, cry, think, and learn all in the same breath and it will be strictly about going inside the lives of our young people and hopefully trying to make a change to the negative images that surround us everyday in the media. Let’s be real. What young oriented network is actually loyal to their mission statement or their name? MTV means MUSIC Television. I sure do miss the music. Where’s the range on VH1? Um, I don’t know if “Flavor of Love” is quality entertainment to you but I can’t bear to see my beautiful sisters making a dang fool of themselves half-naked on the tube. Not to mention how many times will we see Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton on a cover of a magazine after getting out of rehab or jail? I’m not in any way bashing these individuals or the magazines/TV network themselves, but I’m speaking of the messages the media send. It’s ok to glorify individuals like these instead of constantly putting someone on who is actually making a difference and putting their skill, talent, or natural passion to good use and not abusing those privileges that was bestowed in them. Wake up people! With all of this said two years later that dream was just that- A dream. Two years later here I am.
On a lonely Saturday night I was sitting in my bare apartment crying my head off to my best friend who I love very much. I told him that I felt like a failure because I see so many people fulfilling their dreams while I’m at a standstill waiting for something to just happen. He assured me that everything was going to be ok and that God was going to show me a way very soon. I just hung up feeling very low.
I woke up the next morning feeling slightly better so I decided to get into my car and head to my college campus to study. However, when I started driving I didn’t stop. I kept going and to where I didn’t know. It was a feeling that came over me telling me to keep going. I ended up taking a turn where I begin to go up a steep hill. I couldn’t see where I was going because there were no signs and the road was extremely curved and long. As I continued on the path I saw expensive cars and beautiful houses, and when I reached the top of the hill it seemed like the road opened up and I reached the most breathtaking view that I have ever seen. I was so overwhelmed with a feeling of joy that I was literally speechless. As the drive prolonged I ended up stopping at a Barnes and Nobles. Now there’s something you have to know about me and Barnes and Nobles. This is one of my favorite stores but whenever I do go I usually stay for a while, read a little, and then buy something. This time, I walked straight in saw a book called, Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success by Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. When I opened it I saw the words “Stop Frontin’ and Start Today.” I immediately bought it.
I went home totally neglecting my accounting homework and I begin reading the book. Once I started I couldn’t stop. I felt like the book was speaking directly to me about following my dreams and not letting anyone, including the nay-sayers, tell me that I am not good enough or stop me from completing my dream. I began reading Sunday and I was finished on Wednesday. Early Thursday morning around 2am I was staring at the ceiling tossing and turning because I couldn’t sleep and something popped into my head, “Form an organization.” I jumped up, called two of my friends and told them that I had this impulse to form an organization on campus promoting student entrepreneurs: making money doing things you absolutely love. Hours later, we went to school and formed the organization the Young Executives in Business and Entertainment. The very next day I was introduced to an awesome lady who has been involved in production who is now an advisor on UT’s campus. The special thing about her is that she used to work at award shows and red carpet premiers and she knows a LOT people in the industry. Fate? I think so. Coincidence? I think not.
Forming an organization on campus takes two weeks to process so we’re waiting to become official. However we already got together a tentative schedule as to everything we’re going to do including a FREE CONCERT! After all Austin is the live music capitol of the world! It should be amazing. Also, we’re going to have a forum called “Save the Media” and and the mission is to uncover the issues regarding the media, our youth and culture, the country and how we can become better individuals. We want representatives from Hurricane Katrina, The Rutgers Women Basketball Team, The Jena 6, reality stars and so much more to talk about the effects they've had from the media. Not to mention we will be turning the whole project into a documentary. Also, we are going to get the students involved by allowing them to submit any footage of themselves either doing something positive, talking about the media, and/or submitting a project they have that they want to get heard (i.e. filmmakers send in their documentaries). All of this is going toward the future network and the campaign we’re starting to reshape our media and our youth. As far as my experience leading up to forming an organization I want to say that I understand why I went through that “Drive” that day. After driving on a long road, seeing these expensive cars and homes, and ending up with the book, I realized that God was telling me that the journey to my dreams may be long but the ending result is worth everything you’ve endured so STOP FRONTIN’ AND START TODAY! Tomorrow is not promised so start following your dreams now! Whether you believe in God or not, know that this vision is acknowledged as a gift He had given to me and I am so thankful. All in all I am truly blessed. Peace and love family. Thank you for reading and tell me what you think!
What do you think about the media?
What are your favorite programs on television and why?
What do you or don’t you like about television?
What is your vision or dream and what do you plan to do about it? (Don't ignore it!)
*Read more entries on www.utexas.edu/inside_ut/journals/ashley (I am featured on the UT website!!!)
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