My Story
① Where It Began
It isn't easy to pinpoint when I started what I do because I've been doing it since I can remember. My parents were the type to frame my art as a toddler and put it on display in our home. So, I was encouraged from a young age. Around age 12, I decided I wanted to be a filmmaker. I begged my mom for a fancy camera, and although young, she bought one for me. That camera, a Nikon D5100, helped me start the youtube channel, Blake Jael, I'm most known for today. I uploaded my first video in 2013, right before my first year of high school. I was so embarrassed by putting myself out there, so I took it down, but *spoiler alert* I kept at it—unfortunately, this established self-consciousness around the things I made. Although scared, I didn't stop. I made videos about DIY, sewing, and outfits in the beginning. Youtube was my favorite creative outlet; it let me be the filmmaker I always wanted to be. During these years, I also played clarinet in my high school band and joined the graphic design career path at my school.
② The Journey
So I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up, but turning those dreams into reality would be a long bumpy road. My parent's divorce and the lessons of early adulthood took a toll on me when I went to college for Radio, Television, and Film. I decided to leave and move back home less than two months into my first semester. I took the semester off to attend cosmetology school and earned my manicuring license. Then I returned to school at my local community college. During that time, my love for painting nails grew. It became a new outlet for me. I also got my first job at a beauty brand based in Dallas, Texas. I would make content for their social media platforms and website. I learned a lot about the back end of posting on social media, like making content schedules and building strategies. 2019 was the year I started getting traction on my platforms for my natural hair. People took to it as I embraced my hair in my personal life. I started sharing my natural hair journey on YouTube and Instagram. At the end of 2019, I graduated with my Associate's in Visual Communications and quit my job to take on entrepreneurship. I always knew I wanted to work for myself, and it wasn't a foreign concept because of the examples of successful entrepreneurs in my life. In 2019 I also landed my first brand deals, and my YouTube channel earned monetization status. I even had the opportunity to work on a brand campaign in Los Angeles, California. I was on a commercial set with a crew and director. It was the most eye-opening experience for me. What I did for fun in my room on the weekends turned into something big.
③ How it’s going
Over the last few years, I've been building a brand and business. With all the work I've put in and the support from my family, friends, and supporters on the internet, I could experience the things I had always wanted, like my first dedicated studio space. It had been a vivid dream since I was 18 years old, leaving university, not knowing what was next but guided by visions of my future. 2022 was a big year for me; I had hope for the future post-pandemic, the dedicated studio space inspired me, and I traveled the world by myself. I started a podcast and began sharing my art, slowly but surely, with the world. And to top it off, I got engaged and married with a beautiful wedding. I dedicated 2022 to quitting those bad habits I formed as a child and embarked on a new journey to thinking less and creating more. Today I'm learning to balance marriage, entrepreneurship, and my creative endeavors and working to strengthen my confidence in my ideas. I share these details about my life's journey to encourage a wholehearted pursuit of your passion.
