My family life and early political life - being exposed to the news constantly, being enrolled in an Afrocentric education program, and doing the extracurriculars I did - played a huge role in me finding my path.

Mostly I try to be the best example of me that I can be.

I am not a yogi yet, but I aspire to have more balance in my life.

There are so many ways to be and to be black at the same time, but we're finally seeing that full range expressed much more widely than before.

Knowing that "me" is inextricably linked to blackness, [I try to enjoy] the process of expanding beyond the expected boundaries set by existing culture, norms and media.

I don't know that I'm post-anything. I'd like to think maybe I'm post-bullshit.

College is a safe space where it can be hard to truly fail. The institution is rooting for you because your failure makes them look bad, too. New York City has no such mandate. I've had to hone and sharpen and refine my work here at a pace which may not have happened in other cities.