Dana
“[In defining womanhood] I realized I was trying to define what it means to be something other than a man. That in itself reveals a core issue with womanhood today.”
Dana is goofy and spontaneous, but also extremely hardworking and ambitious. She has an infectious laugh and has used humor as a tool of optimism throughout her life. She is a free spirit but has her feet firmly planted in her relationships with family, friends, and God. Meet Dana. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
D: My name is Dana Derosier. As my Instagram bio says - I love Jesus, music, and fried chicken.
K: Describe/define yourself in your own words
D: I’m somewhere between the line of spontaneous and reckless. I will drop everything and fly out of the country with an hour notice and will also get into a high speed car chase if dared. I’m really silly but also incredibly deep. My conversations can go from talking about how good popcorn is to discussing how you can be in a room filled with people and still feel lonely — or, not wanting to die as just a statistic. Deep, right?
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
D: Great question. I'm my main source of entertainment. I’ll catch a glimpse of how ugly my cry is in the mirror and then crack myself up. I can liven up a class that would otherwise be dry, or get an entire section of the airport (passengers, flight attendants and security) to passionately sing “Lean on Me.” I enjoy the crap out of life, and don’t take myself too seriously.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
D: Sophomore year of high school I hit a dark point in life. Behind the constant jokes and the don’t-care attitude, I was lost and everything inside of me was screaming for help. One night I was crying in my closet, and prayed for the first time since I was a kid. It was there that I felt my first encounter with God, experiencing an overwhelming amount of peace that surpassed all understanding. That weekend I ended up on a retreat in New Hampshire where I met God in a very real and personal way. I experienced what it meant to be fully known and fully loved. My Heavenly Father uniquely designed me with all of my quirks and ambitions. This love, forgiveness, grace, and acceptance completes me and is better than anything life has to offer. I have peace and joy knowing that I am a child of God that is called to do amazing things! I still face difficult times but I am strengthened daily by this faith; it carries me through good times and bad times.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
D: Maybe this is a sign I never matured, but I feel like the same person as my younger self.. I was pretty dope! Though, I probably should go back and learn some sort of self-discipline? I’m not good at doing things I don’t want to.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
D: I’ve had serious trouble with this question, I've never thought about it before. I realized I was trying to define what it means to be something other than a man. That in itself reveals a core issue with womanhood today. So I'll answer like this: For me, being a woman is just being human. And by “just” I mean - there was a 1 in 4 hundred trillion chance at being born - and I got it! Being a woman, being human, is being a miracle! I have the opportunity to experience life to the fullest, all of its emotions, ups and downs. I get to love people, love them deeply. I can be strong and weak. I can have good days and bad. But overall, I was created in the beautiful image of God, I am unique and I am here for a purpose.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
D: Beyoncé. She is literally the QUEEN. As a black woman, I don’t often see examples of people who look like me being adored by the masses. She uses her platform to highlight black culture in a positive light. She makes me proud of my skin, my hair, and my craziness. Her homecoming performance at Coachella was actually the first thing that made me realize my beauty as a black woman, well into my adulthood. It is an honor to have a woman like Beyoncé represent my race. She knows no boundaries and outdoes herself in creative excellence.
YO! That would be crazy if she were here! I locked eyes with her at a concert and almost died! I would say “HEYYY MISS CARTER!!”
