Jennifer
“To me, being a woman means having the freedom to choose exactly who you want to be and live in that every day.”
Jennifer is hardworking, approachable, and kind. Her enthusiasm and determination to try new things and acquire new skills has allowed her to constantly expand her horizons. She lets her intuition guide her, and she has a strong appreciation for the little things in life. Meet Jennifer. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
J: Hi! My name is Jennifer Hodge and I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I am a Caribbean girl through and through, as my family hails from Barbados and Trinidad. I am a media junkie, and love everything from movies, to music, podcasts, you name it!
K: Describe yourself in your own words
J: I am a sister, daughter, auntie, and friend. As a Black woman, I’m super proud of who I am and where I come from. I am a woman of strong faith, and I allow my faith to guide me through life. I am also a true foodie at heart and will try almost any new food! I’ve affectionately named myself “Pierre,” because I’m a food critic in my own head lol! I have a love for the small joys life brings, and I truly believe that those are what make life worth living!
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
J: My favorite thing about myself is that I love to learn new things! The only constant in life is change, so I’m always learning something! Whether it’s a new skill or the latest TikTok dance, I’m excited to get in the weeds of it until I’ve learned it! Being eager to learn has honestly gotten me in doors that I never thought I’d be in and has exposed me to so many invaluable experiences!
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
J: I love a good inspirational story time lol. After college, I decided that I wanted to go to law school. I had always been a media kinda gal, but something told me that law school was a safer and more feasible option. So, I did the work and got in… but I was miserable! Not only was I uninterested in the material, but I also felt that I wasn’t being true to myself. The people around me were so proud, but I was burnt out and sad.
During the break after my first semester, I had a real heart to heart with myself to figure out what was going to make me happy. I could stay in law school, be miserable, and have the prestige of being an attorney, or I could bet on myself, and explore my options of working in media. After thinking long and hard, I realized that the only way I was going to be happy, was to choose myself. So, I deferred from law school and started my search for the career I wanted.
It wasn’t always easy, but I did my research, found mentors, and became hungry for opportunity. Finally, I connected with a mentor who was able to get me an interview, and the rest is herstory! I got the job and am learning so much about the media industry! Betting on myself was the best decision I could have possibly made, and I realized that I was who I’d been waiting on to change my life.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
J: Whew, there’s so much I’d tell my younger self, but I think the best piece of advice is to choose yourself. So often, we get caught up in what’s expected of us, or what we think we should be doing. We see others around us and think that we have to conform to a particular way of living, just because that is how we’ve seen it done. At the end of the day, you have to do what brings you peace and joy, so that you don’t spend your entire life living for others. If the people around you don’t bring you peace or joy, find new people.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
J: To me, being a woman means having the freedom to choose exactly who you want to be and live in that every day.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
J: My grandmother has to be one of my greatest inspirations. She came to America from Barbados as a teenager after losing her mother, and created the life she wanted for herself. She went to nursing school, became a registered nurse, got married, and raised her children and grandchildren. She has been no stranger to hardship, but her resilience, poise, and ability to do it all with love and a smile is a true inspiration to me. I couldn’t begin to thank her for the impact she’s had on my life.