ABFF/NBC TV Host Workshop | Life Update

Hey Verbs! Let’s talk about the ABFF TV Host Workshop I got accepted in, and how it really went.

It has been a minute since I did a life update post, but there has been so many amazing things that has happened over the last couple of months that I just wanted to share with you.

Last Year’s American Black Film Festival

Let’s start with the rewind… Last year a dear friend of mine, Isis from IHearThatGirl.com, asked me to cover the American Black Film Festival  in New York. It was my first time going, and I was in awe over the amount of positive vibes that was freely flowing throughout the festival. I saw that there was the NBC Universal/ ABFF TV Host Workshop, which was new to the festival, going on and I literally ear-marked the workshop in my phone making plans to be a part of it in 2016.

Fast forward to last November… I started stalking the ABFF website waiting to see any information about the NBC Universal/ABFF workshop opening up, until I finally sent a quick email inquiring about when audition tapes would be accepted. I got a quick response back with a link to the submission website, and you would think I would have jumped right on it… Not at all. I was super excited about it, and even shared on Periscope that I was going for it. But, oh how fear can set in and cause you to doubt yourself! I literally talked myself out of it.

Accountability.

I made two fatal mistakes — I told my mom about it, and EVERY day she asked me if I had submitted my tape. “What are you waiting on Kyla?” And every day I provided myself with a reason as to why I didn’t submit that day — my cycle is on, my hair looks horrible, you know I gotta do all this work for tomorrow! The list was long…

The other fatal mistake — Calling my girlfriend Lauren, who happens to be a talented host, and telling her she should submit her tape because I believed in her. Her response: “Kyla, you better submit your tape.” Now I had to do it! I had people holding me accountable… I agreed I would get it done, but please believe I waited until I HAD to get it done. The night before the deadline to be exact.

Just Do It.

So that night, I sat there and went through the line. Did my hair. Beat my face. Said my lines to the camera. Submitted my audition. And cried. lol

I mean I really cried! I felt like I just gave birth, and I didn’t have any expectation about what was next because I was just overly excited about what I was able to do despite my personal doubts.

I went about my day excited, not because I knew I was going to get in. In my mind I won simply by submitting. Yet, great things were to come… I actually got into the workshop and had such an amazing experience!

The Dream.

Here’s the thing… I went to school for journalism. I have a bachelors and masters degree in the field that I love accompanied with dreams of being a TV Host one day. The way life works though… I found myself on an entirely different path teaching broadcast and multi-media as a high school teacher instead of working in the field.

The Workshop.

Listen. If TV Hosting is something you dream about doing, or if you have a blog/vlog and/or multimedia influence this workshop is definitely something you should be a part of in the future. I developed a network of people that I can bounce ideas off of and keep me in the loop of the forever changing landscape. I received amazing advice and clear steps I needed to take to get me to that dream job, and I am so thankful to be a part of such an amazing experience. On top of that, I spent 3 days at NBC’s 30 Rock headquarters building!!! Just to be able to breath in the air of some many greats, and wonder who I might run into was an adrenaline rush everyday.

Next.

Since the workshop, I have given birth to a new baby — StayInspired.TV. This is where you will be able to find all of my vlogs, Periscopes, SnapChat videos and Youtube videos about inspirational moments happening around us in the news and on social media. I am so excited about this new venture and get your feedback on it! It will be going live this week. 🙂

Here is to taking another step towards our dreams! I hope that this post inspires someone to push past your fears and take that next step. There is nothing worse than having those shoulda, woulda, coulda’s in our mind. And if rejection is the culprit for you not taking the step, know that sometimes putting yourself out there is just as important as getting the prize. You never know who is watching or the value of a lesson for a more important moment.