(Image by Annalise Batista from Pixabay)
“Follow your fear”.
(Tina Fey)
We are halfway through 2020 and the ebb and flows of the year have been tremendous. Most people I know came into 2020 with major goals, plans, and the right mindset to make positive things happen. We continue to move forward but the COVID-19 pandemic has adjusted how we Walk into the Future daily.
Looking forward to getting back to things that resemble normal life but do not know if/when that will be possible. The term new normal is being thrown around and means we must redefine what is considered normal in the future.
One thing that does not require a new normal is how proud I am of my niece, Jayla Williams! We have been on a special journey for the past 24 years and I am excited to see her next money moves in the future.
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped a large portion of planned activities for everyone but one area we had to put on hold was celebrating Jayla’s graduation from the University of Central Florida. Family and friends have reached out to congratulate her for this phenomenal feat, but we have not been able to gather the crew and throw the blowout party this accomplishment deserves. No worries Jayla, we will get it in when safe! 😊
My joy for Jayla’s graduation is because we first talked about going to college when she was 5 years old. Some may think this is a bit young, but my goal was to create a mindset where we knew the direction of the journey. Please note, all the work, time and effort were put in by Jayla and it was a joy for me to watch her tick off objectives towards this goal. My role simply was support, reinforcement, someone to bounce ideas off, and a silly uncle joke when needed.
It is amazing to look back on this journey and see the adult she has become. I am sure this progression is nothing new for parents to view but for the cool uncle this has been an awesome ride!
The University of Central Florida conducted virtual graduation ceremonies for each college. The College of Business hosted the largest number of graduates which ensured we would be glued to our computers until they got to the great Williams last name. Did not realize how excited I would be sitting on my laptop waiting to officially hear Jayla Williams being declared an Integrated Business graduate from the University of Central Florida College of Business. Luckily, I had the foresight to get my phone ready for the quick photo opportunity provided while hearing Jayla’s name. This put a huge smile on my face, and I texted the photo to family so they could share in my joy!
Looking forward to when we can get back together to throw the big blowout party she was expecting and deserves. That day is coming, and we will celebrate the 24 years and counting for the journey we are on. Cannot wait to see what the future holds for my class of 2020 graduate—big things I am sure!
Congratulations and Go Jayla! 😊
Uncle Calvin
“Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. You have got to take risks”.
(Denzel Washington)
Walk Into the Future 