Did you know one of the strongest advertising methods for our demographic is "word-of-mouth?" Well, now you do. Let's take a wild guess as to why this is: maybe because people in our age groups and settings tend to talk...a lot. As a matter of fact, all we do is talk.
It's is a gift and a curse at its finest.
The gift: we're definitely good communicators. Our communication allows us to unite and make powerful moves and big changes.
The curse: who doesn't know everyone else's business? All we do is volunteer our information to one another. Not OK.
Before brains or beauty, what matters is what people have to say about you after you leave the room. It saddens me when people put themselves out there as easy targets for destruction.
What do I mean by destruction? It's fairly simple.
It's one thing to be who you are and allow others to construct their own thoughts and interpretations about you. But, it's another thing to put your own business out into the atmosphere and offer those around you a "second opinion," if you will, of who you truly are. Believe it or not, keeping your mouth closed may not be as hard as it may seem. Everything is not for everybody, simply.
Sometimes, I find myself asking, "Is that your business?" Because it's none of mine, nor anyone else's for that matter. There are certain times and places for certain discussions.
Some places where these conversations should NEVER happen, but always seem to find their way:
1. The Punch Out: you may as well put your business on the loudspeaker. If you think there aren't always eyes and ears in The Punch Out, you may want to think again.
2. Power Hall: I don't think I need to explain why you may want to watch your mouth on the first floor of Blackburn. There are far too many student leaders for you to be discussing how drunk you were at Pure and the "ratchet" things that occurred after.
3. Social gatherings, both on- and off-campus: Whatever happened on your way there or earlier in the day has nothing to do with the people just trying to dance and have fun.
Chances are, if they're still trying to dance, they're probably not too concerned with whatever happened to you on your way or the argument you got into with your best friend. And guess what? It's nobody's business!
Other places are entirely up to our discretion. However, in the summer of 2008, Essence Editor-in-Chief Angela Burt-Murray gave me some important advice. She told me to always make sure there's someone who can vouch for me, even when I'm not in the room. That's probably one of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten, and that's my gift to you all.
Consider it an early Christmas gift!
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