allow me to introduce myself

I’m not the best at introducing myself. My name is Jamilah (juh-mee-luh), and I’m going to try my best to not make this sound like a LinkedIn profile.

I’m in my late twenties, and I graduated from college [the first time] with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in interior architecture and a minor in radio & film production. Now, I’m back in school getting a Master’s of Library Science degree (and it feels like I’m fighting for my life sometimes).

Somehow, I balance working two jobs with my schoolwork, my passions, and cuddle time with my American Pitt-Staffy mix named Clover. My full-time job is being a library assistant at an elementary school (previously a high school). Then there’s the after school childcare job (love my little kindergarteners). When I’m not busy working and fighting my overthinking, I am creating. For me, creating is writing, documenting my life, and making my voice heard, whether it be on this blog or its adjoining podcast. Both platforms really allow me to showcase every authentic part of myself, and though they involve the easily accessible world of the internet, I don’t feel judged.  Simply Jamilah is literally about being myself, going through this thing called life, and falling in love with the beauty that lies within.

If I get the chance for spare time, I read a lot of books, paint a little bit, and watch YouTube videos. Though I do watch an unruly amount of YouTube videos, movies, and television shows, it’s nothing compared to how much music I listen to on a daily basis. When it comes to music, I’m more connected to songs with great lyrics… like how ninety-eight percent of RAYE or AJR’s lyrics describe what I’m feeling, experiencing, thinking, etc.

For those astrology believers, I feel like now is a good time to mention I am a June Gemini. Like a stereotypical Gemini, I’m very all or nothing. I’m either fully myself or an empty void of a human working to be who someone else wants me to be for the temporary amount of time I’m in their presence. I’m either talking a lot or silent. I’m either incredibly emotional or feel nothing. I’m either fully committed or mentally already gone.

Pressure to get married increases with each month that passes, but I have yet to find someone who warms my heart like a young Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You. Instead of going out and looking for love, I take myself on dates; learning to love myself and figuring out what brings a genuine smile to my face is my main mission during this decade of my life. Like every single person on this planet, I’m a work in progress. It’s very easy for me to be kind to others but incredibly difficult for me to be kind to myself.

To wrap this decently long intro up: Hi, I’m Jamilah. Welcome to my home. 🙂

Please be kind to it.