I remember when I was in a Cleveland welfare office, out of foster care, facing a bleak future. 💔 Despite failing an intelligence test due to distraction, I excelled academically. 📚💪 Refusing to accept labels, I graduated top of my class, defying odds and teaching us that success transcends tests…
Cracking open a book unveils magic, revealing a world beyond familiar streets. 📖✨ For me, a girl from East Cleveland, books were a revelation, offering a passport to the unknown. 🌍🔍 They fueled a thirst for learning, leading to new opportunities. 📚💡 Under a visionary black principal, education became a…
When I was 14 years old, a visit to the main library changed my life. 📚 School felt dull until then. 😔 The library opened a new world, igniting my self-belief. 🔥 I want to share my story so it can help young girls about mental health awareness, breaking stereotypes,…
Life's journey often leads through unexpected paths. 🛤️ For my sister and me, it was Cleveland, feeling like an orphanage, then foster care. 🏠 These challenges defined us. 💪 I chose to reject imposed labels, urging my sister to do the same. 🚫 Our response defines us, not our circumstances.…
In this inspiring episode of the Color of Success Podcast, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong invites the illustrious Bonnie Wan to share her transformative journey from a life that looked perfect on paper to one of genuine fulfillment and no regrets living. Through a candid discussion, they explore the intersection of…
Mental health awareness and breaking stereotypes are deeply rooted in my family. 🧠🌱 Among 10, with tragic losses and alcoholism, my sister and I broke the cycle. 🔄 Our bond was solace, asking, "Are you crazy yet?" 🤪 Checking in on each other helps us break the cycle. ☑️ ◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️…
Born in a 🚽 due to my mother's affair, hidden as a tumor. 👶 My stepsister found me, a newborn, discarded. 🕵️♀️ Years later, my mother fabricated a story of a hospital birth. 🏥 It took time to confront the truth. ⏳ Our beginnings don't define us, they shape us.…
Welcome to a special episode of the Color of Success Podcast! Today, we had the pleasure of hosting the incredible Eleanor Tomczyk, a memoirist, blogger, and speaker whose journey takes us through the realms of identity, resilience, and the search for belonging in a complex world. Here's a brief overview…
🌐 In the midst of a world that's become increasingly digital, we're seeing a startling trend emerge: 😔 60% of teen girls report persistent sadness; a 46% rise in suicide rates among 11 to 17-year-olds. 📈 This rise, while certainly exacerbated by the pandemic, was already on an upward trajectory.…
🩰 Here's the story of a young girl who loves ballet. 🌟 Despite her natural talent, she doesn't fit the stereotypical petite image. 😞 Criticized for her body at just 8, it's a heartbreaking reality. 👩👧 But this isn't just about kids; women face body image issues too. 🛑 We…
👨👩👧 The way a man treats his wife is a powerful testament to his values. 💖 It's not just about setting an example for the daughter, showing her the kind of treatment she should expect and accept. 🌸 👦 It's also about teaching the son, modeling for him the right…
🏦 Life is like a bank account: deposit words, actions, and emotions. 🤝 It's relational equity. Speak kindly and you make a deposit; speak harshly a withdraw. ⚠️ It's important to care for the account to avoid overdrafting - empty accounts hold no value. 🌱 Build relational equity for mutual…
Welcome to a special episode of the Color of Success Podcast! Today, we had the pleasure of hosting the incredible Eleanor Tomczyk, a memoirist, blogger, and speaker whose journey takes us through the realms of identity, resilience, and the search for belonging in a complex world. Here's a brief overview…
👨👧👧 In fatherhood, a crucial conversation is often ignored: girls not told they're loved, worthy, smart, strong. 🤫 Female strength is often overlooked, leading to silence instead of empowerment. ❌ Mistakes met with harshness can harm bonds. ⏰ Now is the time to speak value, build bridges, nurture relationships. 💬…
👩👧 Women and girls are bombarded with messages that shape their perceptions and beliefs, starting from a young age. 📚 These curated narratives become apparent as they form their identity and purpose, evolving throughout life. 📱 Social media exacerbates this, presenting idealized versions of life that overlook realities. 😔 Constant…
In adolescence, identity formation is a crucial yet challenging journey for teenagers. 👧👦 Surprisingly, many young women I work with express feeling valued much later in life, often in their early to mid-twenties, contrary to expectations of feeling valued at a younger age. 🌟 This highlights the significance of nurturing…
Addiction, encompassing substances, habits, and people, is a complex cycle of filling voids. 🔄 Conquering one often leads to another, a cycle of transference. 🔄 The fear of solitude without addiction can be daunting, but it's where we find strength and resilience. 💪 In silence, we confront demons and embrace…
In the journey of life, we often encounter challenges that test our resilience and strength, including silent battles like substance abuse. 💪 Substance, whether marijuana or others, can offer solace in loneliness or tragedy, yet it transforms into a harmful dependency hindering personal growth, intimacy, and self-reflection. 🚫 It's okay…
For Stephanie, she had been in numerous plays and projects, each one a unique experience. 🎭 One such project was with an acapella group, a vibrant ensemble of young professionals, each with their own unique talents. 🎤 Choosing which projects to be a part of isn't always a straightforward process.…
In life's journey, we often become our harshest critics, especially influenced by cultural expectations and the pursuit of perfection. 🚶♂️ Yet, this relentless pursuit may mask fear and insecurity. 😔 What if we reframed our inner critic as a superpower? 💪 While recognizing areas for improvement is valuable, it shouldn't…
Recently cast as Eliza on tour, Stephanie initially felt limited to explicitly Asian roles. 🎭 Now, she embraces the responsibility to represent her community. 💪 Performing in Toronto, with its large Asian population, she's moved by the impact her portrayal has. 🌟 She's determined to excel, not just for herself…
In the midst of penning his autobiography, William reflects on his journey, a tale of resilience and reinvention. 📚 He was living the dream, basking in the limelight of the entertainment industry. 🌟 But as the years rolled by, the opportunities dwindled, and he found himself at a crossroads. and…
In this enlightening episode of the Color of Success podcast, host Dr. Stephanie J. Wong is joined by Satchel Stilwell, a Texas-based licensed professional counselor and supervisor. Stilwell, specializing in substance use disorders and broader mental health issues for clients aged 13 and older, shares his personal journey as a…
Navigating life's challenges can feel like facing Simon Cowell's scrutiny: pressure, expectations, fear of failure. 😬 But what if we embraced challenges with a different mindset, for William it was approaching an audition with no expectations? 🎭 Accepting failure as part of the journey, like a loss, and it was…
