Meet Ariana Cheatham

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ariana Cheatham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ariana below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ariana with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic comes from my mother, whom I love dearly; she was a beacon of hope and a light who helped guide me throughout my life until she passed in 2022. I have enjoyed being by her side, learning from her and what she did, and watching her achieve many great things while she was still around. Not only has my work ethic changed, but it has evolved into something I couldn’t have ever imagined, and I am constantly learning more and more about myself and how and what I enjoy doing outside of my work. I have put a lot of time and effort into figuring out who I am and what things I like to do in terms of work, and by learning myself, I have been able to deal with multiple things that would have made me stop going: however, with perseverance, dedication, and the ability to keep going. I have been put in a fantastic position where I have had the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive as a student and creative in today’s world.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I write for my newsletter, Pass Me A Plate, and I’m still in the exciting process of shaping the brand’s identity. I write opinion pieces and food and beverage news and create engaging content locally and worldwide. I have been having fun expanding my network, connecting with like-minded people in the writing community, and reaching out to those I want to build long-term relationships with. I have been working on building up my base and have succeeded! I love talking to those who care about the same things I do and listening to the things that interest them and that they would love me to touch on! There are more opportunities after I have expanded my network and grown personally and professionally.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Perseverance was the most influential quality in continuing my brand and building its identity. I have grown so much as a human being and creative in today’s world by persevering through the hardships that happened in my life. I have undergone immense changes in such a short time; however, I did not let that stop me. I continue to take the time I need and feel what I need to feel to keep going. By taking my time learning more about myself and being aware that the complex emotions I’m feeling are genuine, I have to overcome those emotions by being self-aware. Another quality I have cherished over these past few years is being able to self-regulate. I have learned a lot about myself in such a short amount of time and how I handle stress and anxiety. By being able to self-regulate, I have opened up numerous doors for me to keep moving and continue to take on workloads I used to find intimidating. Not only that, but it helps me understand myself so much better because I am continuously figuring out who I am through self-regulation. The final quality/skill that has impacted my journey has been my communication skills, which include communicating effectively with my peers, teachers, and prospective colleagues who continue to impact my life. I love connecting and networking with people who continue to give me more extensive perspectives on life.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The book that played an essential role in my development was King and The Dragonflies by Kacen Callender. I read this book for my diverse children’s literature class and was very excited to read this novel; this is something that I will cherish forever as it has helped shed light not only in terms of grief but also in terms of identity in its many forms. You are introduced to many characters who play a massive role in the novel, and by watching this story unfold, you see Kingston grow with it. By being able to evolve and grow in figuring out grief, he gives himself the ability to figure himself out and build up the courage to address those other complex emotions he’s feeling. The most valuable knowledge I gained from this novel is that you carry grief with you, and there is no way to figure it out until you choose to do so. You can only grow if you decide to develop, and to be strong is not just a choice but a way for you to figure things out and become someone you know you can be despite all odds; it is worth it in the end.

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