Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Chikodinaka (Kodi) Ejiogu of Queens

Chikodinaka (Kodi) Ejiogu shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Chikodinaka (Kodi), thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
One thing I think people are secretly struggling with would have to be comparison My Instagram and TikTok feeds are full of productive vlogs, 5am morning routines, and “spend the day with me” videos and I always as myself “Should my life look like that?”, “Am I not doing enough?”, “Should I be doing more with my life?” As much as these questions flood my mind, I find myself having to remind myself that no two lives look the same and everyone’s lives are meant to look different. Two things can be true at the same time, I can allow myself to be inspired by people I admire but I also know that their version of success and my version of success will look different. This is something that I encourage people to embrace as it will save us a lot of unnecessary overthinking and stress.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chikodinaka Ejiogu, but I’m more popularly known as Kodi, and I’m a beauty and lifestyle content creator from Queens, NY. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stony Brook University and I am currently in graduate school pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Marketing at Stony Brook University. I am also the founder of a clothing line called Grit & Glam Co. that I started in July.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Among the many people who watched me grow and develop, my father was one of the many who saw me before I could see myself. Growing up, I always wanted to be the best. I always wanted to be at the top. Number one. I didn’t know what I wanted to be the best at, but I knew I wanted to be the best, and my father is one of the many people in my life that doesn’t let my light go dim. He always encourages me and never lets me lose sight of my end goal. A day doesn’t go by where he doesn’t tell me how proud he is of me and how great of a job I’m doing. He knows that what I’m doing isn’t easy. Balancing school, work, a business, and content creation is no small feat for a 22 year old. He never fails to remind me that there are big things waiting for me on the other side of all of my hard work.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Man, there are so many things I would tell my younger self. But, if I had to pick just one, it would have to be “You are enough just as you are.” Growing up I felt as though in order to be loved or admired, I had to accomplish so many different things. For so long, I felt as though my worth was tied to how much I could produce and how much I could achieve. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I am a human being, created in the image and likeness of the Most High God. My worth comes from who God says I am: chosen, beloved, and one of a kind.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my faith matters most to me. I grew up Catholic but I feel like I didn’t have a true encounter with Jesus until my freshman year of college. I was in the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY for a retreat with my school. I remember stepping into the chapel to prepare for Eucharistic Adoration (more commonly known as Holy Hour) and I felt something shift. It was almost as if I was hit with a gust of wind. Jesus knew what I was coming in with, and He wouldn’t let me leave with it. And that was where we met. Face to face. It was like no one else existed. I don’t think I even felt more loved in my life.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
While there isn’t a specific story, the story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is the story of how I never gave up. I never gave up on my dreams, my goals, and the people I hold close to my heart. I don’t like to give up easy. When my heart is in something, I give it everything I’ve got and then some. I want people to remember me as someone who never went down without a fight.

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Image Credits
Ryan Ng, Brett Deutsch, Latecia A.

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