Meet Ciara White-Sparks

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ciara White-Sparks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ciara below.

Ciara , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My journey to finding my self-worth and establishing confidence began during high school. After being severely bullied by girls who at the time I deemed to be my friends- my life trajectory took a devastating turn. I became severely depressed and for a long time, I was trapped in a mindset that I was not worthy of living. But, after finally speaking up and seeking help from family and friends, my confidence shifted. Therapy was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made. It allowed me to unlock hidden false narratives about myself and develop healthy coping mechanisms that made me physically, emotionally and mentally strong. Although, I am in a better headspace with my confidence and self-esteem, even at 23, I still struggle with societal factors taking a toll on my well-being. But, what is different this time is, I have implemented tools and lifestyle habits that block out negative self-talk. This includes spiritual journaling, praying and something I recently added to my life- “solo dates.” These routines have allowed me to pamper and pour back into Ciara, which is so important. Something I learned during my post-grad transition is that a plant cannot grow unless you provide it with sunlight and water. This goes for your life as well, you cannot expect to grow and blossom into the person God has shaped you to be, if you are not taking the time to water and feed yourself. “Self-care isn’t selfish, queen!”

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a former local news reporter who recently completed a year in a top forty market as an on-air reporter. My journey into the media was not in the plans for my life, as I initially tried to pursue a career as a Civil Rights Attorney to later become a Congresswoman. Once I got to college, and began taking a few entry legal courses, I quickly realized that law was not a passion of mine. After being undecided for the rest of the semester, I was persuaded by my friend, who is now a News Reporter, to switch over to Journalism and at that moment my life’s course shifted for the better. Once the pandemic hit, I was forced to transition into a virtual learning environment which prompted me to start creating opportunities for myself in the field of media and communications. My career took a major shift during the mid-pandemic ironically, as I was approached by Disney and Pixar to watch an advanced screening of Pixar’s SOUL and interview with Jamie Foxx, Kemp Powers, and Terence J. Since then I have had the pleasure of attending advanced screenings and interviewing individuals like: Jay Ellis, CeCe Winans, WatchJazzy, Regina Hall, Ruth Carter, and many more !

Promptly, after graduating from Hampton University, I was offered a job at a local news station in Norfolk, Virginia to be a Multimedia Journalist/Reporter. As a recent college graduate, being offered an on-air position in a top market was very rare. But, I knew that this would only be the beginning to my journey in the media industry. While there, I covered stories ranging from real-time news to feature pieces highlighting the communities exceptional people. I had the chance to also include my passion for entertainment, leading me to cover a few entertainment stories. The work didn’t just stop there, while at the station, I also served as a part-time Associate Producer for the lifestyle, allowing me to gain on-set experience with a day-time talk show.

For now, I have chosen to step-away from television and pursue a new career still in the media landscape. Now my career path is stepping into public relations and marketing. I am now relocating to Los Angeles, California to start a career as a PR Coordinator for Entertainment with Cashmere Agency. I am so excited to start this career and explore a new creative way of storytelling through the lens of publicity and entertainment.

In addition to my media and communications work, I also have a podcast for young adults who are navigating their walks with Christ while also trying to master this thing called “adulthood.” My podcast, “Seriously Flawed but Destined to be Great” covers topics ranging from self-love, mental health awareness, and building both platonic and romantic relationships with people who are spiritually yoked with us.
I also have a non-profit organization for young girls ages 12-18 entitled, “FBW the Movement.” In which I provide a variety of self-worth building workshops, confidence and etiquette building courses, and an exclusive book-scholarship for female graduating high school seniors who plan to attend a Historically Black College or University. By the end of the year, my goal is to get my nonprofit LLC and officially expand my resources to young ladies nationwide.

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?
Working in media, public relations, communications, or journalism is no easy task. Many people see the glitz and glam that come with the career rather than the hard work that is implemented behind the scenes. Throughout my career thus far, I have learned three important lessons that I am sure will help an emerging media professional as they step into the next level in their careers. My first piece of advice is that networking is key in this field. You will hear this a lot but, trust me, the more you connect with people in your field whether it is via social media or in-person the more you will expand your opportunities for career growth. There have been multiple instances, in which I have been notified about certain opportunities due to my connections and ability to follow-up and stay in touch with them. Don’t reach out to people only when you need something, be intentional- make meaningful relationships. It will help you in the long-run and it will establish an extensive network of people who can help you in the near future. My next piece of advice is to trust your gut. Oftentimes, as millennial workers, we are told to take certain jobs, or pay-cuts or even tolerate certain work environments for the sake of financial stability. This will ultimately lead you to an un-fulfilling lifestyle, which I strongly don’t recommend. If your instincts are telling you a position, workplace or even relationship is not healthy for you- do not be afraid to gracefully move on and step away. You have to prioritize yourself first- work and money will come, but happiness is a virtue. Never neglect yourself for the sake of a job. My last piece of advice comes from a spiritual point, but it is to “Trust God even when you don’t see the end goal.” Throughout the last few months, with my new career transition, he has truly shown me the gift of patience and trusting his will. We oftentimes, say we trust God, but every two minutes we are asking him when he will respond back to us. His intentions are always pure and on-time. If you are waiting to hear back from a job, or waiting for a new relationship or simply seeking clarity for where you are in life right now. Pray and give all to God- and begin to release any worries or anxiety associated with your situation. Trust him with all your heart- and I promise it will work out in your favor.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Adaptability has been a lesson of the year- working in the media you quickly learn that no day is the exact same. You have to be quick on your feet and willing to shift yourself at any moment. As someone who is extremely planned and organized this took a long time to get adjusted to. I even found myself frustrated at times when things did not go according to my to-do list. But, when I took a moment to reflect and realize that it’s okay not to be planned out and having the ability to shift yourself makes you a valuable asset to any situation. With my last job, I mastered the ability to redirect, refocus, and reframe what I need to do in order to accomplish the goal. This lesson wasn’t just applicable to my career- it also translated into my everyday life. I began to approach situations with a problem-solver attitude. And when I took the time to shift my mindset, it allowed a sense of peace when tackling certain issues. Taking a step back to assess areas of personal growth are keen to your overall well-being. I encourage anyone who is looking to level up their lifestyles, to make a list of things that you want to improve within yourself- and work towards accomplishing that goal every single day. The day you achieve it- you will feel a strong presence of fulfillment, because you took the time to help better yourself in order to reach your highest level of potential.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Georgina Vaughan Photography Lionspride Photography

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