We were lucky to catch up with Moesha Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Moesha, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I grew up in the very small town of Pioneer, LA and technically, it’s not even considered a “town”, if you google it you will see it referred to as a “village.” Pioneer is so small that we don’t even have traffic lights so you can only imagine how scarce the resources are. I left Pioneer to attend college at the age of 17, and at the time, I didn’t know if I would make it in the real world. My high school teachers made college sound intimidating, and being the first in my family to attempt it, I never believed I had what it took to succeed.
Upon entering college, I experienced significant imposter syndrome, despite earning A’s and B’s in all my classes. I believed I was passing due to strategy, not intellect, even though people would always compliment my intelligence. I went on to graduate college with a 3.8 GPA but I still didn’t feel smart. I felt that I had gotten lucky and gotten through all 4 years of college on a fluke. I know, crazy right? Well, that’s imposter syndrome for you. It will have you believing the lies you tell yourself.
After my undergraduate, I pursued my Master’s degree at Louisiana State University which intensified my imposter syndrome. Even after graduating from LSU’s advanced standing program with a 3.6 GPA, I felt inadequate. I believed I was faking it and that others would eventually see my shortcomings. I felt as if I wasn’t naturally intelligent and what others could understand quickly would took me much longer to grasp. I also felt that my vocabulary wasn’t big enough and I didn’t belong in the rooms I had access to and I didn’t feel equal to those around me. I FELT LIKE AN IMPOSTER!
Over time, I came to understand that I was equal and that my vocabulary didn’t determine my intelligence. I realized that anything we want to know in this world, we have access to learn. I started to notice the same people I admired and looked up to were also struggling with imposter syndrome and that we were all out here trying to figure it out. This is what has helped me overcome imposter syndrome as well as having people in my life to encourage, uplift and believe in me, sometimes more than I believed in myself. Who we allow in our circle is very important. People will either lift you up or tear you down, you have no control of that but you do have control over who is allowed access to you. Realistically, imposter syndrome will follow us throughout every journey of our lives but it’s up to us to decide how much power we are willing to give it over our lives.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a digital content creator, influencer, certified life coach, and licensed social worker. Growing up and throughout college, I never saw myself as a creative person. I would always look at my friends and admire their creativity, but I knew that this was not my gift. Well, at least I thought I knew. At the time, I thought creativity only came in the form of DIY projects, poems, and art but later down the line, I realized that creativity is so much more than that.
During my junior year of college, my best friend and I co-hosted a college radio show and loved it, leading us to apply as permanent co-hosts the following year. Radio boosted my confidence in sharing my voice and sparked my inspiration to become a content creator but I later realized that my passion for creating extended beyond radio. I started with writing books as a young girl, then launched my podcast, “Girl Genius,” after graduating college and later shared my juicing journey on TikTok, which went viral and led to brand partnerships.
Content creation is the common thread among my passions. Whether it’s writing, filming, or podcasting, I love it all. In the future, I aim to combine my talents with my passion to create content that educates, inspires, and builds a community. My goal is to provide a safe space for people to share their journeys and learn from others. The most thrilling aspect of being a creator is the ability to share my journey in a way that inspires others. It gives purpose to my expereinces, and there’s no limit to what I can create.
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?
As I reflect on my journey, one of the primary qualities that has been impactful for me is resourcefulness. In my opinion, this is one of the most valuable skills you can possess on your path to success. To me, being resourceful means you are the kind of person who always finds a way. If I don’t know how to do something, I seek out available and free resources to help me learn. If I’m running low on funds, I research ways to increase my finances, whether it’s starting a temporary business or offering services. There are numerous FREE resources at our disposal that many of us either don’t know about or choose not to explore. Not me; I’m always determined to uncover the resources available to help me succeed.
Resilience is the second quality I’d like to highlight. Maintaining resilience throughout your journey is essential. Realistically, we won’t always have good days, so we must be prepared to persevere when times get tough. I know it’s easier said than done, but IT CAN BE DONE. One thing I remind myself of when I’m feeling down is that it’s okay to acknowledge and allow myself to feel negative emotions, granting myself grace. Negative emotions are part of being human, and suppressing them can lead to mental strain. To overcome these emotions, we must acknowledge their presence, but that doesn’t mean dwelling in them. Instead, we should allow them to flow and then release their hold on our lives. Another point I continually emphasize to myself is that life doesn’t pause for my anxiety or depression. Life won’t wait, and dwelling in those emotions will only lead to a loss of motivation, pushing me further behind, which, in turn, fuels anxiety and depression. In short, you must show yourself grace to get through the tough days and maintain resilience to keep moving forward.
Lastly, my willingness to take risks is a quality many people have commended me for. In life, most people are afraid to take risks because they fear the “F” word, commonly known as failure. In my view, it’s all about the perspective you choose to adopt. If I considered everything that didn’t go my way as a failure, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is my belief that we can never truly fail in life as long as we’re trying; we can only learn. How can we achieve success if we don’t understand what doesn’t work versus what does? Every situation I have ever perceived as a failure taught me something that ultimately contributed to my success later in life. For that reason, every risk has been worthwhile.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents have done many impactful things throughout my life, but there are four things they did that have impacted me the most. First, my parents have always supported me, believed in me, and encouraged me. I recognize that not everyone has this level of support, but I am privileged and grateful that God blessed me with it. Their support has given me confidence in my decisions and my ability to succeed.
Secondly, my parents ensured that we knew God, had a relationship with Him, and attended church regularly. This had the most significant impact on my life because without God, I would not be where I am today. Knowing and having a relationship with God has helped me through many tough times in my life.
Furthermore, my parents have always found a way to provide for my brothers and I, even through difficult circumstances. Watching them do this for us has motivated me to do the same for myself and has shown me that God will always make a way if we put our best foot forward.
Lastly, my parents instilled in me the value and importance of a strong work ethic. Having great work ethic and knowing how to hustle has been crucial in situations where I might not have made it through otherwise.
Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this (I know you are), without you, I wouldn’t be half the woman I have grown to be today. I am incredibly grateful for both of you, and I hope you never forget that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/justmoesha_?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moesha.smith.9041
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moesha-smith-947a13182/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MoLachelle?si=RYoz0NspTSCQ-O-N
- Other: Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moesha-smith Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justmoesha_?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
I didn’t really have any specific pictures related to my brand.
