We recently connected with Monique Wilsonn and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Monique, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
It came from me having to dig deep within and realize that the negative things that occur in life do not last forever. When certain obstacles and roadblocks get in the way, no matter how annoying it can be, you have to try and center yourself and tell yourself that this will not last forever and this situation or this feeling is only temporary. I have always been a positive person even when things seemed like there wasn’t a way for me to overcome it. I had to also realize that my mind is a magnet to the universe and whatever I think, it could possibly come true. So when situations arise and when life takes a turn, I’d rather put my energy into the positive aspect of things and also focus on what is in my control during that dark time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I discovered my voice at the age of 6. I had a speech impediment which caused me to stutter a lot. I was bullied because of my stuttering. My two speech therapists recommended to my mother that I start singing to help slow my tongue down to help formulate my sentences better. I started singing around the house, at school, and even in random places, and my speech improved over time. But I also realized that I wanted to do something with my voice. I always knew I had a gift. I was afraid to show it because of my confidence and thought my voice was not good enough. I was always singing in choirs and school choirs ever since middle school. In my last year of high school, I finally decided to go to school for music and see where my voice could take me. I first applied to Morgan State University, majoring in Vocal Performance, but I was not accepted. So I enrolled in the community college of Baltimore County for vocal performance and to obtain my A. A Degree. While I was in college, at 18, I was going through a very tough time emotionally and fell into a deep depression to the point of ending my own life. But I know God gave me a gift that I could not waste. So I began to write music again. At 19, I released my first single, “Too.” The song was based on heartbreak and knowing your worth when someone keeps taking you for granted and playing with your feelings. After releasing the song, I attracted a lot of traffic in Baltimore, and I gained the opportunity to be on a radio show called “Charm City Direct TV” with host Edigga to discuss my new single. I have also been gifted to be on the radio show “Vibing with Cynamin” on Power 4.4 radio to discuss my song and my musical journey. I performed at two pop-up events and was a sponsor for a small black-owned company. During this time, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of GrammyU of the Washington DC district, which has allowed me to collaborate with other artists in the DMV area and build a connection with everyone. I have spoken with R&B singer Ledisi, R&B artist Jacquees, and plenty more. Over time, I became a grammyu student ambassador to spread the word about GrammyU and its benefits for artists, songwriters, producers, etc.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three things that were most impactful in my journey were 1, making sure that I put my all into everything I do in every aspect of my life. 2, never being afraid to step out of my comfort zone, and 3, NEVER be afraid of networking. When you put your all into everything you do in your life, it proves that no matter what the outcome will be in the end, you can never say that you didn’t put in 100% of the effort for the best possible outcome. I use this mindset the most when it comes to my education and my career the most because doing my best in both of those areas along with putting my all into it even on days when I simply did not want to, has given me the opportunity to excel and other people have noticed the same. Alongside that, stepping out of my comfort zone with many things has given me a different aspect of my life. The first time I actually stepped out of my comfort zone was going to a completely different state for my education. Yes, it was scary but beneficial for me in the end. I have met so many beautiful and talented people, who are now I call family, I branched out and started showcasing my talent and putting myself out there more, and all around I started living the life I wanted to live. But besides that, stepping out of my comfort zone when it came to my career, whether it was singing to different genres of music, going to different events by myself that I know would benefit my growth, or even diving into different areas of the music world behind the scenes or up front to see what would stick, made me even more comfortable with being capable of trying new things that can play a big part in my artistry. Lastly, networking with different individuals goes a very long way. I have learned to love going to networking events and stepping out and talking to people about my artistry and my journey as a whole, Even if it ends in a simple follow-back on social media, a picture, an exchange of contacts or just a simple conversation, you never know when or where you will see that person again and where the connect will lead to.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
The biggest area of growth for me was learning that everything that is for me will never go by me and learning that have faith and patience that things will be according to the plan. I could never grasp these things before this year and if it wasn’t me being able to understand it, it was definitely me not being able to be content with these things from a mental and emotional standpoint. What made me be okay with this and follow through with this, was the fact that everything works out for me in the end and even way better than I have expected initially. Being able to tap into that mindset and not worrying about it made me feel calmer in my mind. Not only did this help me think clearer and lessen my worries on things, but it also helped me not stress out on what will happen in the future when I can put my focus into the present.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Iam.moniquewilson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iam.moniquewilson/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-wilson-7b3934187
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/melanatednique
