We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Troy Legette a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Troy , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
The moment I realized that I had a passion for pushing a pen evolved from my fascination of words I’ve never seen before. My writing journey is a bit unimagined since I was uninterested in reading books at a young age.
One day my dad noticed I scored low on a reading comprehension exam during my elementary school years. Based on that topic of discussion he advised that I visit a book store with him. It was that visit when I purchased my very first book to read. And I still have it, to this day and been reading books ever since. The funny thing about it all is that it wasn’t a poetry book.
My poetry journey began as a young teen with a keen ear for good music, specifically hip hop. There were so many songs that I enjoyed, encouraging me to practice writing my own rhymes. The years passed, and those rhymes became many attempts of creating lyrics. At that time, I had no idea what I was doing related to poetry.
It was something I considered fun to do. My reading habit increased leading me to words I had never seen. The fascination urged me to collect them, learn their meanings, and apply in my writing.
One day, I read in a local newspaper about a poetry contest, I submitted one of my rhymes. The rhyme got their attention and informed of being selected as a finalist. It was that moment that I felt that I could finally win at something, so I kept on writing with a strict focus on poetic voice. I searched for other poetry contests that I could enter. The inspiration alone kept me writing. Around this time in my life the writer inside me became more secretive as a journal.
I remember the effect my writing had on someone I let read my work. It was their response of telling me to share my art with others and the world when I knew it was time to unleash being selfish. I remember the effect that my writing had on someone I let read my work. It was the initial response of telling me to share my art with others and the world, when I knew it was time to unleash being selfish. Honestly, that is when my first poetry collection Social Climax manifested.
I even submitted more work to contests determined to win an award. My attitude grew a tolerance to never give up and keep going as the results are not favorable yet. I even submitted more work to contests determined to win an award. However, the accumulation of poems helped set the stage of completing my second poetry collection, The Objective Scholar: Poetic Wordplay.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Today, my days involve cutting hair as a barber because that pays the bills. That trade came in handy after earning A Master’s Degree in Accounting from University of Phoenix and encountering a permanent employment position challenge. If I am not working in the barbershop, I am making time to exercise my writing ability.
Believing sincerely that my talent will change my life in a way value and worth compensate me in abundance. Every little step I take on my part assist in reaching ample success and brings me closer to that goal. I say that even after accepting a scholarship at Arizona State University years ago on a hot pursuit of completing a Bachelor’s Degree in film and media.
On April 6, 2024 I am having an event celebrating The Objective Scholar release and signing. The excitement is so loud in my mind and heart I’m restless.
I’m relying on my artistic career to change my life in a way that my value and worth compensates me in abundance. I’ve grown to a point where writing and poetry is a serious focus. My approach to becoming a seasoned writer pushed me to learn poetry rules and styles. All of which I hope becomes a reason I win an award or something honorable.
It’s a upgrade to how I began writing poetry. In fact, aside from researching online it is a privilege and honor to be accepted into the Community Literature Initiative (CLI) program. The meeting of the minds and overall support grooms and gradually impregnate a growth unimagined.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I have been impacted along my journey by the amount of resilience, enthusiasm, and passion.
If you are early on your journey, embrace where you are, accept it, and define your next steps to mean what is in view for you.
There is a purpose that match your love. You’re the driver of your vehicle, and definitely pace yourself moving forward. What is for you to learn will arrive at the right time, but you must make an effort.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
It’s all a combination of family, friends, and other artists moving in the same direction as me. When I have challenges to write, then it’s other artists. When I have questions, it’s friends or educators. And when I need love and support, my family is always at my side.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.troylegette.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troyrlegette?igsh=NXEyZXp1YXM4bG5r&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TroyRLegette?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/troyrlegette
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/troyrlegette
Image Credits
Taylor Girard Cathey Conte Troy Legette
