We were lucky to catch up with Merissa Ware recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Merissa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose through taking time to reflect on the things I enjoyed doing and the activities that I enjoyed as a kid. In high school, I was an actress in my school’s play and the day of the performance was one of the best days of my life. I felt like I was on cloud 9. I would also create short comic strips and write narratives while in high school. In middle school, I loved to draw and sometimes I would give my illustrations a backstory. In elementary school, I used to write stories on notebook paper, fold it, and staple it to create a little booklet. When I reflected on all of these memorable moments, I knew my passion was for storytelling!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am currently a college student at Georgia State University majoring in film and media with a minor in marketing. I am also a children’s book author, public speaker, and videographer/photographer. The title of my children’s book is “Yes I Will!”. “Yes I Will!” is an inspiring and engaging children’s story with vivid illustrations and diversity. The book shows the importance of working hard and going after your dreams, regardless of what others say or think. “Yes I Will!” is available on Amazon.com.
As a public speaker, I encourage and inform others by reciting poetry that I have written myself. My poetry touches on meaningful topics such as enjoying the simple things in life and utilizing your gifts. As a videographer/photographer, I use my camera as a way to tell stories. I currently work on brand photography by showcasing products and helping entrepreneurs promote their brand. Through photojournalism, I capture interesting and newsworthy shots. With my documentaries, I provide a platform for others to communicate and express themselves and share their truth. My current documentary projects are called “Mention a Message” and “Calling All Creatives”. In the near future, I will create animation/stop-motion short films. For me, the most exciting thing about being a creative is being able to do what I enjoy while making a difference and portraying positive images. I like to use my crafts as a way to either educate, inspire, uplift, or entertain others.
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 most important qualities that were very impactful on my journey were confidence, conviction, and purpose. By having confidence in myself, it allowed me to go after the things that I wanted to achieve, even if they were scary. My confidence allowed me to face my fears because I knew deep down that I wanted to live up to my highest potential and I would rather go through something afraid than have regrets. Conviction was also an important quality. As a creative person, there were people in my life who didn’t believe in my dreams because they thought my dreams were “unconventional”. At that moment, it was discouraging. Because of conviction, I continued to follow my passion. The opinion of nay-sayers did not hold any weight in my life or in my decisions. The third quality that impacted my journey was my purpose. Since I knew what my purpose was, it allowed me to pursue various mediums that were centered around it. With that in mind, I believed that if I pursued anything that was aligned with my purpose and if I gave it my all, I would succeed.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful things that my parents have done for me were believing in me, encouraging me and providing me with the resources I needed. They have always supported me with any ideas, business ventures, and dreams that I had. My parents have made sacrifices and adjustments to their schedules to make sure I was provided for when it came to achieving my goals. They helped pave the way for me on my professional journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://merissaware.wixsite.com/creative
- Instagram: @merissathecreative @authormerissaware https://linktr.ee/merissaware
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merissaware/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy2dPynzjz9PjenNqUr1j_w
