Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaamilah Mixon.
Hi Kaamilah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I’ve always been a dreamer who takes action and have felt compelled to utilize creative outlets for self-expression and discovery since I was a child. I was born in New York yet grew up mostly in Georgia and moved around frequently with my family. I was raised in challenging family dynamics and that has been the primary catalyst for my creative self-discovery. Some of the challenging family dynamics include instability, poverty, abuse, and being raised in an imbalanced parental dynamic. At the age of 8 I decided I wanted to express myself through modeling and at the age of 13 I signed a contract with Elite Model Management. At the time I was quite shy, awkward, and tomboyish and I was seeking to develop grace, refinement, and an outlet to help me cope with some of the challenges I was facing in my family and socially. At the age of 15 I began writing poetry and over the years have written more than 100 poems.
Through poetry, I have sought to write the things that I was scared to say in conversation. I have sought to abstractly express the effects of traumatic events on my life. To this day performing and doing poetry shows is not only an outlet yet an opportunity to feel heard by others and a higher power. At the age of 17, I graduated high school and began attending the University of Central Florida.
During the course of my education, I continued modeling, writing, and performing poetry and began taking dance classes at the age of 19. I also worked at Publix and volunteered. Dance became an outlet of self-expression and fun that I’ve continued to this day. At the age of 22, I graduated with my Master’s in Social Work from the University of Central Florida. I decided to pursue entrepreneurship with my sister combining my creative passions and my desire to be of service to others with her desire to organize interactive events with a focus on spiritual development.
Although that partnership and venture didn’t work out I continue to pursue my creative and altruistic passions.
Currently, I reside in Orlando, FL, and in addition to my creative pursuits, I am a social worker. Something I’m looking forward to this year is releasing a children’s book I wrote and possibly teaching a dance class. I am also really excited to embark on a new professional journey as a school social worker.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road whatsoever. Some of the struggles along the way include growing up in an unstable environment, facing poverty, and dysfunctional family dynamics. I moved around frequently with my family and that included attending several different schools and struggling socially.
There were periods when my family faced poverty and I had to focus on helping at home by tending to my siblings and working. The dysfunctional family dynamics I face included being raised without my father and dealing with periods of emotional abuse and bullying. Some of those struggles resulted in me facing personal mental health challenges as an adult.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a professional and creative. Professionally, I’ve worked in foster care, as a child therapist, and as a mental health counselor. Currently, I am embarking on a new path as a school social worker. As a school social worker, I will be instrumental in addressing emotional, behavioral, and social barriers that impede students’ success.
Creatively I am a model, poet/writer, and dancer. I engage in my creative pursuits outside of working full time and everything I do is freelance. I currently work with a modeling network called The Brand and am looking forward to completing a modeling portfolio. I am also looking forward to being a published author and teaching a dance class.
I’m most proud of my resilience and persistence and my determination to fulfill and express my creative passions despite the challenges I’ve faced.
In terms of what sets me apart from others I do my best not to compare and contrast yet I will say that I am a unique combination of intelligence, creativity, love, and empathy. Ultimately I’m driven by my desire to heal and overcome generational dysfunction and trauma and actualize a world for future generations that allow them freedom.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My guidance on finding a mentor and networking would be to get out into the world and do things that light you up, bring you joy, and cultivates your passions. While doing those things connect with the people who are also doing those things. Stay connected as best as you can to the people who’ve helped you along your journey and when you meet people you want to learn from communicate that and be intentional.
What’s worked well for me is getting into spaces where I get to do things I’ve loved doing since I was a child and meet new people that way. I find that I’m much more at ease and relaxed and the conversation flows.Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kaamilahmixon
Image Credits
Kareem Jay, Ramon Hughley, Max Austin, and Nehemiah Williams
