Take The Good With The Bad, And Always Show Gratitude
Life@GWN with Azia Armstead
In our latest exciting edition, Annabel Young sat down with one of her fellow fellows, Azia Armstead. Azia shares on the community she’s found at Girls Write Now, her superpower (*hint* it’s a sensible one), and the wisdom and style of her grandmother. Her story, in her words…
My Life@GWN...
has been a conglomeration of sharing and meditating on creative work, discovery, laughter, writing and rewriting and lots of wonderful connections. It’s a great privilege to say that my job is primarily to uplift young writers by listening and championing their voices on and off the page.
What About Your Job Gets You Up in the Morning?
Recognizing the talent, drive, and uniqueness in each Girls Write Now mentee gets me up in the morning. Though writing is mostly a solitary act - all writers need community - especially in youth. Being a part of this community and witnessing mentees blossom is both exciting and gratifying.
What Makes the Girls Write Now Work Environment So Special?
It’s a delight to work alongside incredibly intelligent, generous, and creative people who value community and have an unyielding passion for writing. It’s no secret that the arts are undervalued in our society. I’ve found myself defending my pursuit of poetry time and time again throughout my journey.
However, it’s such a relief to be in community with people who simply ‘get it’.
What’s Your Superpower?
My superpower is sensibility. Though I didn’t always consider this to be a positive attribute, being able to feel things deeply informs the work I do at Girls Write Now. This is particularly helpful in forming bonds with mentees and fostering an environment in which their creative work and personal development can thrive.
Morning Person or Night Owl?
A morning person through and through! I feel that I have the most energy early in the morning. Also I couldn’t be a night owl if I tried. I struggle staying awake past 10pm!
When did you first feel like an adult?
Moving out of my hometown to New York City really solidified my feeling like an adult. In retrospect, building a life for myself independent of everything I had ever known sounds petrifying. Yet I was unafraid and overjoyed to be embarking on a new journey.
Oh - and it was all during a global pandemic.
Which Family Member had the Greatest Impact on You?
My late grandmother has had the greatest impact on me. She was a radiant person with an abundance of confidence, wisdom, and style. She taught me to stand up for myself and showed me that I can create whatever life I want.
Best Advice You’ve Ever Received:
“There are 365 days in a year, you’re bound to have some bad ones.”
It’s been constructive for me to consider this and put things into perspective. I’ve learned to take the good with the bad and to always show gratitude.