Halle: Again Joe, It was a pleasure meeting you! I want to tell you that I am glad that I can share this time with you. So tell us.. What is your story?
Joe: For those who don't know me, my name is Joe Obima. I'm a 24 year old African-American, born in Washington D.C.. I was raised in Prince George's County, Maryland and am now currently living in Baltimore. At the moment, I am a student at Morgan State University studying multimedia journalism. What I plan to do after I graduate is to get a job at a news agency like the Baltimore Sun, City Paper, The Afro, etc. and cover the city of Baltimore. After a couple of years in Baltimore, I will move out west. Moving to California has been a dream for me for a while, I love the art scene there and most importantly, the weather!
I was never into journalism as a kid, but since my dad was into politics, he would always ask me "what's going on in the world today" and always demanded me to "stop watching Cartoon Network and change the channel to CNN!"-- Stuff like that. I never really enjoyed watching the news. However, as I grew older (and after years of my dad drilling in my head the importances of current affairs), I've grown more curious and wanted to be in "the know". Now, I'm a news junkie!
Aside from being a student studying journalism, I'm a freelance photographer. I've been a photographer for more than 8 years now. When I first started photography, I was just playing around, taking pictures of my friends as we would hang around and skate. Then as the years passed I started to get a little serious with want I want to pictures of, took photography classes in community college just to learn the science of photography.
I grew up with two loving parents, hard-working too. I don't remember much of my childhood...what's left in my memory bank are just bits and pieces of a fun, curious, adventurous, and at times, a disappointing, and depressing childhood glued together. I don't really feel comfortable about talking about my childhood. I'm never comfortable talking about my childhood. It makes me reflect. Nothing traumatizing happened to me during my childhood, it's just I reflect and ponder what if my childhood were just like those kids who had friends, cool clothes, etc.
I'm not religious.If I were to classify myself I would be an atheist or non-believer I used to be. When I was a child I was a Catholic then when I got older, I'd say pre-teen to teenage years, I became a Christian. Christianity is kind of the same as Catholicism but during time of worship, you don't need to recite prayers whilst holding prayer beads. I read a lot of books as child and when I think back, it was bound to happen. I was reading astrology books and books from Greek philosophers at a young age (thanks Plato). It was just a matter of choice. Do I want to follow this doctrine or ideology that there is a "supreme being" looking over us or think for myself. Reading a shit ton of books, becoming self aware, and a pinch of depression made that decision very easy for me.
Fears? If I do it's a psychological fear than a physical fear. All I can think of is the fear of being a failure and being useless. Another fear I have is the fear of being stupid or unintelligent. I try so hard to read books and watch the news; anything to stimulate my brain. It's a scary thing to become completely ignorant and leaving yourself open for people to deceive you.
The only major accomplishment I can think of is staying alive. I'm happy that I'm still here to enjoy life. I'm happy that I'm still alive to be around my wonderful family. I'm happy that I still have the opportunity to interact with new people, whether it's in Baltimore, D.C., whenever. Just happy to be alive to experience it all. That's my major accomplishment.
Halle: Lastly, any words of wisdom you would love to share with our readers?
Joe: If you can't find a book to read, talk to strangers.
Contact Information:
Facebook: keyword search Joe Obima or https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: @joe___implores___you
Tumblr: joeimploresyou.tumblr.com
No comments:
Post a Comment