About PHREA

PHREA is more than a dream. PHREA is more than an idea. PHREA is inevitable. PHREA is everything that it provides: Passion, Hope, Respect, Empowerment, and Ambition.

The history of PHREA started before I truly realized my purpose in life. Writing is my passion. Writing is my endless possibility. PHREA, which is pronounced free, was a vision developed my freshman year at Winthrop University after realizing that I wanted to continue pursuing journalism. I wanted to be the next Susan Taylor or Cynthia Horner serving as black female leaders of media publications. I wanted to give and inspire my readers that there are so many endless possibilities in life besides what they thought. I wanted to provide a sense of inspiration to the young adults especially since I sat in their shoes wondering about life and it's possibilities- not knowing what I wanted to do with myself or how to handle myself in situations I faced. But then one day, a wise person told me that everything in life isn't supposed to make sense because there are so many paths to take, but it's up to me to decide which path to travel. I was sold on PHREA. I knew nothing would stop me from pursuing my dream of owning PHREA, but I was wrong.



My TCMs & MIC at our graduation from Winthrop



Throughout the years I've allowed so many things become a distraction from pursuing PHREA especially fear. I graduated Winthrop University with my degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Journalism. I left not feeling inspired to write or event take the step out on faith to even try. When I walked across the stage to receive my degree, I left writing and PHREA on that stage. I won't say that my college experience was bad because it really wasn't. I enjoyed every bit of it. However, one of my biggest roles while attending was serving as the editor of one of the student publications. My year as the editor was a tough year. Late nights and early mornings in the publication office laying out, editing, managing a staff of 10 writers and producing a monthly publication became a normal part of my college life. I wanted to be an effective leader and take the publication to a different dimension. However, as much as my support system believed in me, I'm realizing now that I didn't believe in myself. I felt like such a failure when it got folded. I wasn't sure if I fought hard enough to keep it standing by itself. I questioned myself countless times. That experienced changed my entire process of owning a publication, which also meant that PHREA went as well.

However, now where I'm standing I realize that I can't run from my passion. It is my hope to conquer and succeed because I know that what God has for me, it is for me. Therefore, I respect the whirlwind I've experienced to get me where I am today. I am empowered to make this movement towards creating PHREA and it becoming more than just a neat idea. Therefore, through my ambition, I will achieve it. PHREA will become an online magazine geared towards young adults who are seeking those endless possibilities. I realized the necessity of this journey that I've endured for past eight years which allowed me the opportunity to grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The word fear is no longer a part of my vocabulary. Instead, I'm walking by faith and not by sight. I also understand that my God's grace is sufficient enough to make anything possible. Therefore, fear will no longer keep me from achieving my goals and aspirations. I'm journeying back to PHREAdom!