You Can Love a Chapter and Still Turn the Page

• 

  Three different years. Three different versions of me. One unforgettable chapter.

• 

  Three different years. Three different versions of me. One unforgettable chapter.

• 

  Three different years. Three different versions of me. One unforgettable chapter.

The 2026 BET Awards took place this past weekend, and the question I've been asked the most through calls, texts, and DMs is:

"Do you miss it?"

The answer is simple.

Yes.

And no.

But before I answer that, let me tell you why:

I love the people.

I cherish the memories.

I treasure what that chapter meant to me.

But I don't miss it in a way that makes me want to relive it.

I Loved It. I Don't Miss It.

This was the second year in a row that I watched the BET Awards from my couch.

And honestly?

They did an incredible job.

And my forever sister, Maya Darasaw of @madworksphoto, captured the evening through some truly immaculate photography.

• 

  Druski hosted the 2026 BET Awards (Photographed by @madworksphoto).

• 

  BET President Louis Carr at the 2026 BET Awards (Photographed by @madworksphoto).

• 

  Cardi B at the 2026 BET Awards (Photographed by @madworksphoto).

• 

  Janet Jackson at the 2026 BET Awards (Photographed by @madworksphoto).

• 

  Lauryn Hill performing at the 2026 BET Awards (Photographed by @madworksphoto).

• 

  Ice Cube and Druski performing at the 2026 BET Awards. (Photographed by @madworksphoto).

My former executive, Louis Carr, is now the President of BET and led his first BET Awards in that role.

Druski became the youngest host in the show's history and brought his own brand of comedic creativity to Culture's Biggest Night.

My sister-friend, Perri Camper Rivers—better known to me as Perri Boo—delivered in her first year as a producer of the Awards.

Watching it all unfold, I felt proud.

Proud of them.

Proud of the show's continued evolution.

And proud to know that, at one point in my life, I played a small part in something so culturally significant.

BET was an incredible 8-year experience.

It wasn't my dream job because my imagination didn't stretch that far.

I never dreamed about working in entertainment.

I never dreamed about walking red carpets or attending award shows.

Truthfully, I didn't even know a job could be fun.

After graduating from college in 2005, I was simply looking for work.

I knew I needed to be responsible for my wants and needs, and I hoped a job would allow me to do just that.

I landed three different jobs in three different industries.

I didn't enjoy any of them.

So, in 2009, I decided to try my hand at entrepreneurship.

Before BET, there was Write to Success—the dream I built while figuring life out.

Write to Success was born.

For years, I wrote resumes, edited books, and worked temporary jobs whenever the bills didn't quite line up with the vision.

In 2016, I found myself on BET's website for a simple reason: I wanted to know what time Kelly Rowland's show came on.

While searching, I heard God say:

"Click Careers."

I remember responding, "For what? I'm not looking for a job."

But I clicked anyway.

And that click changed my life.

Exactly Where I Was Supposed to Be

These little pins represents a season I never saw coming.

I saw a posting for Executive Assistant to the President of Media Sales.

My first thought was, I can't move to New York.

Then I kept reading and realized the position was in Chicago.

I had never officially been an Executive Assistant, but as I read the description, I realized I had done most of the responsibilities before or had learned them from my mother, who had been an Executive Assistant for over fifteen years.

I researched the role.

I researched the executive.

I rewrote my resume and created a cover letter specifically for the opportunity.

Then life began connecting dots I didn't even know existed.

My best friend since I was fifteen was related to his family.

My mother had worked with one of his best friends years earlier.

My mom, Louis, and his best friend, Kevin, laughing about old times.

Even my childhood landlord on the Westside of Chicago was one of his longtime friends.

Those connections confirmed that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

The Job I Never Imagined

• 

  The job description never mentioned any of this.

• 

  The job description never mentioned any of this.

• 

  The job description never mentioned any of this.

The job description mentioned travel coordination, calendar management, team collaboration, and some event planning.

It said absolutely nothing about talent engagements, red carpets, ticket distributions, book tours, annual conferences, or editing a quarterly magazine.

I didn't know I'd attend the BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, Black Girls Rock, and the Soul Train Awards every year.

I had no idea that one click on a careers page would lead to experiences I never could have imagined.

Talent Who Became Part of the Story

I shared moments with actors, athletes, authors, entrepreneurs, and entertainers whose work had inspired me long before our paths crossed.

• 

  Jay Ellis, best known for his role as Lawrence on Insecure.

• 

  Jacob Latimore, actor, singer, and star of The Chi.

• 

  Doug E. Fresh, legendary beatboxer and hip-hop pioneer

• 

  DJ D-Nice, DJ, photographer, and creator of Club Quarantine

• 

  Derrick Rose, former NBA MVP and Chicago Bulls legend

• 

  Stevie Wonder, legendary singer-songwriter and musician

• 

  David Mann, actor and comedian best known as Mr. Brown from Tyler Perry's productions

• 

  New Edition, iconic R&B group

• 

  Chris Gardner, entrepreneur and author of The Pursuit of Happyness

• 

  Sterling K. Brown, Emmy-winning actor best known for This Is Us.

• 

  Bre-Z, actress and rapper best known for All American and Empire

• 

  Chance the Rapper, Grammy Award-winning rapper and Chicago native

Angela Bassett.

Bre-Z.

Chance the Rapper.

Chris Gardner.

David Mann.

Derrick Rose.

Doug E Fresh.

DJ D Nice.

Dwyane Wade.

Jay Ellis.

Master P.

New Edition.

Sterling K. Brown. Stevie Wonder.

And many more...

Some relationships became friendships.

Some became mentorships.

And one would become my very first client.

Devale and Khadeen Ellis wholeheartedly supported my Crystal Marshall Certified vision.

Some relationships became friendships. Some became mentorships. Some became clients.

Each photo tells a story.

Each interaction taught me something.

And each moment reminded me that life has a way of taking us to places our imagination never considered.

The Part People Didn't See

The work behind the moments people celebrated.

People didn't see the other 99.9%.

Planning.

Pressure.

Responsibility.

Expectations.

Exhaustion.

The countless hours spent trying to create exceptional experiences for everyone around me.

I cared deeply about my work.

I wanted people to feel welcomed.

I wanted them to feel seen.

I wanted them to leave saying, "That was exceptional."

Creating exceptional experiences required an extraordinary amount of work, preparation, and grace—especially when things didn't go according to plan.

And eventually, all of that work started taking a toll.

All Things Have an Expiration Date

Around my sixth year, I started to feel like my time there was coming to an end.

I couldn't explain it.

I just knew.

So, I began preparing for my exit.

By year eight, my health began confirming what my spirit had been whispering.

My body said what my spirit had been whispering for years.

It was time.

I needed to prioritize myself.

I needed to listen.

The message I kept hearing was:

"Job well done. Now it's time to be free."

My Definition of Freedom

I learned that rest is productive, too.

After saving $100,000, I had earned choices.

I spent nearly two years away from employment building Crystal Marshall Certified and simply enjoying life.

I took walks.

I took naps.

I planned my days however I wanted.

I maintained my lifestyle while allowing myself to simply exist without an agenda.

Freedom looked like slow mornings, long walks, and finally giving myself permission to just be.

That season was my version of freedom.

Two weeks ago, I returned to the workforce as a remote Chief of Staff for an L.A.-based brand transformation company.

My loved ones consider this freedom because I work remotely and no longer carry the intensity I carried at BET.

I appreciate that perspective.

But for me?

Freedom was those two years in between.

Freedom was owning my time.

Freedom was hearing my phone and not feeling responsible for answering it.

We all define freedom differently.

And that's okay.

The Highlight Reel

Both versions of me are real.

From the outside looking in, people get excited about others' lives because, much like on social media, they see the highlight reel.

Red carpets.

Celebrities.

Glamorous photos.

Incredible experiences.

Beautiful moments can still come with an expiration date.

What they don't see are the sacrifices, the pressure, the stress, and the moments that quietly ask more of you than you have left to give.

I gave BET my very best. And it gave me more than I ever imagined.

I poured myself into the work, the people, and the experiences.

And I left with no regrets.

So...Do I Miss It?

I entered that season hearing God say, "Click Careers."

I left that season hearing Him say, "Job well done. Now it's time to be free."

I've learned to trust His plan for my life because it has taken me to unimaginable places.

Some seasons become memories. Some people become meaningful chapters.

BET taught me that work can be meaningful.

It taught me that a job can be fun.

It taught me that relationships can become temporary family.

It taught me that excellence opens doors.

And perhaps most importantly, it taught me that beautiful things can come to an end without becoming tragedies.

Sometimes they simply become memories.

I don't miss BET because I don't long for seasons that have already given me everything they were meant to give.

I carry the lessons.

I cherish the memories.

I love the people.

And then, I keep moving forward.

Sometimes You Have to Turn the Page

Joy, peace, and restoration.

During those two years away, something unexpected happened.

I rested.

I slowed down.

I listened.

And somewhere in the quiet, I found pieces of myself that had gotten buried beneath deadlines, expectations, and responsibility.

The woman who re-emerged wasn't new.

She was always there.

I had simply been too busy to spend time with her.

Today, my life looks different.

I still care deeply about my work.

I still show up with excellence.

But I now believe that intense work requires cocoon visits.

And I know that every season—even the beautiful ones—is preparing us for the next.

Because life is a conglomerate of beautiful seasons.

A cocoon and a wing-sprout are both a part of the process.

Everything has a beginning.

Everything has an end.

And when the time comes, don't be afraid to move on.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is thank a chapter for everything it gave us and turn the page.

More Awaits

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is loosen our grip and trust what's ahead.

Don't squeeze too tightly to what you already have for fear that the next chapter won't be as spectacular.

Be brave enough to release what has fulfilled its purpose.

Trust that everything in your life is happening for you and coming together for your greater good.

Then, give yourself permission to explore again.

Because sometimes the best chapters of our lives don't begin with a promotion, a title, or an accomplishment.

Sometimes they begin with letting go.

Honor what was. Release what is. Make room for what can be.