I’m so excited to share this new interview with you. Joyful Drake stars as Tasha, a fashionable mother of twins, in the BET hit series Let’s Stay Together, which is produced by Queen Latifah and is gearing up for its 3rd season. Joyful is a college graduate, has a successful career and some amazing insight to share for other women looking to follow their dreams. Enjoy the interview and be inspired! xo
Joyful Drake on LorensWorld.com
1. You waited until after graduating from college to pursue acting. What advice would you give to young women deciding between education and career?
I waited until I graduated from college to pursue my acting degree because
education has always, and will always, be important to me. School prepares you
for life. The highs, the lows and all the tough decisions you will face. I went to
college on an Academic Scholarship and in my parent’s house you went to high
school and then you went to college. All three of my siblings also went to college
and all graduated. My parents wanted us to have more opportunities in life and
when you are seventeen, which I was at the time I graduated from high school,
sometimes, you don’t’ exactly know what you want to do in life. College helped
me figure out exactly what I wanted to do and map out a path. I encourage all
young aspiring actors to go to college. Learn about yourself, learn about your
craft and study your field because being equipped with information and
knowledge are powerful tools to have in life!
2. Lets stay together is a groundbreaking show for BET! How would you define your success?
Being on BET’s First original scripted show has been a whirlwind to say the least. To be a part of history in this way is very special to me. It’s what “Soul
Food” was to Showtime. BET has a chance to really make an impact on television by filling a void that was present for so many years. African
Americans spend a lot of money on entertainment, and yet they don’t have
many vehicles or shows to choose from. BET is giving the people what they
want, to say the least. It’s giving them a chance to laugh, relate and see
themselves in living characters right on their TV screen at home. It feels
incredible to be a part of this movement, part of this change.
3. Can you give Loren’s World readers 3 tips for balancing a successful career and personal life?
Three tips I would say you definitely need to balance both a successful career and a personal life is to:
a. Surround yourself with good?hearted people that really care about your happiness and wellbeing. People that make you live, love and laugh. They are the people that make everything worthwhile.
b. Take care of yourself! Workout, eat healthy organic foods, and most importantly, stay away from processed foods that drain your energy and weigh on your body. A healthy person is a happy person.
c. Last but not least, set goals. Whether they are weekly, monthly or yearly goals. Give yourself a checks and balances sheet. This will keep you on your toes and give you new heights to strive for.
4. After embracing your quirkiness is when your career really took off. What
would you say to other women struggling to accept themselves?
After embracing my quirkiness my career really took off because I knew and
loved exactly who I was. When you’re young and trying to land a job in a field that many have told you would never happen, you can get insecure. But, when you know who you are and you accept your uniqueness, doors
just open. So, if I could say anything to women and young girls who are
struggling to be something they are not or not loving and accepting who they
really are, I would say Let It Go!!! Be free to be you, if you don’t learn to love
and accept yourself, how could you expect anyone else to?
5. What’s been the most important accomplishment in your life so far?
The biggest accomplishment in my life has been being able to move away
from my family and friends who live in Wisconsin, and whom I love dearly,
and being able to build a good life and a successful career on the other side
of the country in a field that I have always dreamt of pursing. People say it’s
not easy to follow your dreams. I always say look at the alternative. Pursing
your passion and what your heart tells you is nothing compared to looking
back on your life and wondering, what if?
