I'm good with being UNCOMMON.
LARRISSA CLAVON is a seasoned communicator and journalist who writes about life & culture, personal development, and relationships in her column, UNCOMMON WITH LARRISSA CLAVON. She’s a curious creative and multi-talented professional learning to manage life, career, and business. She graduated early from an accredited J-school (journalism school) with the highest university honors - summa cum laude, highest GPA in concentration, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Tau Alpha; along with radio and news experience, special awards as a radio personality, and distinguished recognition as a "star" for remarkable live TV weather reporting presence and performance from media professionals and peers within the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
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A few years ago I realized one of the main reasons why friends and I were shutting down restaurants engaged in conversations - literally staying until closing time, was largely because of me. I get comfortable. We laugh. I ask questions. I think. I listen. I'm present. And I speak - thankfully with those who want to engage. Being in good conversation with someone with good presence over a good meal is a good time. My perspective is different: I add something, and it's not something that I'm trying to do to be different - I just am. I've heard it most of my life. I've felt it too - the greatness and the opposition. But before I settled into being different I really struggled with it. And not only was I different, but my path was too. I wondered why was it that I could do the same thing someone else was doing; often times doing more and really achieving in a more superior way, but get different, disappointing, or conflicting results. It took years for me to realize it, but those results and experiences helped to show me that traditional and conventional are largely not my path - that common doesn't work for me. This journey has been a process, but a change I could see took place deep inside of me when I embraced the way God designed me. And it took off so much pressure to continue to follow common paths of advice, acceptance, accomplishment, and fulfillment that has worked for others. I tested it for myself - it didn't work for me. The results revealed that many people tell either an exaggerated or oversimplified story about their process.
UNCOMMON is a column where I share my perspective on things going on in life and culture, as well as things I'm learning about personal development and relationships. Right now this feels like a blog. I think it'll be unconventional like many aspects of my life - and right now I'm ok with that.
Everyone is unique. I know I'm not the only one who's had UNCOMMON life experiences. Sometimes I discover other voices who share similar perspectives and opinions; and it's refreshing, but there's only one me. This Column is about my voice. It's also about readers hearing a voice that connects with them - a voice saying something they can listen to - a voice saying something they find helpful, meaningful - likely unpopular but safe and true.
I think I want UNCOMMON to be comforting. And funny. Here, I have parameters, but there are no cookie cutters or boxes.
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When you read UNCOMMON I want you to know that you are engaging with content that is meaningful to the writer(s) - it's not thrown together - it took time, effort, real skill, and possibly a lived experience to present. I hope it feels that way for you when you read it. I'll write when I write. And each article will be good. I'm already thankful for all of my UNCOMMON readers, subscribers, and supporters.
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It's alright to be different.
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This is it. UNCOMMON WITH LARRISSA CLAVON.
