To the Girl Who Feels Like Giving Up…

BLACK Girls Only, Her Culture, She GLOWS, She Is That…, Unapologetically BLACK

To the Girl Who Feels Like Giving Up…

February 3, 2026

4–6 minutes

I spent an entire semester doubting myself.

My fashion journal professor didn’t get my aesthetic, no matter how much I tried to explain it. It seemed as if she wanted me to pull my inspiration from Eurocentric designers. But I wanted to pull from my own experiences.

If I were inspired by another designer, it would ruin the story I wanted to tell.

I was frustrated; I didn’t know what to do.

I knew what message I wanted to send, but my professor couldn’t see it. And then, she made me feel as though I failed as a designer. I don’t think she did it intentionally, but during my time at school, a lot took its toll on me.

The last two years of my university experience were spent indoors because of COVID-19, which affected me a lot. Around this same time, I had to make trips to the labs so that I could access the sewing machines, but that wasn’t promised.

The Thought of Giving Up

Because of the pandemic, I had to weigh my options carefully. I was on the brink of giving up: I wanted to give up school, I wanted to give up design, I wanted to give up on my portfolio.

Nothing was working for me, and no matter what I tried, the thought of giving up plagued my mind more and more. Every time I looked at my projects, I felt uninspired. Was this the best I could do? Was I worth it?

Was I good at what I did? My designs looked plain, and everyone else’s looked exciting. I started to think I had no talent, that I’d gone through my entire college years faking my abilities. What was I doing wrong?

I spent a lot of time angry with myself; angry that I wasn’t trying harder, that I wasn’t good enough. I was angry at being overlooked.

Yet, each time I doubted myself, a small voice reminded me that I wasn’t doing this for me; I wasn’t doing this to be shaped by those around me. I was doing this for change.

The Plan that God Has for Me

God didn’t want me to blend in with the world—He wanted me to stand out. However, at the time, I couldn’t see it. The fight to be seen was overwhelming. Yet, when I did it the right way, I went unnoticed and unheard.

The seventh semester was a fighting semester for me. There were many tears, challenges, heartbreaks, and struggles. Yet, unknown to me, God had a plan. His ways were higher than mine, and His thoughts were deeper than mine.

His plans are final. I may as well be a part of the plan.

A God that Pulls Through

During the seventh semester, three weeks before classes officially ended and the labs were to be closed, the school banned dorm students from using the sewing machine labs because of a rise in COVID-19 cases on campus.

At the time, I had only my pattern pieces cut out, and I hadn’t started the garment. I had NO sewing machine, no dress form, nothing.

I emailed everyone about the issue, but no one could help me. My professor was the worst. All he could suggest was marking my class incomplete and finishing the garment next semester, but I was determined not to do that.

The garment was due on December 8th, and on top of having no access to the labs, we had to vacate the dorms within days. I was in tears that night. I panicked, called my mother, and did everything I could.

Frustrated, I kept telling myself that God wouldn’t bring me this far just to leave me behind, but did I really believe it?

My mother encouraged me to purchase a sewing machine, and we prayed. During that time, I also scoured New York with my uncle in search of a dress form.

I saw a sewing machine I liked online, but there was no guarantee that it would ship in time. Besides, its two-day shipping cost was $200, which I couldn’t afford. This happened on a Tuesday, and with the free shipping option having no delivery date, I knew it would take weeks or even months before I got a machine.

Not knowing what else to do, I took the risk and chose the free shipping.

And … by Friday, the machine arrived!

I’d moved out of the dorm prior to the machine arriving at my relative’s house. After a few days of unpacking, it took three days to go from a paper pattern to a finished garment, one week before the garment was due!

Be confident in this, that HE who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ.

Philippians 1:6

If the Most High began a good work, HE IS faithful to complete it…

God’s Word for You

You are fearfully and wonderfully created by God. You are His grand masterpiece, the best of His holy work that can never be replaced.

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you and will bring you back from captivity.”
Song of Solomon 4:7 ESV

Signed,