LN: I think if it’s something you want to do, you first need to examine what your motivation is. As I say in my book, when mountain climbers put their hooks into the side of the mountain, there’s got to be something really strong inside them, because mountain climbing is extremely competitive. If your motivation is just to see yourself on TV, then I think you can easily fall off the side of the mountain, because that motivation isn’t strong enough.

Really, sincerely, you have to know why it is you want to do it. Having said that, I also believe that now is an exciting time in terms of the new media that is available. I would suggest that you get your laptop, your digital camera, and get to shooting, editing, writing, and crafting your stories. There’s nobody telling you that you can’t do it except yourself.

 

LN:  I think a challenge for somebody today, especially in this media-rich world, is to stand out. I’ve never been one of those people who’s picked out of the crowd. I’m the one who knocks and knocks. There’s that Bible verse that says, “Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matt. 7:7). I’ve done a lot of knocking in my life. I think you have to have perseverance and determination, and it also goes back to the question “What’s your motivation?” You won’t keep knocking—you won’t keep seeking—unless your motivation is really clear in your mind.

 

I think an additional challenge is to define what success is for you. I think that success is something that’s very personally defined. In the course of my life, I’ve met the richest people in the world, and I’ve met the poorest people. Sometimes what the world considers “success”— well, I wouldn’t really want it. For example, the world has recently observed the anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. I remember seeing her at the memorial service for Versace [a famous clothes designer]. In the ranks of all the people that were there, she struck me as the saddest. Her coloring was rather gray, and she looked really unhappy. I felt very sorry for her. I feel really blessed, because my mother helped to instill a lot of values in me—to really always know who you are, no matter if you’re around a princess or around a prisoner. I think that can be a challenge for some people—always being true to who you are.

 

 

LN: I came from a small village in Africa. If I can reach for my dreams, anyone can reach for their dreams. It’s always about the “inner bling.” You see people with all the outward “bling bling.” Well, sometimes things happen—maybe the record deal doesn’t go so well—but the “inner bling” can never disappear. You’ve got to fight for your right to sparkle. I’m not talking about material pursuits, but whatever it takes for you to truly sparkle—you’ve got to fight for that. The people you’re around, the pursuits you have. In a nutshell, that’s what it’s really about. Starring in Your Own Life is an account of ways to fight for your right to sparkle. I use examples that I’ve observed in my life. Again, it goes back to motivation and asking yourself, “Is this going to make me shine?” 

 

LN: I’m working on a couple of projects, all related to the whole “sparkle and shine” field—some print, some electronic. In the last few years, I’ve also dipped my feet into the acting realm. I did a commercial, and I had a small part on Star Trek. I was up for a small one-on-one role with Edward Norton, up for Crossing Jordan, different things. It’s something that I’m exploring.

 

My real love is speaking to college-age and high school-age youth, because a lot of young women and men make a lot of really critical decisions at that point. So talking to them about choices—choices that make them shine—is something I really enjoy doing. The last time I was in Africa, I spoke at Malawi University. I’ve spoken at Virginia Tech (U.S.A.), Northern Caribbean University (Jamaica), Alaska University (U.S.A), San Diego State (my alma mater; California, U.S.A). I’d really like to do a lot more of that.

 

I also got to be the co-host of the Parade of Nations at GC Session in St. Louis, Missouri (U.S.A.) in front of 70,000 people. I’ve still been working on my documentary about Africa and spending every spare nickel, dime, and dollar on that. Always trying, reaching for the stars.1

 

LN: Huts to Hollywood is the documentary I’ve been working on. I sent about 10 minutes of it to a major cable station, and they want to see more. It’s really expensive to do everything, and I’m waiting to get some funding.

 

The last time I was in Africa was about two years ago. But Africa has been getting a lot more attention recently because of celebrities like Bono, Angelina Jolie, and Madonna. I’m really glad when Africa gets attention. I especially like the growing coverage about how wonderful the people are in Africa.

 

One thing I hope isn’t forgotten is that there were a lot of missionaries that went to Africa who lost their lives trying to help people. I commend all the celebrities that are going to the continent of my birth and bringing attention to serious matters, but in the same sentence we shouldn’t forget the people who have come before, like the missionaries that adopted my mother and made it possible for us to come to the United States. Their names were Lowell and Josephine Cunnington Edwards. Those missionaries really sacrificed their all.

 

LN: You know, it gets back to the “glow.” She shines. I have a picture of her when she was in Africa. She’s holding her Bible, and she’s shining. Here’s someone who was an orphan and had nothing except for a blanket to cover her at night. But she glows; she’s gorgeous in the picture—more gorgeous than the starlets who are photographed and idolized. Sometimes, if you look in their eyes, there really isn’t that glow.  But my mom always has gone for things that were substantial—education and love for humanity.

LN: I’ve been really blessed in that I’ve been to the Emmy’s. I was backstage at the Oscars. I’ve covered the Grammy’s, and I’ve been to the Cannes Film Festival. There are so many things, so many adventures I’ve been blessed with. One of the coolest experiences came from my adventures in Africa.

In Zimbabwe, they have child-headed households. I had never heard of that before. The parents die, so then the older siblings are responsible for their grandparents and their younger siblings. I was working with a photographer on a story, following an AIDS orphan back to her village. She would go and sell things in order to provide for her family. I wish you could’ve seen the joy in her face as she walked to the hut where her grandmother lived. Some people would see it as such a burden, but she was so happy. When we went into the hut, I opened the cupboard and there was absolutely no food—with eight people living in the hut. There was an adorable little girl who lived there. Lineah, the little girl who supported the family, cooked the food. After she was finished, she served it to her family, including this beautiful little girl. This girl put her little hands over her eyes and prayed. For her to be grateful just amazed me. Sometimes you live around people who have so much, but they’re just not grateful.

 

LN: I think there are a couple of things that are really important for students. One is the concept of “seek and ye shall find.” You hear about college-age people not going for what they truly want, so they’re not truly seeking. Really go for what makes you glow. Go for it. Go gangbusters. Don’t give up, whatever it is. Really go for it.

 

Also, the race doesn’t always go to the swiftest. I know that in my career, I would see other people accomplishing this and accomplishing that. But really, it’s important to focus on your own race and to keep running. I have to remind myself of this, too. Sometimes you get discouraged. You just have to know that it’s not a sprint; you just have to keep on running. Don’t compare yourself to others.  Have a plan. You might be lucky enough to get a big break, but I think you’re more likely to achieve what you want to if you have some kind of a plan. Don’t just say that you want to be a television reporter or that you want to be an author. Have a plan to accomplish it. You’ve got to do your research. I look at people I admire or who have been successful; I find out what school they went to and how they got their big break. So do your homework and research to see how people achieved their dream.

 

Plan and have real passion. Really care about what it is you want to do at an early age. I’ve met older people who really regret spending a lot of their lifetime doing something they really didn’t love.

 

Seek, ask, knock. Really, you can do it. There are so many opportunities, and there’s a lot of talent out there. Nobody can tell your story and nobody can bring the “flavor flave” of who you are. Nobody can tell stories the way you can tell stories. Nobody can be a doctor the way you’re going to be a doctor. You can bring all your unique strengths and talents to whatever it is you decide you really want to do. So bring them!

 

Lena can be reached through her Web site: www.nozizwe.com.

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