Valeka: Thank you!
Anzzia: You've traveled around. You've worked in the industry as an actress in television, theater, the whole nine yards. You also mentioned that you are a professor, you own your own business in helping actors and entertainers in the industry. Tell me a little bit about how you've segued into being a professor and entrepreneur.
Valeka: The reason why I started my company is because maybe a year ago I was sleeping and I woke up in the middle of the night and God was like, "Valeka, you're never going to be blessed the way you want to be blessed unless you truly influence the lives of young people around you." I give, yes I am an actress. I'm a great actress. I'm a great storyteller. But, my true gift outside of acting is the gift of teaching, the gift of influencing, the gift of confidence. I have so much confidence that I could just give it away! It's something that no one has ever taught me.
Anzzia: Where did it come from?
Valeka: Girl! I was born with it!
Anzzia: Oh, that’s beautiful!
Valeka: Everyone is born with a gift. Everyone has a gift and the gift of life, the gift of like "F all yall" and not in a bad way but, just having that gift and being able to share with people and teach other people how to have that is something that I've always had right within me. Then pair it with education, I have been teaching forever! When I first graduated from Norfolk State, girl I was teaching at twenty-one. I was a High School teacher teaching English. I've always taught. I used to get so mad because oh my God, I don't want to teach! I want to act! I taught more then I was acting. I would get upset and I would leave education and just focus on my acting. Then every single time I applied for a teaching job, girl, I wouldn't even try. I would get an amazing High School and I would be like, "What is this?" I mean I was running programs girl. I was implementing curriculum at different theaters across the country. It was like, insane! I'm like, why? I mean it was fun but, I would rather act it out. /laughs So, education is something that I've always run away from and so God was like, "Valeka, this is your calling.