Everyone has a dream, however, not all of us pursue it. How many times have you set goals only to have them go unfulfilled due to unforeseen barriers, inopportunity, procrastination or a lack of confidence in your abilities? It takes a certain level of drive and passion to transform your dreams into a reality. This passion turns into years of hard work, sleepless nights, failures, successes and a number of highs and lows.
Jummy Olabanji is the embodiment of a dream chaser who is not only living her dreams but also making a difference at the same time. From a very young age, Olabanji knew she wanted to become a reporter:
I was probably in the 7th or 8th grade. I had always loved English and writing. I did yearbook and newspaper in high school and was the editor in chief of the yearbook for two years. It kind of all started there and I knew I wanted to be in some sort of media writing.
She went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in communication from Virginia Tech and a master's degree in communication and leadership from Gonzaga University. Now, she's living her dream as an Emmy-award winning reporter and anchor at ABC7/WJLA-TV. As a result of her stellar reporting and community work, she often receives letters of support and words of encouragement from parents of children who love watching her wake up Washington every morning. Olabanji says, "[A viewer told me] I'm just so proud of you and I'm so glad my daughter gets to watch you every morning before she goes to school."
Photo Courtesy of ABC7/WJLA-TV
She has used her platform in the public eye to lend her voice to many importance charitable causes. Olabanji works with Suited for Change -- a nonprofit organization that works to break down barriers to self-sufficiency by providing professional clothing, career and life skills education to low-income women. Suited for Change Executive Director Sharon A. Flynn says, "[Jummy is] elegant, sincere and loyal... and has a strong commitment to the community. Jummy has always been there when we wanted support and help with a project."
In addition, her story shows people that you can live your childhood dreams through dedication and hard work. In the same breath, you can use your dream career to influence your community in a positive manner.
Her advice to our readers is, "Success is infinite. Don't be afraid to succeed. There's enough room for all of us to make our dreams realities. "