Rasheedah Shahid.

Rasheedah Shahid is 20 years young, hailing from New Haven, Connecticut. The way that she puts herself together, her, flow, her vibe, her mentality, is one for the books. I originally planned to write this as an interview type format but the way she set it up, there’s no need because there is a way she tied this interview together and made it flow so beautifully.

I’m a psychology major at Housatonic community college. I’ve declared this is what I wanted to do being a kid who was in the system.

I hate to sound arrogant but I believe I have a balance of all four (I asked her what did she think she had the most of, talent, intelligence, education, or persistence). I believe this through my experience because having one or the other was never good enough it was when I applied all I seen the most growth and/or results. I absolutely hated myself growing up. As a child self esteem and self harm was my biggest struggle & the family matters what I was going through at the time impacted my self imagine. vs now, I am someone who my peers refer to when they mention self love. Self love is life to me & there is no way I would be going on 4 years free from self harming if it wasn’t for me focusing on my self-love journey. The only thing that is the same is my open heart to love. Then to now, I will always try my hardest to keep my heart soft. My strength is in my love and it took me years to understand this. Many things had changed, but personally me holding myself accountable is #1. See when we’re hurt we’ll blame, blame, blame but once I understood the place and power I hold within EVERY situation in my life is when everything change. You can and have the right to be upset if I pushed you off the swing set, but it is your responsibility to go clean your cut and get a band aid!

My whole damn being is for colored girls all over! I am the real deal! We need real! Everyone else was allowed to be themselves EXCEPT colored girls! I am me loud and proud and that’s the first lesson they can take from me! But also being living proof that no matter how bad your life may be, you are the key, you are the power, you are the controller. YOU CALL THE SHOTS. Once colored girls learn their wealth, it’s over! My advice to colored girls would be this, look within, not without! Acknowledge yourself, trust yourself!

Rasheedah says that she is obsessed with crystals & flowers. With that being said, she’s a rare crystal or, a beautiful flower that continues to blossom and flourish no matter what the weather is like.

Make sure you guys follow both of Rasheedah's Instagram pages @illahatan &

@spiritual_growth_ !