My Diary Don't Lie: From Faith to Fumnanya

By M.J.N.

Meet Fumnanya, a resilient young girl, who defies statistics with an utmost courage and determination. My Diary Dont Lie chronicles her vicissitudes as she goes through life beyond being a little girl and before becoming a woman. Fumnanyas desire to overcome her naivety and lack of self-confidence helps her to press on and accomplish her goals. Journey with Fumnanya as she takes a leap of F-a-i-t-h and undergoes a profound transformation. Witness her growth and development as she expresses her heartfelt confessions of her real-life experiences in her sacred and only confidant, her diary.

Author M.J.N. hopes this book will provide an interactive blueprint for young girls, help women to overcome many of the issues that plagued them while growing up, and show men what is often experienced by women coming of age. I want this text to assist people in realizing that sometimes life is challenging but with determination and perseverance one can survive. Whether through embarrassing, serious, or joyous diary entries, my goal is to open a mind and touch hearts, she reveals.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453593165

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by M.J.N.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2010914890

ISBN: Hardcover    978-1-4535-9315-8

ISBN: Softcover      978-1-4535-9314-1

ISBN: Ebook          978-1-4535-9316-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

85342

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

FOREWORD

Introduction

PART 1: INFANT STAGE

PART 2: TODDLER STAGE

PART 3: ADOLESCENT STAGE

PART 4: YOUNG ADULT STAGE

PART 5: MIDDLE-AGE ADULT STAGE

PART 6: OLDER ADULT STAGE

Conclusion

Stages of Life: Notes

~Who Am I: Character Building Activity~

~Who Am I Activity Example~

~Who Am I Activity~

References

This book is dedicated to the love of my life, my daughter,

Me’Aira Elizabeth Nuni. You are a beautiful girl who will one day be

an amazing woman. Always be encouraged and not let the

misconceptions of this world bring you down. As you get older,

always remember to learn and recover from life’s hardships;

always push toward excellence because it is in you to do great things.

~Love Always, Mommy~

This book is also dedicated to the young girls of the world.

Remember, you are all phenomenal!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special Thanks To:

Tiffany Lane, MSW—Co-Founder of Phenomenal Young Ladies Inc.

Janique Cambridge, MA

Su-Anne Robyn Charlery, MPH

Ibrahim Turay Jr.

FOREWORD

People often wonder why young girls seek acceptance through alternative methods and often degrade themselves in order to feel secure amongst their peers. I can relate to the many experiences of young girls throughout American communities, more specifically urban environments. In many neighborhoods, girls are harassed, unsure of how they can fit into greater communities, and experience challenging circumstances that leave them lost without any direction.

Within this book, the main character, Fumnanya, undergoes a profound transformation. In the beginning of the book, she is naive, unsure of herself, and lacks confidence. But by the conclusion of the book, there is a drastic internal change Fumnanya undergoes. Her language and vocabulary even enhances as she becomes older and more accepting of who she is.

Enclosed, you will find numerous diary entries that expose some of the real experiences women alike have encountered in their lives. I hope this book can work as an interactive blueprint for young girls, help women to overcome some of the issues that plagued them while growing up, and show men what is often experienced by women coming of age. Additionally, I want this text to assist people in realizing that sometimes, life is challenging; but with determination and perseverance one can succeed. Whether the diary entries are embarrassing, serious, or joyous, if through this book I open one mind and touch a heart, then my goal will have been accomplished. I can imagine me being profound and accomplishing those things that I desire strongly in my life, but the question is can you imagine yourself being triumphant?

INTRODUCTION

Dear Reader,

I remember, at the age of 13, my mother giving me this diary to write in. She understood that I was having a lot of issues with the kids on the block. I think she secretly knew that I felt like I didn’t belong and needed some form of outlet to make myself feel better. She would tell me that writing helps to heal one’s spirit, and since the age of 13 that is what I have done daily, sometimes multiple times a day . . . I write. Writing makes me feel good about myself, and my diary is like my unbiased friend that I can share my deepest and most sacred thoughts without being judged. In my diary I write about my greatest fears, my biggest dreams, and talk about everything. In my diary I don’t have to lie. I can just be me. My diary was the greatest gift I have ever received in my life.

Until this point, I wouldn’t dare share with another human being the most sacred stories of my life. But now that I am older, I think that it would be a good idea for me to share a part of who I am with at least one person. I am not saying that everything you are about to read is bad, but I just want you to understand that it is personal. I hope that you don’t judge me too much after reading my diary. I was very immature when I first started writing, and now that I am 22 (which isn’t that much older), I am trying to make up for my mistakes. Well, here it is. Please let me know if you have any questions after you are done reading. I will try my hardest to answer them all.

Signed,

Fumnanya

PART 1: INFANT STAGE

Fumnanya needs to feel comfortable

in her skin and to know she can trust others.

7/10/1996

Entry 180

Dear Diary,

As I was getting my hair braided earlier today, I remember thinking how beautiful I would feel once my friends seen me. My cousin just came from Africa and promised she would make my hair look good. Everybody knows that you have to come right with your hair on 52nd street, because if you look busted, everyone will talk about you. I have been trying to avoid being in the line of fire this week. So this is what I needed to do to get the attention off of me.

My cousin worked on my hair all night long, and at 7:00 a.m., we were finally finished. I was so hyped to show my friends my hair that I didn’t care about going to sleep. I went and took a shower and hurried outside. Diary, you already know how it goes on the block. My friends and me make it a point to be outside by 8:00 a.m. during the summer, or at least I do because I usually have to be in the house by the time the streetlights come on. My mom is scared because a lot more crimes have been happening in the city of Chapellsville, and she says that she doesn’t want me to get hurt. I try and understand her, but I am probably the only 14-year-old that has to be in the house by the time the streetlights come on.

Diary, as I ran outside early this morning, I thought I was the shit. No one could tell me anything about myself. OK, Diary, on the outside I thought I was the bomb, but on the inside, I was scared about what everyone was going to say. We all met up on my girl Sharonda’s steps. All of the young kids on the block admire her because she is pretty and older. To us, though, she is just plain ole Sharonda.

I was so happy, Diary, because they all told me they liked my hair, and that made it easier for me to enjoy our normal playing exercises outside. Yeah, I’m 14 years old and still play, Diary. That’s what my momma told me I better be doing outside . . . playing . . . and I’m listening to her.

Today was a different day on the block, and at first I didn’t take well to all of the excitement. I bet you can’t guess what new additions we had on the block. Yes, Diary, boys, and as usual I ran.

Diary, you know my history. These boys come around here, taunt me, and call me mean names. In the past I would try and ignore their harsh words, but on the inside I feel really hurt when people talk about me. Sometimes I feel like my friends put me out there just so they can avoid getting picked on by the boys from other blocks.

Diary, when the 58th street boys turned the corner, it was my natural instinct to run in the house and lock my door! It was so embarrassing, Diary, because Tiarra chased me all the way home, knocked on my door, and asked me why I ran. I told her, I don’t know . . . I just don’t want to be around those boys. She said, Well, Chanel’s dad is about to leave for work, so today we’re partying over there, and Chanel’s buying all the treats. Diary, Chanel still hasn’t learned her lesson. She keeps having these parties in her house, which always wind up in her getting caught. She thinks she can get away with it because her dad is always working. But the neighbors always tell on her. Chanel cracks me up. She is so wild. I told Chanel before that I would never go to any of her parties because I was scared someone would say something smart to me or they would try to make me play one of those kissing games. Worst of all, I was scared that my mother would catch me over there and whoop me in front of everybody. Of course, Chanel told everyone on the block what I said, so now everyone’s goal is to get me to one of those parties.

Diary, I decided that this day, even though I just ran away from the boys, I would attempt to go to one of Chanel’s parties. I