Meet Victoria Nichole | Influencer & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Victoria Nichole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, is there something you believe many others might not?
People always say, “practice makes perfect” and I don’t necessarily agree with that statement. Yes, practice is indeed important and is needed to improve on whatever skill you’re trying to improve — but it doesn’t make perfection. Perfection is subjective, and isn’t necessarily always attainable and that’s okay! It’s okay to not be “perfect” (whatever that means to you) we are all human, flawed on a base level. What I like to say is “practice makes PROGRESS”. Not perfection, progress. If you are making progress in something, you’re making a conscience and concerted effort to improve upon something — and that is more effective and helpful, when trying to further develop or hone a skill or activity, whatever that may be. Progress means you’re going somewhere, and always striving for “perfection” can often lead to disappointment and discouragement, if you don’t necessarily “reach” that “perfection”outcome, you seek. Strive for progress, strive for growth, strive for development.
Practice indeed makes, progress.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my career right out of college, as an educator. I taught in the classroom setting, at an elementary level for about six years before switching careers to focus on a more managerial role within a different corporate entity, Starbucks. To be completely honest, I believe I’ve gotten to where I am today with just sharing my journey, openly with others over social media, genuinely loving the fact that I could influence so many little hearts and minds, through music. I learned many leadership skills and lessons that only served me as I transitioned into a new role at Starbucks.
I loved my kiddos I had the honor and privilege to teach, when I did — and I carried that same passion for helping others succeed and grow into my role at Starbucks. It definitely hasn’t been easy, being an openly transgender educator in a very conservative state indeed presented its own unique challenges, but I was absolutely determined to live this one life I’ve been given, to the absolute fullest I could/can. I was met with a lot of backlash with a lot of parents with what I would post on my own personal social media, and I always wondered why and how they were finding me in the first place; since I did not relate anything online to what I did in my professional education career. But ultimately, I decided to leave to escape the endless helicopter parents not letting me live my own personal life, outside of the classroom. Don’t get me wrong, I felt very supported by a handful of parents as well — and I was very clear; my job in the classroom was to love the kids, keep them safe and teach my students my content area. That’s all. I never taught anything about my gender identity or anything political regarding it. I simply existed as Miss H, when they had previously known “Mr. H” and I made every attempt to work on my transition to be seen, taken as and socialized as a female, even though I knew, I was a trans woman. I was very upfront with what I was going to and not going to discuss in the classroom, and in the end I think, I was able to have the opportunity to touch many lives in the process, and help many families. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way is to unfortunately be a little less open to people I barely know. I’ve always been the kind to seek the best in others, regardless of their past or where they come from — and more times than not, has that landed me in a troublesome spot, sadly. I still try to seek the best in others, but I’ve learned to be a bit more guarded, to best protect myself and my family, going forward. I try my best to seek first to understand, before coming to conclusions or making assumptions about others. What I want the world to know about me is that I believe in truth; and I stand in that. I hold fervently to my beliefs and they shaped me, to be the person you see today. I am unyieldingly unapologetic in what I have to say, and I think one’s own growth and development comes from hard truths and maybe not always what others want to hear. But that’s okay! That’s what makes us truly diverse and inclusive; when we can hold different opinions or beliefs and coexist, in truth with one another. I think this world needs a little bit more of that, honestly.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I know it seems a bit cliche, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without the endless and abounding love and support of my parents. They have been through the deepest, darkest valleys with me, every step of the way and I am endlessly grateful i get to call them my parents. A true testament to parental and Christian love; accepting me and supporting me, as their daughter and going above and beyond for me, the best they could and continue to! I love them so so much!

Instagram: @thevictoriavixen

Twitter: @MsVictoriaVixen

Youtube: @thevictoriavixen

Image Credits
Phots by me