Rising Stars: Meet Brookelyn Walkinhood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brookelyn Walkinhood. 

Hi Brookelyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My name is Brookelyn Walkinhood, I am 22 years old, originally from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, but currently established in Lansing Michigan. Back in October, my best friend committed suicide, and my life flipped upside down. He was like a brother to me; my whole world fell apart. We aren’t sure why he did as he didn’t leave a note, but that moment forward, I knew I knew I had to make a change for myself and be a good example for the others around me. I truly lost myself during this time in my life as I my depression and anxiety got the best of me. I woke up one day and decided I couldn’t live like that anymore. I started doing A LOT of self-reflection and forgiving myself for my past wrongs and moving on from them. I started going to the gym daily to make myself proud of little progress because little progress is better than no progress at all. I focused on myself, and I started reaching out to companies for brand deals. I have worked with Bootay Bag, Hey Bud skincare, Rexing sports, and much more. I’m a lifestyle and fashion creator with big plans to be more and get into more of the mental health awareness side of the world, as it’s extremely important to me. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This whole journey has been the farthest from a smooth ride, I have doubted myself and my creativity due to ex-friends, being made fun of on the internet, and more. At the end of the day, though, I can say I am growing through all of that, and in a way, it pushes me to show others that it’s okay to not have everyone on your team. You can be the sweetest apple on the tree, and someone will still not like apples! Keep doing what makes you happy and chase your dreams! 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am currently employed at Jackson National Life Insurance. I work 9-5 Monday through Friday, where I process annuities! I have been with the same company for almost a year now. I am a team leader. I go to work every day with a positive attitude who is extremely helpful to my coworkers. Aside from that, I spend my time creating, editing, and planning my content out! 

What matters most to you?
What matters to me most is self-growth and improvement. I believe someone turns into someone else many times in their lifetime. I am constantly working on how I can be better and what habits I can change to be better. This is important to me because seeing my own growth makes me feel like I have a purpose to be here. Learning new things about myself leads me to being more self-aware of things I need to work on! This process I vision myself where I want to be in my growth journey 3, 6, 9, and 12 months right now. Settling goals and achieving them to me is showing growth! 

Image Credits
Brookelyn Walkinhood