By Ferrari Shakespeare
When McKenzie Matthews was a little girl, she played the daughter in the movie “Get On Up” with Chadwick Boseman portraying the American singer James Brown. Matthews passed time between sets in Mississippi by dancing the potato backstage, and as the young actress snapped and swayed, Boseman surprised her, coming up behind her to perform a dance of his own creation. “He was a really cool person, and I enjoyed being around him. He gave off nothing but good vibes,” Matthews says of her time on the set.
Despite this early brush with stardom, Matthews’ household is filled with devotion to God and self-improvement. Matthews always felt a deep connection to her faith, but it wasn’t until she faced a major life challenge that her passion for God truly came to the forefront. “Without God, you will never have the best vision of yourself,” she says of the experience.
As a YMP student, Matthews enjoys learning new things and widening her skills. She enjoys meeting new people, making new friends and charging her social battery. Matthews feels that the experience she has gained from YMP will give her a solid foundation as she ventures into her marketing career.
At home, Matthews not only has to be a big sister but also a role model, which often has led to significant amounts of stress and anxiety because of the pressure to make good decisions.
“Being the oldest, I felt the weight of fulfilling every one of my parents’ expectations,’’ she says. Her parents relied on her to help take care of her younger siblings, to manage household chores and to set a good example. As a result of this, she often neglects her own needs and prioritizes the welfare of her younger siblings. Matthew came to realize that even though her sisters need her she has to put herself while doing that she turned to God and asked for guidance.
Matthews’ time on set with Chadwick Boseman opened her eyes to endless opportunities and lessons. It pushed her to thrive off the negative and push forward with the positive. By moving forward with the positive, she had to let go of all her struggles and problems. By doing this, she completely changed her life and devoted herself to God.“ I can always talk to God about anything and he will always be there,” Matthews says.
She has also found herself becoming more passionate about marketing and journalism. She wants to use her experience to bring attention to the events happening around the world and encourage younger people to get involved with elections and politics. “I want to use my skills and this experience to make myself marketable as well as to spread awareness about my community and the things that are happening around me,” Matthews said.
This journey of self-discovery allowed Matthews to let go of past struggles and embrace a deeper connection with her faith, which significantly influenced her outlook on life. Matthews’ story exemplifies resilience, a commitment to personal growth and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world around her.
