It wasn’t long ago that the “old soul” walked up and down her high school halls with a chip on her shoulder sometimes or upset because there was a subject she didn't excel in.
It didn’t get her down, it made her stronger. Plus, her parents were educators so she didn't have much choice. But it was her own determination and networking that helped propel her to great heights.
“Always believe in yourself and look at history to help you find your path,” 25-year-old R&B singer Chrisette Michele recently told a group of teens at the South Central Community Center on East 83rd Street.
The New York native told the students to strive for the best, surround themselves with like-minded people and work to overcome their weaknesses.
Michele, who has often been compared to Billie Holiday, said singing was always what she wanted to do but knew that she didn't fit the stereotypical image that the industry wanted. She was curvy, not pencil thin, and liked the skin she was in.
She set out to find people in the entertainment industry who “looked” like her and had achieved the success she wanted. The singer/songwriter immediately thought about “history” and focused on Tyra Banks.
“Tyra came out and didn’t care how much more meat she had on her bones. She strutted in her swimsuit on national television and told everyone to kiss her fat a--. She was proud of her size and didn’t care what anyone else thought about it,” Michele said.
That was the moment when Michele realized that she was fine just the way she is, and she would not try to change herself to fit into someone else’s mold, she said.
Her next focus was honing her craft of the arts, particularly singing. She enrolled in the Five Towns College in New York, originally as an education major, with a minor in music. But her affinity for the arts reversed that path. Jazz Vocals became her major.
Michele was doing what she loved, but she hit a temporary road block–the piano.
She had to learn how to play the piano, something she “sucked” at and really didn’t want to learn. But she had no choice, she said, so she worked tirelessly at it.
The Grammy-nominated songstress started surrounding herself with people who were on the same page as she was. Things started turning around, and she was more driven to master the piano and anything else to achieve her goals.
“If you figure out that you want to do something, go seek out people who are doing it. Don’t surround yourself with people who are doing the opposite of what you are trying to achieve,” Michele told the youth, adding that being around people who are sad and complain all the time kills her spirit.
She said she used to be with her friends in high school and if someone even lightly bumped against someone on accident, it was a huge problem. She now has a different attitude.
“Forget about it. Your shoulder isn’t hurting so why bother? Keep walking. Don’t get caught up in the mess. Brush it off. It’s just unnecessary trouble waiting to happen,” she said.
Her response drew laughter and applause from the nearly 30 high school students in the room.
The Def Jam Recordings artist told the students that to aim high in their goals, they also had to work on their weaknesses.
“Make a list of the things you are weak at and work hard each day to strengthen them,” she said.
Michele told them how she learned to walk in high heels, a task that was not simple considering she had flat feet.
“I would see all the performers I liked and noticed they all had on high heels. It just looked good on stage. I knew it wouldn’t look right to be on stage in flip flops. So I knew I needed to learn to walk in stilettos,” she said.
Her love for shopping merged with her need to learn how to walk in heels.
She would take early morning trips to the mall and walk in high-heeled shoes on the concrete floor to each of her favorite stores. She would stumble often, but she got better each time. Now, you would never be able to tell she had problems, Michele said.
“I scratched that off my list of things I sucked at,” she said.
Before heading to a performance Wednesday at the House of Blues, Michele treated the group to a preview of a song she hopes will be included on her next album that is scheduled to be released in November.
Her debut album, "I Am," was released last June. The singer has collaborated with rappers Jay-Z, Nas and the Game, and is currently on tour with Raheem DeVaughn.
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Brise
