Byline: If life were a rom-com, who would play you—and would they nail your quirks or phone it in like a sequel nobody asked for? Here’s my slightly exaggerated, highly entertaining, and only mildly self-aware take on the Hollywood version of my life.

Lights, Camera, Chaos: Setting the Scene

Let me set the stage: I grew up in Dallas, surrounded by Southern charm and plenty of Christmas card-worthy family memories. Think “Gilmore Girls,” if Lorelai and Emily had a stable truce, and Rory grew up with a low-key obsession for Maya Angelou instead of reading Russian classics at 15. My parents were both brilliant and endlessly supportive—which was inspiring but also meant they had very high expectations. Picture a “success montage” of me nodding earnestly in classrooms, typing too fast on my first laptop, and winning spelling bees with a flair that screamed "future novelist."

Hollywood loves a good backstory, and mine would open somewhere between a glossy family dinner and me peeking over a book at a party, convinced I’d just spotted my future boyfriend. Spoiler alert: I hadn’t. But that’s where the comedy kicks in.

The Cast: Who's Who in My Life Movie

Every great story lives or dies by its cast. Since my life zigzags between high-stakes ambition and minor social disasters, I’m imagining an ensemble with range.

Me – Played by Tessa Thompson
Here’s the thing: Tessa (we’re definitely on a first-name basis in this fantasy) could fully bring the layered vibe I'm going for—smart, sassy, and occasionally overthinking things. Tessa has mastered that “effortlessly composed on the outside, spiraling internally” look, which feels like me during every first date. Plus, her style game is impeccable, and I need someone who can do justice to my flair for mixing power blazers with statement earrings.

My Mom – Played by Viola Davis
My mom is a powerhouse, the kind of woman who could confidently cross-examine you while making sure you ate breakfast. It would take someone as commanding as Viola Davis to capture her essence. Viola wouldn’t just act; she’d embody my mom’s meticulous ability to celebrate your wins while simultaneously asking when you’re going to “stop procrastinating and start that new project.” No pressure, Mom!

My Dad – Played by Glynn Turman
Glynn Turman would perfectly capture my dad's warm and thoughtful energy. My dad has this way of delivering expert-level life advice but making it sound like a casual observation. I can already see Glynn at the breakfast table, calmly suggesting I write an essay on “modern love” while I roll my eyes and reach for the orange juice.

Best Friends – Played by Issa Rae and Keke Palmer
Issa Rae would play my ride-or-die sounding board, a mix of quick wit and perfectly timed side-eyes. Keke Palmer? She’d bring the energy—the friend who bursts into brunch with wild dating stories and a “trust me, you’ll laugh once you’re over him” pep talk. Every good movie needs comic relief, and Keke is hands down that friend who turns my heartbreaks into unmissable punchlines.

The Love Interest – Played by John Boyega
Now, this might be projecting, but if I’m casting my life, let’s dream big. John Boyega would bring the charisma, the dimpled smile, the chemistry. He’d be the guy who challenges my commitment to ordered chaos with his yin-yang level of chill. Think: a meet-cute at a mutual friend’s art opening where he kindly teases me for analyzing abstract paintings like a story arc.

Plot Points: The Highs, Lows, and Laughable Moments

Every movie version of someone’s life needs drama, right? Life without conflict is just background music, so here’s how mine would break down:

Act I – Innocent Optimism Meets Reality
Cue the high school years: study groups, school debates, and one unforgettable prom disaster. My date got bronchitis, so I danced the Electric Slide with my cousin's plus-one. This part of the movie would feature an extensive montage of teenage cluelessness. Lots of shouting “You’re a natural leader!” as I overcommitted to six extracurriculars.

College at Howard University was where I started to discover my voice—cue a campus-wide protest I helped organize (definitely set to a Nina Simone track in the movie). Somewhere around my second heartbreak of freshman year, I figured out that love, like finals, is complicated and occasionally graded on a curve.

Act II – Big Dreams, Bigger Questions
The transition from college to adult life would be the juicy mid-point section where romantic drama meets life choice dilemmas. Think: professional triumphs paired with a series of “Wait, do I even like this guy, or is this just too much wine?” moments. Dating in my 20s felt like an offbeat rom-com episode—the cute texts, the red flags I ignored twice, and the friend interventions over charcuterie boards.

One particularly cinematic scene? Picture me in Austin: a crowded SXSW afterparty, where a guy I’d been low-key crushing on confuses me for another Ebony. Awkward silence, followed by my dramatic exit. In the movie version, Tessa delivers the perfect one-liner. In real life, I just left to get tacos.

Act III – The Glow-Up Years
Eventually, all the missed connections, almost-relationships, and awkward airport goodbyes led to one big realization: you can’t audition for the “perfect life.” You just live it. These days, I’m back in Dallas, writing stories that feel like my purpose and hosting game nights where my inner nerd shines. Romance? TBD. But in my movie, you better believe the third-act love interest enters perfectly timed to “Sweetest Taboo” by Sade.

Cinematic Lessons: What Life's Movie Taught Me

If my life were a movie, the script would remind us of a few things:

  • Perfection is boring. In real life, bumps in the road make for the best stories. A picture-perfect romance might feel flat on-screen, but a botched picnic with takeout sushi? Oscar-worthy.
  • Surround yourself with scene-stealers. Like my hypothetical cast, real-life friends bring dimension. Life’s quieter moments deserve a supporting squad who’ll hype you up louder than a Marvel movie trailer.
  • Be your own director. At the end of the day, you control your narrative. So, rewrite, reframe, and—when in doubt—add a killer soundtrack.

The Final Scene: You Call the Shots

Life isn’t always rom-com meet-cutes or perfectly orchestrated career wins. It’s messy and weird, but it’s also filled with moments too magical to script. So, if you’re sitting there wondering how your life might unfold on screen, remember this: the best movies mix laughter, heartbreak, and a whole lot of self-discovery. And you? You’re the one in the director’s chair.

Lights down. End credits roll. Let’s call it a wrap.