Electric Guitar student TiTeyana Knight was recently awarded the “Survivor of the Year Award” at the “Heal to Reveal” event by the Our 3 Memorial Foundation. TiTeyana shared with us a little bit of her story that led to her being awarded this honor.
TiTeyana’s mother had her at the young age of 17, and her biological father was not in the picture of her life. When TiTeyana was six years old, her mother remarried, but shortly after both her mother and step-father were sentenced to prison. Despite these obstacles, Titeyana was able to begin performing in dance starting at the young age of four and continued dancing until she was 21 (Montage Theatre of Dance at Hinds Community College and Belhaven University Dance). TiTeyana had other siblings as well, but all were separated when their parents went to prison. TiTeyana moved in with her grandparents, and her grandfather became her influential caretaker. Her grandfather bought Titeyana’s first acoustic guitar when he noticed her interest in music. She and her grandfather became very close, and near the end of her grandfather’s life, TiTeyana found herself taking care of him when her grandmother couldn’t. TiTeyana’s grandfather passed when she was 14 years old.
TiTeyana was also moved between four different elementary schools and two different middle schools, and the constant moving between schools and households resulted in struggles of instability and social anxiety. Her mother and step-father being incarcerated led to Titeyana struggling with childhood trauma.
TiTeyana eventually had children of her own, and soon after giving birth to her son, he was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. Despite the struggles Titeyana consistently faced, she began to work through her trauma. TiTeyana recently completed the Carter’s Compassionate Transitional Housing program where she lived for six months to assist her with the domestic violence she was experiencing in a relationship at the time. Additionally, TiTeyana found accountability and support for raising her children through this program. Her son’s illness inspired her to pursue working in the medical field, and she recently obtained a certification in phlebotomy.
TiTeyana has pressed onward through her struggles and has found comfort and healing in the arts, specifically in her newfound hobby of learning the electric guitar. Additionally, she has found a supportive community in the arts and made new friendships along the way. In addition to taking guitar lessons, TiTeyana has unveiled a passion for painting, dance, and other music. TiTeyana’s father also came into her life after being in the military for some time, and they built a relationship through phone calls and visits. TiTeyana plans to continue her journey in performing arts to help herself heal from childhood trauma. She also plans to learn to produce music of her own with the skill of electric guitar for her dance company.
