Hi, I am Shalaine — a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a lover of the English language. 

I was born and raised on the vibrant island of Jamaica, where I grew up with my mother, my father, my sister, my favorite aunt and a rotating cast of cousins. 

Following my parents' unexpected divorce and a new marriage for my dad, I migrated to the United States in 2008 with my father at the age of 16.

I spent the remainder of my teenage years acclimating to American culture via socialization in high school and church.

I attended and subsequently graduated from the University of South Florida in 2014, with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications. 

I've spent the last decade bouncing from job to job, unsure of what to do, while simultaneously knowing exactly what I was meant to do.  

During my sophomore year of college, I distinctly recall a professor in my African American literature course telling me I should pursue a career in writing while handing me my graded essay on Zora Neale Hurston. That stuck with me. 

I do feel extremely behind schedule with my career goals, but my desire to have writing at the center of my professional life is as powerful as the written word itself.

My hope is that this page will be the genesis of a great career in communications for me. 

When I'm not spiraling into despair or navigating one of my many existential crises, I love watching television, playing instruments, modeling and reading. I also mull over the necessity of the Oxford comma at least twice per week. 

Occasionally, I'll go outside with a friend or five.

Thank you for being here :) 

Toni Morrison