Do you see your life, the work that you do, and the way that you live as your ministry? Have you ever given much thought to your steps being ordered, and all you have to do is lean in? The interesting thing about life is that what we believe is usually what we see unfolding in our journey; it’s what we tend to get out of life, too.

Never Let Anything Determine Your Destiny – 01:01 

As a First-gen, you will have come across times where you feel like nothing’s working for you. It gets even worse when society tries to dictate how you should live your life or where you’ll end up in life. It’s all good when people talk positive things about your future. But it becomes a whole different story when all they can see in you are negative traits. 

But here’s the thing, your destiny is not what society thinks of you. The belief that your future is in other people’s words is false. You are in control of your own destiny, and you alone control the type of success you will potentially achieve. 

Dr. Tiller Jr. is a great example of this. He came from the hood, where people believed the best he could do was attend community college. But against all odds and with the help of mentors, the man now holds a Doctorate. So no matter what people say about you, never let their words dictate how you should live your life. Live your best life, work hard, and keep pushing because somewhere out there lies the life you deserve to live. 

Mentorship Matters – 06:08

Mentorship matters. I am a huge proponent of mentorship because I have seen the impact it can have on a person’s life. But when you dive a little deeper, the question becomes, why is having exceptional Black mentors so important? It goes back to representation. You see, black youth are easily impressionable. They tend to follow what they see other Black people do. And to change society, we need leaders who can help them see that they can achieve anything they want in life. 

Dr. Tiller Jr. reveals that he has seen the positive change mentorship can bring to a young person’s life. For him, any time spent with youth is essential for shaping the future generation. But there is a problem; there aren’t enough Black mentors stepping up. The good news is that anyone can be a mentor, and it all starts with living a life that young people can emulate. 

Combining Ministry and Education – 14:30

Is there a difference between teaching and ministry? For one, both teaching and ministry convey knowledge. However, a minister primarily addresses a person’s spiritual needs while a teacher focuses on the intellectual needs of a learner. The two are not the same, but some people have what it takes to pursue them both. One such example is Dr. Tiller Jr. The man has been in ministry since he was 8. In fact, he was ordained just three days before his Junior Prom. When asked between teaching and ministry, which one comes first, Dr. Tiller Jr. says both are essential to what he is all about. He sees himself working in ministry whether he’s behind a desk or behind the pulpit.

As a parting thought, Dr. Tiller Jr. advises people to be unapologetic about self-care. People will use you until you’re completely drained. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you; you just don’t have appropriate boundaries. So, be a little selfish with your time and schedule time for rest and reset. Only then can you serve people the best possible.