Shia Shabazz Smith shares about her faith and journey to embrace the fullness of life.
I’ve always been fascinated by butterflies. They begin as hidden caterpillars navigating a world that doesn’t always feel safe. Then, after transformation, they emerge vibrant and fully themselves — connected in ways they never imagined. What can we learn from that resilience?
I’m finally finding my place — emerging from a lifetime of complexities and contradictions, holding both pain and hope. I grew up between two worlds: my mother, who was Christian, where I experienced trauma, and my father, who is Muslim, whose quiet faith continues to guide me. For years, I wrestled with identity — wondering how all the parts of me could coexist.
I’ve learned that belonging doesn’t come from fitting in. It comes from embracing the fullness of who we are — and recognizing that vulnerability allows others to connect with us. As a writer, director, mother and educator, I tell stories and teach lessons that reflect that truth: that our intersections — of culture, faith and experience — are where empathy lives.
In my classroom and at home, I share three lessons I hope my students and children carry with them: don’t lose hope, even when life feels fractured; be active in shaping your path; and surround yourself with people who make life worth living. The political climate today has created more division than I’ve seen in my lifetime. It can feel overwhelming, isolating even hopeless. But nature — and humanity — teaches resilience.