Part of the Voice I Almost Lost – Blog #30
by Alana Pierre Curry
I think “hustler” might be one of the most honest words I could use to describe myself.
From childhood to now, I have had to make a way. Not because I wanted to rush life or chase something shiny, but because survival often requires creativity, responsibility, and perseverance long before you feel ready.
As a child, I was my mom’s confidant. I miss her deeply. With time and perspective, I can now say with clarity and grace that she did the best she could while navigating challenges of her own. She loved me. She tried. And she showed up in the ways she knew how.
But being a child in that position also meant carrying responsibilities that kids usually do not. I learned early how to listen, how to sense moods, and how to adjust myself to create peace. Those lessons stayed with me.
I started working at fourteen years old. My goal was simple and, yes, a little juvenile. I wanted to buy back-to-school clothes. That was not a priority on the list for my household, and it was a challenge for me in middle school and definitely entering highschool. That mattered to me. And once I started working, I never really stopped.
From ice cream scooper and server to leading large teams as a Director, I committed fully to whatever role I was given. Being a hustler meant learning quickly, showing up consistently, and giving my best even when no one was watching.
Along the way, I learned far more than job skills. I learned people. I learned how to read a room. I learned emotional intelligence, adaptability, and empathy. Those are skills you do not always see on a resume, but they shape how you lead, how you serve, and how you connect.
The emotional intelligence you gain as a hustler is often unmatched. And often undervalued.
You are so capable, so kind, and so accommodating that people assume you will be fine. They think you will always figure it out. And usually, you do.
But does the hustling ever end?
Part of me wishes it could. And part of me never wants to lose that edge. That instinct to keep learning, to keep evolving, to keep finding a way forward.
That instinct carried me into spaces I never imagined for myself. Not because I believed I was incapable, but because I could not always see how the path would unfold.
And yet, here I am.
I am an author and a co-author. I designed my own website. I developed a workshop for purpose-driven leaders. I continue to build skills, create opportunities, and touch lives in meaningful ways.
Just as importantly, people are touching my life too. I am gaining friendships and building relationships not just for the sake of success, but for the sake of genuine connection.
If being a hustler means resilience, curiosity, compassion, and growth, then yes, I am a hustler. And I am learning that hustling does not have to mean exhaustion. It can also mean Intention, Purpose, and Becoming.
I am still evolving. And I am proud of that.