Get to Know Kim

There I was. This teenager from a small county in Virginia. This little excerpt about me is to let you know some insights about who I am, my journey as well as who & what I have become. Don’t get it twisted, I will always continue to stretch and grow.

The Backstory

Really, there I was. Just finished up my 10th grade year at my second high school and the county wants to rezone. The issue, my 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade years have been split between 3 high-schools. Talk about impact. No one considered how challenging this could be, not even me. Looking back, this is where (I think) it all started.

When it was time for me to enter adulthood, I had no child-hood friends, no lasting relationships. I had 3 friends I talked with during school, but because we lived so far away from the school and them, when the school bell rang that was it.

In situations like these, you either start to experience some type of anxiety or you build some type of resilience and you grow. With all that time of my hands, I was labeled a book worm because I would read books that you could order in the mail. The books opened my mind to what may be possible.

Well high school came to an end. What are you going to do little girl? I managed to get a scholarship for James Madison University for the first year. But what’s next. What about the other 3 years. My parents couldn’t afford college, it was a struggle to get the 40 cents we each needed everyday to pay for our reduced lunch. I had 3 siblings. We were too rich to get it free and too poor to pay full price.

The Army was the next/only choice. They visited the high-school. I took the test. Scored high on the ASVAB and the recruiter did his job and off I was. The recruiter promised that after 4 years, I could get out and go to college. All paid for by the U.S. Army. So the plan was in motion. I would have a degree in accounting in 8 years (4 for the Army & 4 for College) sparing my parents & siblings of that financial burden.

The Struggle to Acquire Powers

Enlisted life was awesome. I’ve shed a few tears to get through basic training, and I’m in Germany now. I’ve got money in my pocket, fellow Soldiers (friends) I hang out with and depend on. Living my best life. No care of how I’m perceived, I don’t have to grow up until I make Sergeant.

Pump your brakes. That well-thought out plan did not work. Three years later, I got a letter in the mail, stay enlisted or enter the officer ranks. Well all the senior Soldiers rallied quickly and decided. I was shipped off to USMAPS (West Point Prep). I really think that failed because of imposter syndrome.

Could not wrap my head around how and why this little country girl was about to become an Army officer. Still understanding the assignment, I had to adjust. I had to adapt. I applied for an Army Scholarship for college and yes, I got it. 1LT Kim Stone had graduated from Hampton University with a B.S. degree in Computer Science.

Let the games begin. I’m an officer now. Little did I know that I had to look, listen, and learn what the hell was going on around me if I were to survive. Did I fit? I was black, a female, a thick chick, and I was not athletic (code for I can’t run worth a darn — always the last man crossing finishing line).

I learned quickly what not to do — play their game. Many times, I found myself under a microscope, scrutinized not just for my performance but also for my demeanor, my responses, and even my leadership style. There was unspoken pressure to fit a mold that was not designed with someone like me in mind. This is not just about proving my competence to them but also escaping the jaws of imposter syndrome. Didn’t know what to call it back then, but I had all the symptoms.

This dynamic requires resilience and adaptability. It involved developing a thick skin while maintaining openness and approachability. It was a balancing act where I needed to leverage my strengths and assert my leadership without alienating peers or superiors. My powers were starting to manifest themselves. Over time, they became stronger.

My Super Powers

By now you’ve figured out I didn’t get bitten by a spider, get struck by lightening in a storm nor was I a direct descendant of the beautiful and powerful Amazonian women. I’m just me. That is and will always be enough.

Those years of adversity have shaped me into becoming a great listener, an awesome planner and one solution-oriented individual.

Activate My Super Powers