Janiyah Davis is a girl that you want to know about.
There are certain people in this world that you meet and know that afterwards, you will never forget them, which describes Davis to a fault.
Davis is a double major in criminology and psychology, and if you ask where she’s from, she can say she’s from everywhere, as she grew up as an only child to two traveling parents in the military. Davis graduated high school in Dallas, Texas, and chose Penn State for undergrad, even though she had never been to Pennsylvania before. The criminology program was a great opportunity for Davis, so she committed, and visited the school right after graduation — literally the night of her high school graduation.
“For a while, I didn’t know if it was a good idea,” she says. “But I would say it has all worked out.”
On campus, Davis is involved with many extracurriculars that keep her quite busy — just the way she likes it. She credits the Penn State Student Black Caucus as one the main clubs that kept her grounded and made everything a bit more bearable. “I feel so comfortable and safe and supported here,” Davis says. “I can deal with other stuff, but here everything is fine.”
To Davis, time management is key when handling a schedule that balances classes, clubs, leadership positions, a social life and self-care.
“I’ve always been busy, especially as an only child. It would be easier to be in stuff — to be in sports, music and other things I’m consistently in. I prefer that, actually.”
To no surprise, Davis plans her schedule by the 30 minutes — which is the very thing that keeps her sane. It helps her set boundaries with herself and other people by being able to say no, quite literally because she has no other choice.
There are goals Davis wants to reach, which is why she keeps herself so busy and on the go. Her experiences have showed her what she really wants to get out of life. After graduating this spring, Davis plans on working as an English teacher at a public high school in Houston. For her, she sees the value in her degree in criminology and psychology, but realized she does not want to work the traditional jobs her degree can offer.
What is she most proud of during her time at Penn State?
Winning the Ashe award for activism under the Black Caucus two years in a row. To win this award, you must first be nominated by other people. When she talks about this, Davis is humble — but she also glows.
“When I found out I was on the nomination ballot, I was like ‘oh!’ That’s why it meant so much — I didn’t think people thought about me.”
This is the humbleness that shines through Davis, even as she says the coolest thing a person could say. She also gave a TED Talk on Superwoman Syndrome, something which Davis has struggled with.
“Superwoman Syndrome is a feeling where women feel the need to perform multiple duties and be in full time roles. To be everything for everyone.”
Superwoman Syndrome has made her feel the need to be perfect in each role she takes on -— whether that be the perfect daughter, perfect student, perfect employee or the perfect person who has everything together. What people expect from her, she expects ten times more, and will do anything in her power to fulfill it.
“I would prefer to talk about myself in relation to other people because that is how you can know the most about me.”
There came a point last year where Davis realized that she cannot fulfill all these roles to such high standards. Upon this realization, she felt lost. Her dad always said to her, “Who are you if not what you do for other people?” and that really stuck with Davis.
Who was she if not her parent’s daughter? If not a Penn State Student Trustee?
“You cut all those strings off, and you sit and talk about you, what are you going to talk about?”
Self-awareness is strength and Davis has a strong sense of self that reverberates through her words. While she is still working through ways to alleviate the pressure of Superwoman Syndrome, she does certain things to help her navigate through the negative feelings.
Setting boundaries is first, within herself and with other people. Saying no has been key for Davis. She has learned that it’s okay to disappoint people, to choose herself and to be truthful.
“If I can do it, I will. But why?” This mantra has allowed her to be honest with people and open up when she’s struggling. Admitting that it gets rough and not pretending she is okay has been the biggest thing in her efforts to preserve self-care measures. Her favorite phrase right now, she says, is, “I don’t know.”
Growth, for Davis, is reaching this point of vulnerability and allowing other people to help her along the way in her own personal journey.
“I was at rock bottom and I had no choice but to change my behavior. The only reason I was able to get to this point now is because of my friends and my parents.”
As she says: she wakes up, calls her mom, goes to class and then calls her dad. Her parents are a big support system to her and have been a tremendous help with keeping Davis accountable, especially when she is on the road to burning out.
“You don’t have to be present all the time, you don’t have to talk all the time, you don’t have to be in charge all the time. The best thing for me is removing myself.”
As preventative measures, she loves taking walks, baking cookies, turning off her brain by watching Netflix and grounding herself by remembering that she is a person on this earth who’s problems are just as valid as everyone else’s.
If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Janiyah Davis, just know she will change the world through her kindness and overall persona, one step at a time.
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