Local StoriesMay 28, 2026

Rising Stars: Meet AMYA KACEY of DC & Surrounding Areas

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to AMYA KACEY.

Hi AMYA, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
One of the most defining moments in my journey came after graduating from the University of Georgia, when I faced rejection from graduate school programs during my first application cycle. At the time, it felt heartbreaking because I had invested so much into becoming a future Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). I questioned myself, my abilities, and whether I was truly good enough for the path I felt deeply called to pursue.

What made that season even more emotional was how strongly I knew this field was connected to my purpose. Throughout college, I had fallen in love with the impact SLPs could have on children and families, especially within underserved communities. As a young Black woman entering the field, I often searched online for clinicians who looked like me and openly shared their experiences because I wanted reassurance that someone like me belonged in these spaces too.

During that search, one of the only creators I consistently came across was Jordyn Carroll, M.S., CCC-SLP (@jrc_slp). Watching her navigate the field so openly inspired me and planted a seed in me that representation mattered far beyond the clinic room. I realized there were not many visible Black women sharing their journeys in speech-language pathology online, and I began thinking about the kind of impact visibility alone could have on students coming after me.
Although rejection initially felt like failure, my gap year became one of the most transformative periods of my life. While working as a Registered Behavior Technician, I strengthened my clinical skills and gained invaluable experience working directly with children and families. Outside of work, I also had something I had not experienced in years: time. Time to reflect, create, explore, and reconnect with parts of myself that existed beyond academics.

During that year, I realized my passion for speech-language pathology did not have to exist separately from my other passions. Instead, it could become the bridge connecting all of them. I started creating more content online and documenting my journey authentically: the highs, the setbacks, my faith, graduate school aspirations, fashion, lifestyle, and personal growth. In doing so, I discovered that my story resonated with people in ways I never anticipated.

That season also reawakened the entrepreneurial side of me that had existed since I was young. At 15 years old, I was already finding creative ways to build income and express myself, whether that meant selling my clothes online during the summers or launching my own lip gloss business. During my gap year, I began realizing that entrepreneurship and creativity were not distractions from my purpose; they were part of it.

As I grew my platform, I became increasingly passionate about helping others market themselves confidently online, especially young women trying to balance professionalism, authenticity, and creativity. I began developing ideas for digital products and resources that could help aspiring creators and students build their personal brands and connect with opportunities the same way social media had begun opening doors for me.

Then came the moment that changed everything: I was accepted into the Howard University Speech-Language Pathology graduate program. After a season filled with uncertainty, rejection, and rebuilding, receiving that acceptance felt like confirmation that every setback had a purpose. Not only was I stepping into a program that aligned with my values, passion for advocacy, and commitment to culturally responsive care, but I was also entering a space that represented excellence, legacy, and community. As a Black woman pursuing speech-language pathology, attending Howard felt bigger than just earning a degree; it felt like stepping into the vision God had been preparing me for all along.

Looking back now, I can see that rejection was never the end of my story. God was using that season to stretch me beyond the version of success I originally imagined. He allowed me to discover gifts within myself that extended beyond academics alone: leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and the ability to encourage others through transparency.

Today, as a graduate clinician at Howard University, content creator, and aspiring entrepreneur, I carry a “lift as you climb” mentality in everything I do. My goal is not only to become an impactful clinician, but also to create spaces where other young Black women feel seen, represented, and empowered to pursue every part of who they are unapologetically.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the hardest parts of my journey was being rejected from graduate school programs during my first application cycle. At the time, I tied so much of my worth to academic achievement and becoming a future SLP that rejection made me question myself deeply. Watching other people move forward while I had to pause and rebuild my confidence was incredibly difficult.

During that same season, I began sharing more of my life and journey online. I was once told to “build my foundation first” before showcasing my story publicly, essentially waiting until I had already succeeded before talking about the process. I realized that was not the kind of representation I wanted to offer. I did not want to only show polished success stories; I wanted people to see the struggles too. The uncertainty, rejection, rebuilding, and growth are all real parts of becoming.

My gap year forced me to slow down, but it also helped me discover parts of myself outside of academics alone. While working as an RBT and reapplying to graduate school, I leaned deeper into content creation, entrepreneurship, and myself overall. I realized I did not have to choose between being a future clinician and a creative. God used that season to show me that multiple passions could coexist within my purpose.

Looking back now, I would not remove the struggles from my story because they gave me perspective, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose. They also shaped the way I show up for others. I want people who follow my journey to understand that success is rarely linear, and that struggling does not mean you are failing and sometimes it means you are growing into the person you are meant to become.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently a graduate clinician in the Speech-Language Pathology program at Howard University with a passion for working with children, advocating for underserved communities, and becoming a culturally responsive clinician. Alongside my clinical journey, I am also a content creator and aspiring entrepreneur who uses social media to document the realities of navigating graduate school, faith, personal growth, and adulthood as a young Black woman in healthcare.

While the foundation of my platform is speech-language pathology, the larger vision behind my content is showing people that they do not have to box themselves into one identity or passion. I want other young women to see that it is possible to pursue a professional career while also embracing creativity, entrepreneurship, fashion, business, and personal branding. For me, speech-language pathology is not the limitation of my story; it is the foundation that will allow me to leverage myself into other ventures and create impact in multiple spaces.

I think what sets me apart is my transparency and willingness to let people witness the process in real time. I never wanted to build a platform that only showcased polished accomplishments without acknowledging the struggles it took to get there. Whether I am talking about graduate school rejection, rebuilding confidence during my gap year, or balancing multiple ambitions, my goal is always to make people feel seen and remind them that they do not have to shrink themselves to fit into one box.

I am most proud of creating representation I once searched for myself. When I was pursuing Speech-Language Pathology, there were very few visible Black women openly sharing their journeys online. Now, being able to encourage students and creatives who see themselves in my story is something I do not take lightly.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Washington, D.C. is the energy and how much opportunity and culture exist in one place. Being here as student at Howard University has been especially meaningful because I’ve been surrounded by people who are intentional, driven, and deeply connected to purpose. The diversity here is something I truly appreciate as well from the food to the people to the different perspectives you’re exposed to on a daily basis. It feels like a city that constantly challenges you to grow!

Coming from Warner Robins, Georgia, a smaller town where life moves at a much slower and more familiar pace, D.C. was a big adjustment for me. I’ve learned to appreciate the contrast. Where I come from, community and familiarity are at the center of everything and here, there’s a much faster rhythm that pushes you outside of your comfort zone. That shift has helped me grow in many ways.

What I like least is how overwhelming the pace of the city can be at times. Coming from a small town, it can feel easy to get caught up in constantly doing, achieving, and moving without pausing. The cost of living and fast-moving environment can also add pressure. Even in that, I’ve learned how important it is to intentionally create balance and grounding moments for myself so I don’t lose the parts of me that come from a slower, more community-centered upbringing.

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