Black Collegian Career Center

A college student is always expected to deal with the breaks life gives her or him, whether they are positive breaks such as extra time to study, preparing for that important social event or family commitment or pitfalls of time slipping away at breakneck speed. Life always throws curveballs, so adjusting to breaks is never easy during your early college years. But just as there is an art to hitting curve balls, there is an art to handling breaks.

By the time you have adjustment down to a science, it's time to don your cap and gown and walk across that stage. Then comes the greatest test, co-existing with other members of "the real world" while searching for your big break, the time to show the world that you are ready to parlay the skills you learned in college on improving humankind. If you think you have nothing in common with those whose big breaks have afforded them worldwide acclaim, think again. Many of today's hottest names made impressive efforts in the face of simultaneous praise, cynicism, and defeat.

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs
Just ask Sean "P. Diddy" Combs whose journey to his big break began when he was a pre-teen. "Like a lot of kids who grow up in single-parent homes, I had to get a job much quicker and start thinking about the future much earlier. I had to help out and become the man of the house sooner, so I had a paper route when I was 12. I used to always get cracked on by the other kids about working at Playland and having two and three jobs. But I would always say to myself that I wanted to be somebody who makes history, and not selfishly, not for me. I just wanted to make a change. I didn't want to be a person who just lived and died."

Combs, who attended parochial schools and participated in after-school programs in Harlem, considers his time at Howard University a major turning point. "When I went to college I knew I didn't want to just get a degree. I was reaching to be the greatest stockbroker or the greatest lawyer. I was always creative and reaching beyond, out of the box. I had made up my mind that I was going to be successful, a multimillionaire."

And he has exceeded his goal a million times over. Years following his big break--an internship with Uptown Records--Combs was recently listed as one of Fortune Magazine's "40 Richest Under 40." Primarily known as CEO and Founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, which launched the careers of multiplatinum artists 112, Faith Evans, and the Notorious B.I.G., Combs is also a successful restaurateur and fashion designer. Named for his son, Combs' Justin's restaurants, located in New York and Atlanta, have been hotspots since their openings in 1997 and 1999, respectively. His multimillion-dollar Sean John clothing line was established in 1998.

Social action programs and a marketing company complement Bad Boy Empire, but Combs is also regarded as a mentor to young entertainers. He says he motivates young people to "be responsible Black executives, take control and get their own production companies and record labels."

Beyonce Knowles
Another young person who is blazing trails in music is Beyonce Knowles. Her big break came after an 8-year-old Beyonce beat out 15 and 16-year-olds in a talent competition. The idea of a group centered around the young singer was conceived soon after. Following numerous name changes and an unsuccessful contract with Elektra Records, the group that became known as Destiny's Child was signed to Columbia Records. Their breakout single, "No, No, No," hit airwaves in 1997. They've achieved multiplatinum success, despite numerous lawsuits and roster changes.

The 22-year-old Knowles, currently seen in Pepsi and Loreal ad campaigns, shared lessons learned from her big break as a group member. "The main thing I've learned is not to judge people--because you don't really know how terrible it is to judge somebody until you get judged. And you don't really know how terrible gossip is until the gossip is about you. I think we've also learned how to communicate better, because communication in a group is the key. We've learned about loyalty, about the importance of loving and caring about the people in the group, sticking together, how to be a friend, how to apologize when you're wrong, and how to compromise."

Within the last year, Knowles has achieved solo success, having co-starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember and the recently released The Fighting Temptations. Here is how she deals with the naysayers. "When you love and accept yourself, when you know who really cares about you, and when you learn from your mistakes, then you stop caring about what people who don't know you think. Usually the person talking is just jealous or sad about themselves, and it takes going through this to realize that's how life is."

Serena Williams
Someone who has to tackle criticism as soon as she lifts a tennis racket is Serena Williams. Along with older sister Venus, Williams is the hottest name in tennis. Her big break came through numerous competitions across California. In 1999, the then-17-year-old was the first black woman since Althea Gibson (who died September 28 at 76) to win the U.S. Open. This year Williams was honored as The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. The 22-year-old rocked the world of tennis last season by winning three of the four Grand Slam titles and winning 56 of 61 matches.

Though her biggest break has come and gone, she says that complacency will never be an issue. "I can't become satisfied, because if I get satisfied, I'll be like, `Oh, I've won Wimbledon, I've won the U.S. Open. Now I can relax.'" She says that her mother, Oracene Price, keeps her grounded, and that her father, Richard Williams, reinforced the value of education. She once challenged a group of New York high school students to consider the gifts that education brings.

"It's important that you take education first. What if I was to get injured tomorrow and there would be no more Serena Williams on the tennis court? That would be horrible. I'm lucky I have my education to fall back on because I finished high school." Williams furthered her education as a fashion design student at the Art Institute of Florida. She has worn a few of her creations to high-profile events over the past year.

Cedric “The Entertainer” Kyles
Born Cedric Antonio Kyles, Cedric "The Entertainer" is a man known for keeping people in stitches with his real-world humor. One of the most celebrated "Kings Of Comedy" and multiple winner of the NAACP Image Award, Cedric received a degree in broadcasting and theatre from Southeast Missouri University, and worked temporarily as a claims adjuster for State Farm. Though he had dreams of becoming a singer, he left State Farm, entered a comedy competition in his native St. Louis and won $500.

Fellow “King” Steve Harvey provided his biggest break in 1989. Harvey, owner of a Dallas-area comedy club, allowed Cedric five minutes to perform onstage. Cedric received a standing ovation. "I knew I had made it to the big time," Cedric said.

Steve Harvey
Harvey knew where Cedric was coming from. The W. Virginia born, Cleveland bred comedic actor knew that he wanted to be a comedian since he was a child. Red Skelton, Red Buttons, Jonathan Winters, George Carlin and Jackie Gleason fascinated Harvey while he was young. Though teachers suggested that he enter a "more realistic" field, Harvey persisted. Harvey spent three years at Kent State University, but was asked "to leave." "They said, `You ain't really here for an education.' But I was. I learned the system; I learned the rules. I learned order and proper channels. I developed great social skills. That's what Kent State did for me."

After selling insurance, Amway products, and owning a carpet-cleaning business, he revisited his dreams of being a comedian. He began writing jokes for friends, and, on a dare, entered an amateur comedy competition in 1985. The then-28-year-old won the competition, signed with an agent in the audience and began making $25 a night performing. Since that time, Harvey has become one of the biggest names in comedy. He has received numerous awards, was the longtime host of It's Showtime At the Apollo and co-starred in the hit WB sitcom bearing his name.

Jada Pinkett-Smith
Jada Pinkett-Smith was an 18-year-old graduate of the Baltimore High School of Performing Arts when she received her big break: the role of feisty Lena James on A Different World. Since then, she has co-starred in about 20 films, including Set It Off, Menace II Society, Ali (with husband Will Smith) and this year's blockbuster, Matrix: Reloaded. She and Will Smith are the co-executive producers of the recently launched UPN sitcom, All of Us, loosely based on their extended family.

Pinkett-Smith is extremely passionate about the art of communication. Communication, and lack thereof, strongly determines how you land your big break. As a Black actress, Pinkett-Smith often faces biases. She never minces words when addressing how she conquers the racism, sexism, and attempts at spirit-breaking one may endure, even when he has made a name for himself in the industry. "I face that a lot in this business, because Hollywood is a male-oriented business--White-male--oriented at that--and I just have always had a hard time with the idea that I should compromise my passion, compromise my ideas, or compromise my feelings. They make you feel uncomfortable. They'll say, 'Oh, well, she's getting a little angry; her words are so harsh.' No, I'm not angry at all. I'm just communicating with you."

Pinkett-Smith co-starred in Spike Lee's 2000 film Bamboozled, a film that served as a commentary on television programs that many see as modern-day minstrel shows.

Spike Lee
Lee's big break came in the form of She's Gotta Have It. The 1986 film earned Lee a Prix de Jeunesse Award at the Cannes Film Festival. He has capitalized on that acclaim astoundingly, while merging the worlds of cinema, advertising and other facets of pop culture. He was nominated for an Emmy and Oscar in 2001 for 4 Little Girls, a documentary chronicling the tragic 1963 Birmingham, AL church bombing. Lee launched Spike DDB, a multicultural ad agency. One of its biggest campaigns is the Pepsi ads featuring Beyonce Knowles.

Lee recently recalled his lean years during a speech at a Kentucky college. "When we were making my first film, She's Gotta Have It, we were all saving empty soda cans and bottles to turn in for nickels. That's how we got money to buy film." He added, "I can tell you about having my phone and electricity and gas cut off when I couldn't pay the bills. And that experience was good for me.

"Now I count my blessings every day because I'm making a living doing what makes me happy." He says that his constant goal is to tell more stories about the black experience than what is usually seen. He also seeks to build upon his body of work. "The work any artist produces, at the end of the day, will be a reflection of his sensibilities. Some people might try to camouflage them, but they're going to come through if you're able to build a body of work."

Priscilla (CeCe) Winans
Priscilla (CeCe) Winans' body of work is a true testimony of a higher power at work. Winans, along with older brother Benjamin (BeBe) Winans received her big break in her late teens when she headed for Charlotte, N. C. to sing during Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL Ministries broadcasts.

In the late 80s, she and Bebe left PTL to pursue a recording career as a duo. They recorded 7 albums, all critically acclaimed. In 1995, she and Bebe pursued solo efforts, with CeCe receiving six Grammys, 18 Dove Awards, and three Soul Train Awards. She has also been the spokesperson for Crest toothpaste, BellSouth, and KMart.

The married mother of two teenagers says that she would not wince if her children decided to pursue entertainment careers. She imparted the following advice to them: "It's not an easy life; it's a very competitive life. If it [show business] is in their hearts, it is important that they find their purpose and calling in life." The 39-year-old Winans has a powerful attitude against allowing a competitive spirit to consume you. "I've never worried about my competition because I believe in what God has given me, and nobody can beat me being me."

Jevaillier Jefferson is a Los Angeles-based editorial consultant.