Destiny Alexander / NextGenRadio
home?
Marissa Lacey speaks with Jameia Boone, a student at Troy University, about her idea of home. Boone is originally from Byram, Mississippi, and before college had never lived outside the state. Now that she’s on her own, she’s created a home that is always in her mind.
Alabama student finds home in the comfort of her mind
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(SOUNDBITE OF LEAVES CRUNCHING UNDER FOOTSTEPS)
JAMEIA BOONE: My hometown is, I dunno, I feel like the best way to describe it to me is just comfortable. You never really notice how different places are until you leave home.
I am from Byram, Mississippi. I tell people Jackson a lot cuz they have no idea where Byram is, but it’s right next door to Jackson.
And I like to say one of my favorite staples of Jackson, Mississippi, or Mississippi in general, is the potholes. Not while you’re there, but when you leave (laugh), you miss the potholes.
My name is Jameia Boone. Home to me is a place that you can always return to. That place doesn’t necessarily have to have a physical location or coordinates, per se. Um, I feel like it’s a state of mind in a lot of ways.
If I had to describe what my mind looked like, I would say there’s an ottoman. I’m sitting on said ottoman. There’s a giant floor lamp, the vintage style that curves, arches. I’d be sitting there most of the time in the middle of the room. The only light is coming from my arched lamp. Now, if one were to flip on the overhead light, you would see so many things surrounding me. There would be a nice lady who looks just like me because she is me, because it’s my mind. She knows where everything is. She’s the only one who knows where everything is. She can give you all the directions. There’s probably an art studio somewhere in there.
There’s definitely a ballet studio, not just ballet. There’s a dance studio. Um, there’s my mom nagging in a corner somewhere. She tells me that’s my conscience.
Oh, my mom is lovely … when she’s not being terrible. I like to shake things up for her to keep her young. She is 54, spicy lady. She’s also a therapist … which was wonderful growing up.
Being a child of a therapist definitely has its pros and cons. They’re hyper vigilant of everything. If I breathe a certain way, she wants to know about my entire day. And it’s, it’s just a breath. Sometimes a breath is just a breath.
I would describe myself as a weirdo, uh, a little bit of an introvert. Earlier today, I found out I’m not boring. So (laugh), that’s good. I’m always just doing something, pretty artistic. Can’t sit still for too long. If I’m not moving or dancing, I’m painting or taking a stroll. Creating something, a creator.
(SOUNDBITE OF A PIANO PLAYING BEGINS)
BOONE: I’m a big fan of classical when it comes to a stroll, I normally start off a stroll with something classical. My all time favorite: “Clair de Lune” by [Claude] Debussy.
I love that piece with everything in me. I feel like it’s a great mind-clearing song.
(SOUNDBITE OF A PIANO PLAYING ENDS)
BOONE: I find myself wanting to unwind and reset because anytime I am in an environment such as a university or school like I am now, I’m always on the go. And I don’t think that’s sustainable for any human 24/7.
I see myself keeping my mind space as long as I have my mind. Um, even when most of the sanity fades in my elder age, I’ll be up there sitting in my chair, spinning around as one does in their old age.
Jameia Boone on a nature walk in Troy University’s arboretum on April 25, 2023. She finds herself drifting into her mind space when she’s there.
Marissa Lacey / NextGenRadio
Jameia Boone is from Byram, Mississippi, and, except for her college years, has spent her whole life there. Home for Boone used to be her family and her house in Mississippi. She loved her state, too, which extended to the deep potholes she would hit when crossing the state line. But, after growing up with a life of structure, her idea of home changed. Boone now says that home can be wherever or whatever you want it to be, and that’s because her home is in her mind.
Growing up in a single-parent household, Boone was incredibly close to her mom. The two of them spent a lot of time together, both physically and mentally.
Boone’s mother, who’s also a therapist, would sit her down once a week to talk and check in on her mental health. It was a lot, but Boone learned about herself in the process, and that’s how she got the idea of a “mind space” as home. Her mom’s talks helped her organize her thoughts.
“I learned to develop a variety of coping mechanisms and different internal cues. Things that I could do to create a space for myself,” she explained.
Jameia Boone looks over Mullis Pond on April 25, 2023. She often narrates films and storylines she creates while in her mind space.
Marissa Lacey / NextGenRadio
When she moved to Troy, Alabama, for college, Boone realized that her sense of peace is entirely up to her. Boone would find her mind space in creative bursts when she would go on walks, do something crafty, or even dance. She maintains that she’s “always just doing something pretty artistic” and “can’t sit still for too long.”
Boone, who is currently a senior, became more involved with clubs and organizations, school work and events, and even volunteer work; however, her mind space became a way of relaxing after a stressful day and something of her own. Time was precious and something she was lacking, so her home in her mind became a way of keeping her peace.
Jameia Boone looks over Mullis Pond on April 25, 2023. She often narrates films and storylines she creates while in her mind space.
Marissa Lacey / NextGenRadio
Jameia Boone sells crafts at Troy University’s Idea Bank on April 25, 2023. Making and selling crafts is another outlet for Boone’s creative mind and spirit.
Marissa Lacey / NextGenRadio
Boone’s mind space gives her a sense of freedom and peace. It’s a massive place where she can create and provides an extension of what she loves. When asked to describe it, she shared:
“There’s an ottoman. I’m sitting on said ottoman. There’s a giant floor lamp, the vintage style that curves and arches. I’d be sitting there most of the time in the middle of the room.”
The only light is provided by the vintage lamp. Her mind space also features art and ballet studios, and she says she’s joined by someone else:
“There would be a nice lady who looks just like me, because she is me, because it’s my mind. She knows where everything is. She’s the only one who knows where everything is. She can give you all the directions.”
Boone said she also sometimes sees her mom in her mind space, who she describes as nagging in a corner somewhere. Her mom says that’s her conscience.
For Boone, her mind space can make home anything she wants, including memories from the past or what she’s looking forward to in the future. She stresses that while physical places are not permanent, your mind will always be with you.
“Home to me is a place that you can always return to. That place doesn’t necessarily have to have a physical location or coordinates, perhaps. I feel like it’s a state of mind in a lot of ways,” she said. “I see myself keeping my mind space as long as I have my mind.”
Jameia Boone sells crafts at Troy University’s Idea Bank on April 25, 2023. Making and selling crafts is another outlet for Boone’s creative mind and spirit.
Marissa Lacey / NextGenRadio
Jameia Boone holds a dance pose in a Dallas street. She enjoys the artistic challenges and the precision of ballet, and admits to being a perfectionist about her technique.
Courtesy of Rhilee Photog
Jameia Boone leaps in the street of Dallas, Texas. Dance is one of her creative outlets.
Courtesy of Rhilee Photog
Jameia Boone holds a dance pose in a Dallas street. She enjoys the artistic challenges and the precision of ballet, and admits to being a perfectionist about her technique.
Courtesy of Rhilee Photog
For Boone, her mind space can make home anything she wants, including memories from the past or what she’s looking forward to in the future. She stresses that while physical places are not permanent, your mind will always be with you.
“Home to me is a place that you can always return to. That place doesn’t necessarily have to have a physical location or coordinates, perhaps. I feel like it’s a state of mind in a lot of ways,” she said. “I see myself keeping my mind space as long as I have my mind.”