Meet Your Life Coach!
A tenet of social change is advocacy.
by Briana Hewitt, MS on May 6th, 2026
Hi! My name is Briana; “Bri” to those who are closest to me. I simply wanted to introduce myself (in Plushie form, of course) as the curator of this space which, appropriately, is your space too! Feel free to navigate it as you choose; I love to share—whether it be knowledge, affection, snacks… you name it! To quote one of my favorite singers, Joe Strummer (1952-2002): “Without people, you are nothing.” With that said, community is very important to me. I do believe that it takes a village to raise a child, as the weakness of one individual can very much be the strength of another (and vice versa). As good-faith members of society, we are to capitalize on any opportunity for growth by leaning on each other in times of need. Nevertheless, I wanted to provide a background of Briana the Person rather than Briana the Life Coach.
Firstly, I identify as Black-American; however, I was raised, and eventually, adopted by Afro-Jamaicans since the age of three months. After I was informed of my biological lineage at the age of thirteen, I had to reconcile with the fact that my cultural identity is incongruent to my ethnic identity. Typically, individuals are brought up in the culture relative to their racial and/or ethnic background. Thus, this would lead to an ongoing conflict of interest (so to speak), as to what I would identify as among the Black diaspora as, historically, there has been and continues to be contention between the Afro-ethnic identities. Although I primarily identify as Black-American, my maternal great-great grandmother was a “full-blooded” Cherokee Indian. Thus, there is no question as to who I inherited shovel-shaped incisors from; this trait is polygenic, so multiple genetic factors are involved. It is also positively associated with the EDAR gene, a gene responsible for smaller-sized mammary glands, albeit greater sweat glands. (Funnily enough, I would consider myself to be “oily” rather than “sweaty”).
Secondly, I identify as an autistic individual; or, as someone with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Befittingly, I identify more so as a High-Functioning Autistic (HFAutistic) due to my “lower-support” needs. I am currently twenty-six (going on twenty-seven) years of age, yet did not come to the realization that the behavioral differences I observed between my peers and I, was due to being neurodivergent. Although I am not formally diagnosed with ASD, I had self-diagnosed myself with this neurodevelopmental condition (*cough*neurotype*cough*) nearly four years ago at the age of twenty-three. Being autistic has its advantages when it pertains to creativity and innovation undoubtedly, but the disadvantages do manifest when communicating or socializing with others.
Lastly, I identify as a (cisgender) woman; I am of a petite stature and externally present myself in a gamine style of fashion—think, Audrey Hepburn. Furthermore, I have a smaller chest (as heavily implied earlier) and shave my head skin-bald, yet wear a full face of makeup and acrylic nails. I am also generously adorned with piercings and tattoos; so, I assume a gender non-conforming appearance, albeit undeniably feminine. This has resulted in interactions with (cishetero-) male individuals being pitiful attempts to humble me; some men tend to feel intimidated in the presence of a woman who is unapologetically herself, and fails to conform to society’s imaginary constructs.
I hope that this gave you a little insight on who’ll be your guide during this journey. I cannot wait to bring you more life updates through the lens of a fellow autistic girly! ☺️
Oh, yeah! Did I mention that I’m an identical twin?
