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Maya A. Jones || Writer || Storyteller

@justwritemaya

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📝 Writer & Storyteller 📝
Founder, LanYAP Sports & Entertainment
High School on SI Contributor
Former ESPN Journalist
⚜️ NOLA Raised • 🎓XULA ‘12 •📍DFW

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Probably the most important, hard-hitting question I’ve asked in my career as a journalist….Maybe the saxophones would’ve gotten lower 🥺 #QTNA #RIPRickyBaker #MorrisChestnut #BoyzNTheHood taken in Cedar Hill, Texas by @justwritemaya

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9 days ago

Why are they like this? 😂💜 #BTS #ArirangWorldTour #Arlington #Texas taken in AT&T Stadium by @justwritemaya

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2 months ago

I’m learning that there’s absolutely never a dull moment when I’m in Los Angeles 😂. Lock in with LanYAP for our interview with actors @tayediggsinsta and @whostroy about the launch of their latest project, #MicrohouseFilms. Interview coming soon! #TayeDiggs taken in California by @justwritemaya

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3 months ago

What a journey it’s been, but we’re almost there! Stay tuned. #ItsLanYAP #LockInWithLanYAP #Sports #Entertainment #Journalism taken in Texas by @justwritemaya

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4 months ago

To all my non-bourbon drinkers, listen to @morrischestnutofficial and MIX IT! That very first sip made me a stronger person 😂. But I will say the flavor is great and it’s super smooth. #SableSaturdays #SableBourbon #MorrisChestnut #Dallas #ItsLanYAP taken in Cedar Hill, Texas by @justwritemaya

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8 days ago

I feel like the universe is telling me to just go ahead and start a #90sFine series. Who’s next? 🤔 taken in Anywhere and Everywhere by @justwritemaya

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9 days ago

Ya know…you lose some, you lose some 😂. The Falcons looked like they had those plays in the vault for all 20 years and couldn’t wait for this moment. But it wasn’t all bad! The game was, yes. But I got to see my people! Home will always be home⚜️ #NewOrleans #Domecoming #Saints #Falcons #WhoDat taken in Caesars Superdome by @justwritemaya

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12 days ago

It’s still #WhoDat! Even tho I might cry in the car 😂 #Saints #Falcons #NewOrleans taken in Caesars Superdome by @justwritemaya

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12 days ago

I love when I get to meet the people I’ve written about. Dr. Nikole Roebuck was my first interview for LanYAP and she’s just as sweet in person as she was over our Zoom call.

Last night, I noticed the slight smile on her face and pride in her eyes as she watched her “babies” walk from the stands to the sidelines in preparation for halftime.

I’m sure she would see it as their moment, but as the first female director of bands at Grambling State University, this is her time to shine as well. Story link in bio! #GramblingStateUniversity #GSU #WorldFamedTigerMarchingBand taken in Dallas, Texas by @justwritemaya

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21 days ago

I’m still finding videos I don’t remember recording. Y’all are just gonna have to deal with me until this tour is over lol. 감사합니당~ #BTS #ArirangWorldTour #JK #Jungkook #전정국 taken in Los Angeles, California by @justwritemaya

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23 days ago

@justwritemaya on how intense the Saints-Falcons rivalry is. by @justwritemaya

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24 days ago

Today would’ve been my 14th year at ESPN.

Last February, I learned my contract wouldn’t be renewed. Two months later, I lost the only “big girl” job I’d held since I was 22 years old.

Naturally, I worried. At the time, I was already battling undiagnosed mental health issues that not only made me question my sanity, but my identity as a whole. The only Maya Jones I’d known had been tied to those four letters. Who would I be without them? Would I even land another job? Was I let go because I wasn’t good enough? I was told I was doing well, but was I really? Was it my appearance? Was my writing really that bad? What was wrong with me?

Apparently losing your job makes you question EVERYTHING about your life, even if it doesn’t make sense.

On top of being unemployed, I lost six loved ones months apart. Colleagues I thought would have my back went silent, and others I hadn’t heard from in years found me and asked how they could help. I’ll never forget y’all.

On my last assignment, @thelab_texas told me not to worry about my situation. God got me. In a conversation with @strongislandmediachi, he told me to think of myself as a business, not a hire. I think of that every time I’m in a room where people value my ideas and opinions. Every time I network and it leads to another open door. Every time I meet a person and they know Maya Jones because of Maya Jones, not because of the four letters that were once attached.

Though my life may not have followed the plans I had for myself a year ago, it’s unlocked so much more. Last year on this day, I cried because of what I thought I’d miss. Today I’m still crying lol, but it’s because I’m in a space where I can tell myself the sky is the limit and actually BELIEVE it. I’m dreaming again and I can honestly say I love it here. Thanks to all those who continue to rock with me. I love y’all 💙 by @justwritemaya

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24 days ago