Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jalisa Keyes.
Dr. Keyes, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Honestly, at a young age, I spent a lot of time with my grandmothers while my parents worked. I accompanied my grandmothers while they ran errands, which oftentimes included grocery stores, doctor’s offices, and pharmacy visits. Though, at the time, I did not know the purpose of a pharmacy/pharmacist. Yet, outside of food and beverage, I saw that medicine was consumed. However, as I grew older, I understood that people took medicines for different conditions. I sometimes witnessed people share and overdose on medicines. Medicines can also be noted as drugs. Unfortunately, I never saw anyone intervening to prevent this from occurring in my community. These personal childhood experiences influenced my career in pharmacy.
I have been a pharmacist for nearly five years. I am licensed to practice pharmacy in Mississippi and Texas. I spent three of my 5 years practicing retail pharmacy in Mississippi. Those three years spent practicing were challenging and overwhelming due to being a manager, the coronavirus, and combating the opioid epidemic.
Subsequently, I retreated from pharmacy to recharge, reset, and relocate to Texas in April 2021. I am extremely grateful for my time spent in stillness because it allowed me to find more suitable, none retail-related work as a pharmacist as well as establish a business for myself. Originally, my business was established for my disc jockey services, but after careful consideration, it will also incorporate services I provide as a pharmacist.
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?
The past year has been difficult yet awakening. As I experienced space and time away from being Dr. Keyes and DJ J. Keyes, I sat in silence and observed myself and the world around me. When I would communicate, it was personally with God and myself. I found myself asking God, “What is next for me?”. The silence allowed me to hear my own voice and realign myself with what resonates. In doing so, I began to pray and ask God to help me use the gifts He placed inside me to serve the people and communities He places before me.
Since April 2021, I focused much of my energy on growing more as DJ J. Keyes in Texas. I sometimes networked and met people in the entertainment business such as promoters, photographers, and other DJs. Some encounters have been beneficial while other encounters have been insignificant. Fortunately, I have had discernment to eliminate those who attempted to use an underpaid gig as an opportunity for inappropriate indiscretions. Moreover, being a woman in the entertainment business is challenging due to the ulterior motives of some people. However, I directly communicate and strictly operate on business only.
In my opinion, the use of social media has made DJing saturated and competitive for popularity. In observation of this, I reflected on why I decided to become a DJ. Personally, as a DJ, I love the freedom and creativity that I get to display musically. I am always listening and discovering new music and artists. It is so refreshing to be in position to introduce crowds to new music. It is so much more dope underground music than mainstream music. Furthermore, I enjoy connecting and reaching people using captivating music that appeals to and ignites their feelings. It is an adrenaline rush having the attention and control of the crowd. I heartily enjoy seeing people have a good time smiling, laughing, dancing, and enjoying life.
Conversely, I did not become a DJ to promote overpriced bottles, sections, violence, and other modern-day vices. Therefore, I will not buy into the current trend that people should have to spend a ridiculously amount of money to have a good time. Recently, I began to realize how outlandish it is to witness people spending hundreds of dollars on sections and bottle popping just to be seen and hear the same music from 10 years ago. In fact, being a DJ in the entertainment business has rerouted me back to Dr. Keyes due to the uprise of Fentanyl, Percocet, and other opioid overdoses. The drugs are always rapped about in today’s rap songs. Thus, I will be focusing more of my energy on my career as a pharmacist and accepting private and corporate gigs for DJing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Key Access, LLC?
I established Key Access, LLC March 2022. Key Access is my incorporation for both Dr. Keyes and DJ J. Keyes. Professionally, I am a pharmacist and a disc jockey (DJ). As a pharmacist, I specialize in medication therapy management, consultation and point-of-care services, immunizing, compounding, and other specialties. Whereas with DJing, I specialize in providing entertainment services with music, sound, and lighting for private and corporate events such as cultural weddings, art shows, book releases, product unveilings, Quinceañera, fashion shows, company parties, and so forth.
I am unlike others by being a doctor and DJ. In addition, having a pharmaceutical professional career allows me the freedom do what I want to do with DJing. That is accepting and choosing the gigs and pay I feel are worth my time. Though I never considered having my own business, it is truly fulfilling to have, manage, and represent my own brand.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My resilience contributes tremendously to the success I have attained to date. It is my ability to withstand adversity and actively recover from setbacks. I utilize my relationship with God along with the strengths, skills, and resources that He bestows upon me to fulfill the plans and desires we discuss privately.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Telencia Jenkins
