Part 6: What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about learning!

I know that people say all the time that "knowledge is power," and I do believe, with everything in me, that knowledge really is power. I just can't get enough of learning, and the more that I know; the more that I want to know. Sometimes, my thirst for knowledge is overwhelming.

Take for instance that I am reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks with all of it's astonishing knowledge; I may find myself completely consumed with the reading. My heart may even beat fast as I am reading the book. Then, I may download about three more books by that same author or on that same topic; I get a little obsessed until life kicks in and slows down my reading. (Please read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and learn, learn, learn.)

Around April, May and June, I start getting calls from my friends asking me "What are you studying this summer?" If I say nothing, I always get the same reply: "I don't believe it!"

My friends questions' are not without merit. I normally do go somewhere to study during the summer. I've studied the Ethnic Autobiography in Philadelphia, Blacks in Politics in Chicago, The American South and South Africa in Atlanta, Zora Neale Hurston in Florida; Crime, Culture and Punishment in Massachusetts, and I've studied many more topics with my Free Time in the summer. (Not so FREE right?)

My massachusetts study group!

My Atlanta study group on the steps of the church
that was bombed in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement!

My Philadelphia Study Group!

Last summer I did not go away to any summer programs, but I sure did learn a lot. I read many, many books, had courageous conversation with friends, took in some great exhibits, and I felt so much smarter once school started back. However, once school started, the learning really started.

My students gave presentations on different novels, and many of the novels I had never read before. I was so intrigued by their presentations, and now I have this long list of books that I am going to read upon my students' recommendation. Knowledge! Knowledge! Knowledge!!!!!

Loving to learn means that I love school right? Well, I do! I love the buildings, desk, teachers, professors, structure, bells, books etc. I just finished my 3rd degree, and I mean it, and I really mean that I am not taking another class for a grade. (Grades are for kids.) I just want to take classes to learn. Be careful about what comes out of your mouth...........

One of my friends sent me an email about a New Year's Eve Celebration, and at the bottom of the email I saw CLASSES. Me being me, I clicked on that, and lo and behold, I am currently taking a life coaching class with the honorable Iyanla Vanzant and the dynamic Robert Pruitt, and I ain't getting a grade; I'm just growing and learning. Power! Power! Power!

Iyanla Vanzant

Most of the knowledge that I have, I must admit, I DIDN'T get it in traditional schools. I love traditional schools, but they only serve to pique a person's interest on different topics. We must pursue what we want to learn and its normally independently. In school, I hit the surface of health, English, math, history, but it was up to me to go deeper into the things that I wanted to know or needed to know.

So, you see that I have another passion!

Be about the business of discovering your passion.

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Read Part 3
Read Part 4
Read Part 5
Read Part 7
Read Part 8