This will be a different piece. Deviating from my usual commentary on the happenings in the political arena, I felt the need to take a brief hiatus and provide some encouraging words and advice to those who read the articles on this website.
Last week, I worked as Head Counselor back on campus for an engineering camp for young minority men who are rising high school seniors from across the United States. It is called the Minority Engineering & Technology Enrichment Camp for Young Men. The purpose of this camp is to offer these students an opportunity to learn more about career paths in the fields of engineering and technology, get tips to prepare for college success, and have time to engage in a number of social and recreational activities for their week at the University of Dayton. Initially, I did it for the extra money; however, I would soon find out that it would be an experience unlike any other.
This group of young men, including our team of counselors, had a wide array of unique personalities and experiences that made learning from one another just as important and rewarding as learning from the planned modules and tours.
Since they were all interested in engineering or technology, we went on tours of the labs at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Tec Edge Works, GE Aviation, and other grand laboratories and businesses that play key roles in making the world we live in possible. They were also offered multiple modules geared toward helping them do their absolute best for the dreaded ACT, which, surprisingly, grasped their undivided focus to point where they did whatever they could for the practice tests.
I didn't get to experience this camp before I went to UD, and after being a counselor for it, I truly wish I had. I didn't get to see what opportunities I had in computer engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc. One thing I thoroughly enjoyed is that this camp really does focus on being a resource, rather than a recruitment tool, to help educate young minority in order to provide equality of opportunity to all.
After everything was done, I began to fully understand some things that I wish to pass on to you, reader. First, it is very important to realize when you're becoming obsessive over these things, and know what you can control about whatever situations you find yourself in because there's always only so much you can do before things are out of your control. This is not a bad thing, either. Remember that you cannot do it all (take it from someone who struggled with that idea for a very long time).
Second, don't be too harsh on yourself. You're going to make mistakes, you aren't always going to hit you mark, and sometimes you're just going to be flat out wrong. Know that this is a part of life, and you are no less acceptable or great because of it, but I can say with confidence that you all have what it takes to make it through these next few years, but it's on you to push yourself through it.
Finally, use your potential. How many times have you heard someone say "He/she has so much potential" or "He/she can do so much good if he/she just applied themselves?" In short, potential means absolutely nothing unless you embrace it and use it for the good of the world around you. If you confront the world with good in mind, using truth, then the reality you extract is good for you and others. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
I will leave you with this--a quote from American spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
