The Passion

I’ve always been the “friend with the cool job”. In college, every internship or work experience I had was with a well-known media behemoth. Clear Channel Communications, MTV, Fox News, you name it. Even after I graduated I finagled my way into freelance production work with NBC Universal. When I’d catch up with college buddies and tell them I had just seen Adam Sandler or Denzel Washington on set, their mouths would drop and they’d beg for details. Little did they know that I been fetching coffee and directing pedestrian foot traffic all day. It was important that tax-paying citizens not walk on the public street where we were shooting, or else they’d interfere with the scene. Making films is serious business, after all.


I really believed that the media industry was for me, and that I just hadn’t yet found my footing. When I landed [my current position], I was confident that this would be the solid career foundation I was looking for. After three years with the company, I still have yet to be convinced. When I head to work each morning, instead of worrying about meetings, or action items on my to-do list, I’m focused on what I’ll be doing after 6 pm. I may run a few miles with Team in Training, which is a subsidiary of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), I may have a committee meeting with the “Light the Night” Walk volunteer group (also of LLS), or I may be tutoring at the Jerusalem House. Even my weekends are packed with mentoring and volunteering for the organizations I have come to love. My commitments to these organizations are what motivate me each morning, and what keep me going when my less-than-fulfilling job begins to weigh on me. My associations with non-profit organizations are my driving force; they are my passion.

I did some volunteer work in college, and when I moved to [my current city], and finally got settled in, I began searching for ways to give back to my community. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was immediately appealing because I’d have one young lady for whom I was responsible. The time commitment was manageable and, given all of the perks I had inherited from [my job], we’d always have something fun and/or educational to. After our very first meeting, I could see how valuable our relationship would become. I was going to learn a great deal about poverty in [my city], the education gap, the achievement gap, and I’d gain exposure to an entire sub-culture of black America that I’d never before seen, even [in college]. In turn, I was determined to teach her the rules of English grammar, proper etiquette, the necessity of trying new things, and the importance of building a relationship with God. She and I are still building, but I’m so proud of how far along we have come.

I began tutoring at the Jerusalem House after a Volunteer Day activity in September of 2007. The Jerusalem House is a non-profit housing establishment that permanently caters to families affected by HIV/AIDS. The students at the Jerusalem House are bright and enthusiastic, despite the many challenges they and their families face. Even when my schedule prevented from tutoring on a weekly basis, I found ways to give back, ranging from a [local college] campus tour to a family outing to a [baseball] game.

My most personal tie to a non-profit organization, however, is with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In March 2009, my mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was shocking to all of us because she was a healthy woman. She didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, and had no family history of this particular cancer. It was a trying summer, and in October when she received her final treatment of chemo, I vowed to do everything possible to commemorate her remission. I started by raising $1000 for LLS’s “Light the Night” walk. I was proud of that accomplishment, but knew I could do more. In November, I began training for my first-ever half marathon with LLS’s “Team in Training” program. Though Team in Training, I gained an instant network of friends and fellow athletes committed to raising awareness and fighting blood cancers. We all raised funds and trained together, supporting one another when family members fell ill, pushing each other to complete each run with a strong finish, and vowing to never forget the lives lost to blood cancers. It was the most emotional yet fulfilling experience I have had in my life. This is what truly opened my eyes to what I believe to be my calling.

If I can find a way to help non-profit organization such as BBBS, the Jerusalem House and LLS thrive, I will consider myself accomplished. I don’t want to just help these organizations and others like them succeed; I want to see them grow to the highest of heights, enlightening others of their missions along the way. Whether I’m helping them to raise money or coordinate events; recruit volunteers or build better business plans, I want my impact to be relevant and long-lasting.

By societal standards, I am already a success story. I have my own place, my own car, and I work for an amazing company with great benefits. But I don’t want to be a success; I’d rather be significant. I’d rather have my life’s work feel meaningful and important. I don’t get that from media, and I doubt I ever will. There are certainly aspects of my communications background that will serve me well in my future endeavors. But, I intend to dedicate myself to the non-profit sector, and advancing organizations that face more challenges, and deserve more resources than the “cool” media giants. I cannot, in good faith, think of any reason to choose film and television over the young girl with sub-par reading skills, the single-parent family with AIDS, or the husband who has just learned that his wife has cancer… life is too short for that.

Playing "Mom"

The weekend was absolutely beautiful. It was the first weekend since the half marathon that I could actually sleep in, relax and enjoy myself! But of course, other duties called. I was overdue a visit with Ruby and had other responsibilities that required my attention. It was fine, though. For the first time in a long time, I was NOT going to be training, studying or stressing. I was looking forward to what the weekend had in store.

Saturday I woke up with plans to take Ruby to a theme park. Cece's goddaughters were in town too, so she, her boyfriend, her goddaughters, Ruby and I headed to the park for a makeshift family reunion. It was sure to be a crash course for us in what parenting was *really* like. We were excited.

Ruby had never been to the park before, and I could see as we neared the rollercoasters and excitement that she was eager to explore it all. Unfortunately she'd been having "attitude problems" lately, according to her mom. So, I told her we were going to the museum. Her face quickly fell. I couldn't help myself. I've given her the impression that I'm an outlet for fun, I think. I needed to remind her that, as mentor, I was here to help guide her in all facets of her life - and a bad attitude was not going to cut it.

My facade quickly faded as we made our way into the grand entrance. But I made Ruby pinky swear that she would heed her mother's directions (the FIRST time, not after being asked repeatedly), she would NOT talk back to her teachers, and that she'd make better efforts on her nightly homework assignments. We'll see how that goes.

After an afternoon in the sun, we took our kids to Saturday Night Service. It was Easter weekend, and we had MUCH to be thankful for. I could tell Ruby was less than enthused to spend her Saturday evening at church - but tough luck. Among the many things I hope to teach her during our relationship - one will be to praise Him from whom all blessings flow...

The pastor did a dramatic interpretation of Jesus' Crucifixion from the viewpoint of Cleopus, preaching from the book of Luke. It was powerful.  Of course the poor child couldn't sit still through the hour-long service (short for Easter, right??), but what disheartened me most was that she had never even heard the Easter story before. She didn't know why we celebrated Easter nor did she understand or appreciate the significance of Jesus dying for our sins and rising again...

::sighs::

I did my best to provide her with the Cliffs Notes version on our ride back to her house. I then challenged her to remember the Lord's Prayer (she couldn't) and delve a little deeper into understanding it's meaning. She bored of our little talk very quickly.

I know it's not my responsibility to teach her religion or spirituality. And I know when I was eleven I hated going to Church each morning. But now that I'm an adult, having grown up "in the church", understanding the meaning behind Christian holidays, and knowing that I can always count on God - I don't know what I would have done if my mom DID NOT make me get out of bed each Sunday to worship Him. I don't know how I would have made it through some of life's trials thus far. Because my mother instilled that discipline in me early - to go to church every Sunday - I've managed to carry it with me through adulthood...

Is this an L I'm just going to have to take with Ruby? I don't have the patience to monitor her every Sunday... pick her up, make her sit still, explain the sermon to her, and take her home. After all, she's really not my child. But, I feel like if I could leave her with anything - better grammar, higher self-esteem, the ability to make good choices... the most worthwhile and relevant would be a relationship with God.

I'll pray on it...