Passion is process

Recently I posted my first Linkedin video! In the video, I asked people to tell me what they were passionate about. The responses were amazing! So many people shared their amazing passions with me on that post! 

While thinking about passion, I thought about my story and how my passion has shaped my professional and personal life. From that trip down memory lane, I realized something extremely important about passion. It is not part of the process leading to success. It is the process. 

Passion is origin

When I was in the 7th Grade, a teacher accused me of plagiarising a paper that I’d written in front of my mom. She watched me hand write the first draft then type the final draft. Ms. McGowen looked at the paper, looked back at me and said, “There is no way a 7th grader wrote this.” But I had written it. After several meetings with my mother and administration, the truth came out. It was my work and no one else’s. What really hurt was that my teacher never apologized to be but only said, “Next time try to dumb it down I guess.” That was it. 

For me, passion is a major driver of action. It is not a byproduct or side effect of work. Passion drives the work I do. I am an educator who seeks to disrupt the system every day. My work at both 

Alpha and Guide is part of that disruption. But the fire in my belly comes from an undying wish for no kid to have the school experience I had. 

Passion is oxygen

How can you tell if someone is passionate? I think it shows in the hard times. When your work keeps you up late or you have a conflict with a co-worker, how does that affect your mission and your drive? Passionate people are undeterred by hardship or conflict or setback. 

Passion, in this context, is as essential to success in your career as breathing. 

Passion is growth

I have grown tremendously as a person and professional in my career. I think this year I have grown more than ever. I firmly believe that is because I have become more passionate than ever about reconstructing the education system. As my passion grows stronger, I work harder and longer and more efficiently. I read more, I study more, I learn more. I grow. 

Passion is growth. 

Passion is process

When you put origin, oxygen, and growth together what do you get? Process. The process is the origin of your fire, the oxygen to keep it burning and the ways you grow along the way. 

Passion is process. 

What is your passion? What is its origin? How have you grown in this pursuit?

_________________________________________________________________________

I taught in a traditional school setting for 5 years before entering my current role where I design curriculum, plan projects and motivate students to break all of the rules. I'm interested in change and finding the next set of large innovations to the classroom through the use of adaptive learning technology and AI. The world is rapidly innovating and it is my belief that schools must follow that trend. Connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on Twitter to keep having great conversations.

?