In the Spotlight
It is one of my favorite times of the year. Sure, I love fall – the colors, foods, holidays. But I also love awards. Not just the prestigious Nobels, but also the MacArthur Genuis Grants.
These awards are special. According to the Foundation itself, these are “unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.
Much like the Nobels, the individuals don’t make the front pages often. You will not see them rack up followers on social media. Their names are not familiar but their work, their work is timeless, timely and terrific.
They are artists, engineers, mathematicians, chemists, sociologists and much more. The talented 25 are diverse and humble. Their reactions to their new-found notoriety ranged from disbelief to utter surprise. “Me?” “Is this a joke?” “I can’t believe it.” One awardee would not return calls perhaps thinking they were scams.
The grants, $800,000 over a number of years, are “no strings attached,” and as the foundation states on its website “…to pursue their own creative, intellectual and professional inclinations.”
Imagine, living your life in the pursuit of your best self, your best work, your dreams. You do it faithfully, persistently, day by day. You bear well the conversations at family dinner table trying to explain your efforts and recall the blank stares and then the warm smiles from your aunt.
Those people, the people you surround yourself with, are your cheerleaders even if they don’t have a clue what or how you do what you do with your time. But someone knew and was watching and admiring from afar. This year is your year. Congratulations.
Now, these 25 do not label themselves award winners. They did not do what they do for this day. And that’s what I really love about these people. They represent the folks who take pride and pleasure in their work and often without concern if others do, too.
?Imagine treating your life, your work, your skills with confidence, creativity, and an eye toward the social good, every day. Genius!
Joanne Williams is Associate Professor of Media Production and Communication at Olivet College.