People indeed find their passion at different stages in life and it’s evident that many successful people started their journey to new careers or hobbies later in life. Embrace the opportunity at any time and go for what excites you, what brings meaning to your life and what fuels your devotion.
Here’s a little story to buttress this…
Dera was my secretary at Chykeann Consults. She worked with me for a while till I relocated to the UK, and she continued working. She was good, very teachable, homely, respectful and always disposed to learn and make corrections.
One day, a teacher at RoyalQuest Schools left impromptu and we had an urgent need for a replacement. I called Dera and asked her to go to school and cover the class pending when we find a replacement. She started crying and begging me that she did not like teaching at all. She pleaded that she enjoys office work and hates the classroom. She was crying seriously and begging me, said her heart skipped when she heard teaching and the thought of it alone makes her sad. I was furious at the things she was saying but then, it’s her choice. I convinced her to go and teach, and that when we find a replacement, she’ll go back to office work. She reluctantly agreed.
It took about three weeks for us to get a good replacement and I called my dear secretary to return to the office. She started begging me again, that she enjoys teaching and wants to stay as a teacher. This time, she didn’t cry cos I later made fun of the first cry. Because there was someone else at the office and her absence wasn’t felt so much, I allowed her to remain. She had no experience in teaching so she had to undergo training. She was so enthusiastic about the work when she resumed fully, learning so fast and making remarkable inputs. You can tell from the videos of the activities in school since she resumed.
Today, Dera is the Assistant HOS of RoyalQuest Schools. She’s one of the teachers that parents talk highly of always. She’s super good in class and also in character. She’s usually the first to come to school and has been the most punctual in my ‘Klacify’ record. She does home lessons for many parents, tutors children in dance and extracurricular activities and has developed a great love for her work. Most of the ballet, dance, choreography, drama, quiz presentation etc that we’ve done at RoyalQuest Schools were products of her initiatives and coordination. She always invites her two sisters who are twins and dancers to train pupils in dance and choreography. She is also eloquent and very expressive which is a big plus. Above all, she understands finance and records well, hence her position as the Assistant HOS.
Whenever I see Dera’s performances and the passion she exhibits in her work, I’m reminded of how she started and how circumstances can define our passion. It also made me believe more in the strength in passion and the tendency to find it at any time in life.
I implore every child and young adult never to neglect passion when it calls, irrespective of when and where. I also hope that they recognize and understand the real meaning of passion before it calls. Passion can be recognized by asking these questions;
What gives me joy in doing?
What do I do easily or effortlessly?
What do people trust me with?
What are the things that I find important?
What makes me happy in doing?
What do I dream about?
What do people appreciate in me?
He who finds passion finds motivation, a sense of purpose, self-improvement, interest, confidence, fun, resilience and peace in pursuing a defined goal. It is imperative that in the pursuit of success and a fulfilling life, passion should be of paramount consideration.
A life without passion lacks enthusiasm and joy. Passion is like fuel in the pursuit of purpose. With it, the fire burns and spreads like wildfire to achieve purpose. Without it, the fire may still burn but could be hard to spread. T.D. Jakes succinctly stated, “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” — T.D. Jakes
✍️Amara Ann Unachukwu
