Wisdom, guest column

Wisdom is an invitational column where an outstanding woman will share a message that we hope you'll find inspiring, motivational, and empowering.

I am a person who enjoys helping people in a way that improves their lives and prevents misfortune.

archives

• 2008: 01 | 02
• 2007: 01
• 2006: 01 | 02
• 2005: 01 | 02
• 2004: 01

Finding Your Passion

Keisha Hegamin Jordan, President/CEO, Philadelphia BAEO

What is the difference between a job and a career? A job is what you go to on a regular basis to earn money. A person might have many jobs during their lifetime, and change jobs often. But a career is your life's work; your passion in action. A career choice is the result of self reflection and examination of your likes and strengths.

In high school, I thought the only career choices I had were to be a business executive, a lawyer, or a doctor. I knew I wanted to go to college and eventually to graduate school, and I knew I wanted to make a lot of money! Everyone talked about doctors and lawyers in very high esteem, which also made those careers sound attractive to me.

I chose a career in law, and completed law school. I went on to practice law for two years before realizing that being a lawyer was not the best way to use my strengths and interests. Lawyers are honorable and a very necessary part of our community. However, the practice of law often entails cleaning up problems after something bad has happened. I started to understand that I am a person who enjoys helping people in a way that improves their lives and prevents misfortune. I re-evaluated my strengths and interests to make a difficult career change. That was five years ago; since then I have been helping families find and access quality educational options for their children. I am now able to use professional strengths and interests I previously did not know I had, and I can truly say I have found my passion in life.

I consider myself blessed to have discovered my passion, and to have a career that I enjoy so much. I share this story with the hope that I can help young ladies make a career choice based on their passion before they invest in their education and enter the working world.

What is your passion? What is it that you like to do more than anything else? What are your strengths? I guarantee that if you can find the answers to those questions, you can make a career choice!

I am not saying that it will be instantaneous or easy to discover your passion and subsequently your career. However, I want to urge you not to settle in the meantime. Don't settle for a job that isn't fun and fulfilling for you. Don't disregard your strengths and interests in favor of a job that will pay you a lot of money, but is not interesting. You will work in your career for at least 40 hours each week for the rest of your life – make sure you are doing something you enjoy! You can make good money in a career that brings you happiness.

Let me give you an example. My sister has always loved writing. Ever since she was a little girl, she has been writing poetry, short stories, and in personal journals. She received a college degree in creative writing, then went out into the working world. Because many people discouraged her from a career in the competitive and sometimes less than profitable writing field, she tried her hand at teaching and counseling. Although she was able to do good work in those fields and helped many people, she was very unhappy and unfulfilled. She decided to go back to school to earn a master's degree in writing, and now works as a resident assistant at a writer's colony. She spends her days writing in a beautiful country paradise. And to top it all off, she already has two contracts with a major publishing company to publish her books! She has also been published in various books and magazines.

There are many great online tools and books to help you find your strengths and interests. Two popular examples are "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham and "Discover Your Passion: An Intuitive Search to Find Your Purpose in Life" by Gail A. Cassidy". There are also programs that help identify a person's talents and strengths. Do your research. Take time for self-reflection. Ask your friends and family members what they think you are really good at doing or offering others. Then ask them to name a few situations in which they have seen you at your happiest – what were you doing at that time?

As a teenager, you are at an important place in your life; take advantage of the opportunity to understand yourself and what makes you tick. You still might change career paths a number of times, and that is ok! The career you settle for in the end is what is really important.

Good luck!

Biography

Keisha L. Hegamin, Esquire is President and CEO of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), an organization whose mission is to actively support parental choice to empower families and increase quality educational options for Black children.

Through BAEO Ms. Hegamin educates parents about the various types of schools, educational settings, and supplementary educational programs available for their children. BAEO conducts regular parent workshops on educational options, communicating with school staff, and being advocates for children. BAEO has a private school scholarship program and produces a monthly newsletter featuring resources for parents.

Prior to joining BAEO Ms. Hegamin was Director of the Schools, Employment, and Education Program at the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition. There she staffed the Education, Children, and Youth Committee.

Before pursuing a career in education reform, Ms. Hegamin worked as a Child Advocate Attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and as a Law Clerk in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, Criminal Division. She is also a trained legal mediator.

Ms. Hegamin received a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Virginia in 1995, and a J.D. from Temple University Law School in 1998. She was recently awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship, which allowed her to study school reform and educational options in New Zealand and Australia in February and March, 2004.

Ms. Hegamin currently serves on the Board of Directors at Freire Charter School, Teenshop, Inc., and New Media Technology Charter School. She is a recent graduate of the 2003 Leadership Inc. Class. She is the recipient of the 2003 David P. Richardson Award for Outstanding Community Service, the 2004 Philadelphia Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award, and the 2005 Black Alliance for Educational Options Unsung Hero Award.

keisha@baeo.org