While principle dancer for the American Ballet Theater Angel Corella contends, "I don’t know if it’s God standing next to me," which allows him to soar when he leaps, I attribute his amazing abilities to his passion. "Dance," he says "is about feeling. I get this picture in my head that I am flying, and my body responds." Likewise, producer and songwriter for N’Sync, Wild Orchids, Britney Spears and others Bradley Daymond says, "Doing something that you love to do – I think that is the number one goal in life. To be able to achieve what is inside of you, as opposed to what other people expect you to do." Walt Clyde Frazier feels that it is more important to be a consummate citizen than anything else. When asked what he loved most about what he does, he responded, "Well, what I am doing now. I am being interviewed by you guys and having an impact on kids, showing them that if you really work at something, you can achieve whatever you want." Clearly, these are people for whom the the thrill in life comes with expression of their passion.
Teen People recently honored your peers, with their annual "20 Teens Who Will Change the World" event. I was struck by the commitment of teenagers, such as eighteen year old Milton H. Boyd, who, "Wants to bridge the gap between youth and politics. We are not generation X," he states, "which suggests uncertainty and the unknown. We are generation next!" He has put his words to action with a theater group called VAMP which helps kids deal with real-life problems. He has worked with the NAACP’s Youth Chapter in Maryland, encourag-ing people older than he is to get out and vote. He volunteered to work in the Gore campaign for the last election, and he serves on a Student Advisory Council in Washing-ton, D.C., organizing youth summits on issues ranging from violence to public transpor-tation. He doesn’t do this to fulfill a commitment for school. I believe that all of his efforts are devoted to wanting to make the world we share a better place to live. After all, if you just complain about the way of the world, you become part of the problem. Problems can only be addressed if you take a stand, find your voice, and communicate your passion.
TeenSpeak reporter Jessica Bernhard opens her article on Milton by saying, "Everyone has a passion, something that makes them want to get up in the morning, something that makes their eyes sparkle and their voice rush when they tell you about it."
The world is full of opportunities, not limitations. Find your passion. Don’t let the idea of multi-million dollar contracts tarnish or destroy the goals and dreams that make your life special. Money is an empty passion. Cash in on how you, too can make a difference. As Cal Skaggs, a documentary producer commented recently at Columbia School of Journalism, "Good work will always find an audience."
