The deepest satisfaction in life
comes from
doing what you love … that fulfills
a need in others.
My passion and
my vision are to help people fall in love with learning by falling in love with
themselves. I know when that happens, everything else changes in their lives.
What drives me and what I'm pursuing throughout my lifetime is to reach as many
people in as many places as I can with this message.
You know the moments when you experience your vision. You feel it.
In many ways it's overwhelming as you pause to let the feeling in. One of those
times for me was when I attended our SuperCamp learning and life skills program
in the Dominican Republic for a particular group of children.
The children were selected
from across the country to attend this SuperCamp in the Dominican Republic.
Seven days after they arrived, their parents were picked up to see their
children "graduate" from SuperCamp, and I was there to observe. What an amazing
and emotional moment. Most of the children and their parents had never been away
from the immediate vicinity of their homes in the barrios. There, these children
worked many more hours of the week than they attended school, some labored in
the fields, some scavenged the dumps, some sold trinkets on the beach and a few
sold more than trinkets – all were employed in damaging child-labor situations.
Even though many of them didn't attend school for more that two hours a day on
an irregular basis, their teachers were able to see their potential and chose
them to attend SuperCamp.
When these children arrived
at SuperCamp most were fearful and withdrawn, as well as excited about this new
experience that awaited them. They were given jackets,tennis shoes, T-shirts,
toothbrushes and other items. The staff, as always, gave them their hearts with
loving care and attention. Here, these kids got to be kids, they learned to feel
good about themselves, they formed friendships, they laughed, danced and sang,
and they shared their stories.
The children weren't told
their parents would be coming to graduation until the night before. Busses were
sent to all the communities to make sure there was at least one parent or
familiar adult for each child. A few had their school teachers from the program
come to receive them. The children had on their new clothes and were joyful,
looking much different from when they arrived. Several children got up to share
their story with the group and had trouble finishing because of their emotions.
This program caught the
attention of the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, who arrived for
graduation with his entourage of security and news cameras. During graduation he
spoke to the students, telling them that he grew up in a barrio and that they,
too, could one day serve their country. The Vice President sat next to me and,
watching the children receive their medals, he had tears in his eyes, as most of
us did, and commented on how proud the children looked. Later he told me, "You
are changing education." One little boy told me after graduation, "I now know I
am responsible for me." Another boy who worked in the fields said, "I want to be
an agricultural specialist." This program gave these students hope. When they
left they were full of joy and had direction for their future.
This very moving SuperCamp
experience in the Dominican Republic took place in 2005, and today there are
educators trained in our Quantum Learning/SuperCamp methods teaching and
delivering after-school programs in over 130 Dominican schools. Kids there now
want to attend school and programs are in place that bring income to the
families so the children do not have to work in what is called the "worst forms
of child labor."
Enthusiasm for Quantum
Learning in the Dominican Republic is strong and growing – from the President of
the country to the teacher who now has music and color in her classroom to the
12-year-old in the barrio who attended SuperCamp last summer.
The effect we are having on these kids in particular
and education in general continues to support my belief that living your
passions gives your life meaning.
As I write this article, I
am reviewing meetings I have had this week with our Dominican partners to
explore how we can spread what is taking place for these kids in the D.R. to
other developing countries – and make a difference in the lives of more kids.
It's what drives me, what my life is about.
William James,
American psychologist and philosopher (1842-1910) said, "The best use of life is
to spend it for something that outlasts it." Spend your life focused on your
passions and your vision, doing what you love … on something that fulfills a
need in others.
Visions are
like living organisms – when they aren't expressed in action, they wither.
Putting a vision into action is an ongoing experiment that unfolds moment by
moment. Take action, then be aware and take in those moments when you see your
vision manifest. It brings the deepest satisfaction and a fulfilled life where
your vision will continue to do good and outlast you.
About the
Author
Bobbi DePorter is president
of Quantum Learning Network (QLN) and cofounder of SuperCamp. QLN produces
programs for students, educators, parents and business people across the United
States and abroad. For more information visit
www.QLN.com or email info@QLN.com.
