Sankofa, "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten."
Have you ever had a moment in your life, where you remembered a event or an experience, that you wished you changed. “If I had listened more closely...If I had helped that friend...If I stood up for what I believed...If I was brave....
In all the experiences that we all have ever had, and all of the experiences of our ancestors before us, deep at the core of it all, is a nuggest. Is an Egg. A Seed. A Gem, whose value can change the course of Life.
Have you ever looked back in your immediate past, and was able to lay hold of a nugget, a seed of knowledge and understanding that once laid hold of changed your life? anything at all? big or small? recent or long ago?
I remember, in 2000, I was getting ready to graduate from High School. I grew up in Williamsburg Va. In 10th grade I knew that I wanted to be an actor, and after I performed in a musical called, “The Me Nobody Knows,” I made acting my consistent focus. When time to graduate and the overwhelming pressures that come with applying for schools began to flow in, I found myself scared, lonely, and doubtful of my dreams coming true. At the end of the school year, the School of the Arts Program that I was studying with had a last day of celebration. At the end of the celebration they gave out scholarships. How surprised I was, utterly surprised when my name was called. I was given a scholarship that I remember, looking at the application, writing my name, writing my phone number and my address. And then taking the application and balling it up and throwing it in the trash, running to the bathroom with tears in my eyes. Overwhelmed. Self doubt. Lonely.
I received that scholarship, I later found out, because my theater teacher, Mrs. Dixon, found my balled up scholarship in the trash, she took it, went to my guidance counselor, Mrs. Dean, and they filled out that application for me.
Since then not only have my dreams come true but more importantly, finding out what my teachers did for me, all that they did for me, instilled a seed in my heart about giving, about youth, and about helping those in need, helping those, when life feels overwhelming. I looked back on that event, I looked back and remembered the look in my teacher’s eyes before she hugged me, handing me the scholarship I was too insecure to even apply for, and I was filled up. Filled up with Love. Knowledge. Empowered by love and support that I didn’t even know I had. My wings grew that day.
As I have journeyed and moved forward in my life and in my passion. I have hit some bumps, setbacks, challenges, and thorns. I think of this experience, I think of this Nugget, this Seed, this Rose, and even though my wings may have endured some rough weather, my wings are steady, stronger, and can now endure far more.
Sankofa is everywhere. 700 years ago. Nuggets. 70 years ago. Seeds. 7 years ago, Roses. Sankofa. “It’s not wrong to go back for that which was forgotten. Learning from our past may be the only way to create the life and future we want......
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