Learning is not confined to the walls of a classroom!

My favorite part of preparing for a talk or seminar is  the actual research.  I truly enjoy the whole process of gathering notes and organizing my own thoughts. I’m not above new data nor do I believe I am an expert of any field. I never really met anyone who was truly an expert. How can we be experts when we’re always being presented with new data and facts while having our own theories be disputed, challenged, or  revoked?  If we are good scholars of life, we learn continuously and make a few mistakes along the way. Good scholars learn from their mistakes and make new ones.

When children are born they enter this experimental phase ‘a baby scientist’ phase, testing the world around them. They are fearless, cute, and bubbly. From what I’ve witnessed from others, the “terrible twos” highlight this aspect of their lives best. Unfortunately, we lose this willingness to discover without being consciously aware of others and what they may think. “What I know for sure” it’s okay to discover and it’s better to also make a few minor mistakes.

I remember reading a book once that stated something to the effect as “I expect I’ll still have relationship issues no matter the age 20-40- or even 60.” On @ebokosia I tweeted:

My opinion, we will always be in pursuit of self-discovery by making mistakes, researching, and allowing ourselves to be students. If we just accept the fact that we’re all students, the world itself will shine a little brighter. I try to adopt this way of thinking in all that I do. It works wonders when you find yourself in a situation where someone may have offended you. It’s easier to forgive those who don’t know any better. In the end, we’re all trying to embark on this journey of ‘finding what works.’ This journey of life– this road of self-discovery does not happen overnight. The road of self-discovery spans a lifetime. How beautiful is that? What hills will I climb to better understand who I am? I look forward to those hills and the great plunges it provides. I know that I will continue to stand tall no matter the circumstances, as long as I’m living!

This past Tuesday, I was a guest speaker at Teen Travel Camp. I spoke with 65 young teens on “Executing goals with leadership and entrepreneurial skills.” I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I live for moments like this! See group photo below:

Amanda A. Ebokosia is contributor and organizer of The A. E. Empire, a sisterhood empowerment network of hundreds of women. She is founder and CEO of The Gem Project, Inc. The Gem Project, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that educates school-age children, youth, and young adults about issues that are affecting them and their communities. Through the use of innovative programs and enriching activities, the Gem Project hones and strengthens the leadership and community organizing skills of our youth. Ebokosia is also a freelance writer on relationships, entrepreneurship, power, leadership, and education. The complications of female platonic relationships and research that posits best-friends are unlikely , is one of her written works that helped define her interest in speaking on relationships and its diversity.

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