Faces of Auburn Avenue: My friend Alton |
One of the keys to the struggle is to keep on doing the work
when you doubt that the work you are doing is any good or making a difference. Being in higher education is an interesting
profession. Sometimes I feel like I am not reaching my students. I come to class, give out assignments, read
papers / projects and say to myself, “You are failing these students.” In times like these I don’t give up but
rather I try to do four things that I learned while reading the book Maynard
Jackson a biography written by Robert
A. Holmes. Dr. Holmes reported that when
staffers brought issues to Mayor Jackson they had to have the following:
1.
Identify the problem(s)
2.
Describe condition(s)
3.
Discuss alternative solution(s)
4.
Make recommendation(s)
I took this advice to heart and I have continually applied it to my life when I run into obstacles. I
have to work and think my way out of the situation because quitting is not an
option. After reflection I regain my
direction and continue the work. I refuse to fail my students by not being the professor the creator designed me to be..I am called to this work and I take my divine assignment very seriously.
In my present project Faith
in Sweet Auburn: The Next Chapter I hit a creative roadblock. I am so emotionally and creatively committed to this project and when I hit the roadblock I was devastated. I was stuck in pity mode for a weekend and
then I went through my four step process, developed a creative action plan and
began the work anew. I have found renewed joy in recommitting myself to this
work a new. This new commitment is not
about trying to do what I was doing but only doing it better. My new commitment
is to do what I am doing in a different more radical / creative way. I find inspiration in trying to do things
differently than I had before. I changed
my approach, which changed my view and this in-turn has made the work look and
feel differently.
I offer this to you as you may hit that roadblock sometimes
and think it means stop or quit. I think
roadblocks are erected for us to find another way; they are detours not stop
signs. What is in your road? What is standing in your way? What is taking your energy and how are you
going to deal with it? Are you going to
stop and quit your journey or are you going to find another way so that you can
complete the assignment given to you by the creator?
The work continues!
The New Atlanta Streetcar and the bust of John Wesley Dobbs |
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