Discovering Your Why…
We are all here for a reason. There’s something special about you. There’s an old adage that says, ‘There are two important dates in your life, the day you were born and the day you discover why you were born’. Ironically, what may seem like a setback sometimes actually could turn out to be a pivotal moment in your life and a blessing in disguise. When I was a young teen I couldn’t wait to become a man already. After reading about the Australian Aboriginal people’s walkabout rite of passage, I wanted to go on my own walkabout. So, I did. This was my trip into adulthood. I was naïve but my eyes were wide open. To make a long story short, the officer from the Philadelphia Police Department had the most puzzled look on his face when I tried to explain to him that I was on my walkabout from Virginia and not a runaway. Needless to say, he didn’t waste any time in telling me to get into the backseat of his patrol car and drove me straight to the Philadelphia Youth Study Center.
Inside of this tall, monstrous building were things hidden from the general public. Due to overcrowding there weren’t enough beds, so a lot of kids had to sleep on the cold floor, on gym mats or thin wool blankets. The damaged walls were covered with graffiti, and most padded chairs were ripped with wobbly legs. The moment I arrived I began to feel bad for all the kids staying there. Not only was the building in terrible shape, but on top of that, the place was severely understaffed.
One day, a staff member informed me that my case manager was working on getting me a Greyhound Bus ticket and arranging my trip back to Virginia. And then she asked me, “So, whatcha gonna do after you leave here and get back home?” Within her question I found my purpose. I knew from that moment on I would try my best to lend my voice to the underserved, either through my writings or through youth advocacy and mentorship. None of us are perfect. I’ve made some bad decisions in my life, but one decision I’m definitely proud of is serving those who feel misunderstood or thrown away.
Once I got back to Virginia, I remember having a conversation with Ms. Birdie West (R.I.P.) She taught horticulture and she was one of my favorite teachers at Spotsylvania High. We were talking about seeds, and Ms. West said that once a seed is put into the ground all it wants to do is reach for the sun. Regardless of your circumstances, I hope that each one of you will continue reaching for the sun. Many of you have already found your why, and you’re blessing us every day with the work you do. If you’re still searching for your why, don’t worry, one day it’ll find you. Never forget that you are uniquely special and don’t ever let anyone convince you otherwise.
By the way, the old Philadelphia Youth Study Center (which stood for decades) was eventually demolished, and the new Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center was built around fifteen years ago. – Randolph Randy Camp (Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp)
