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Greetings,
First let me start off by saying that I'm not a doctor, nor a lawyer. I'm
not in Corporate America [though sometimes it may feel like it]; I don't
make a profuse amount of money; and I don't have a master's degree [yet].
Nevertheless, I travel the country for work; I travel the world for
pleasure; I have been promoted four times within my first five years out of
college; I have had more business engagements than half my peers; I have been trained as a motivational speaker
and am helping to change the lives of thousands of young, hidden talent
across America; I purchased my first house at 24 - a four-bedroom residence
in downtown Washington DC (w/ tenants); and I am surrounded by loving,
caring and beautiful friends and associates.
So am I successful? I don't know...I think so, but I don't feel
comfortable saying it one way or the other. The ultimate questions for me
are,
"Will I be able to look in the mirror (everyday) and be happy with who
I am; Will my family me truly happy; and will I make it into heaven,"
which right now that seems like an eternity
away...
I grew up with a single mother who has seen her
fair share of abuse; I was tempted by (and avoided) the typical perils of an
inner city; the one person I wanted to look up to was
going down the wrong path [though he's much better now]; I went to a
high school where less than half of the students passed state exams and only
a quarter went onto college. So should I
be lost: on the streets, dead, or in jail like many of my counterparts? Maybe, but I'm not.
I am a young, educated man with a multifarious background who works for
a non-profit, helping low income high school students get into college.
I chose this "untraditional" path because it brings me more pleasure than
others. I graduated from Duke University; I am
a Sigma Man [You Know!]; I am a product of numerous developmental programs;
and I am definitely a self-starter. So with these traits and
background, should I be doing something
else, something more prestige and dap? Maybe, but I'm not...yet.
All this might sound like I'm going through my quarter-life crisis or that
I'm looking for purpose [which I already know is to serve God], but
neither are correct. I guess I'm just writing this to say that I know I
am blessed...above and beyond how I could have ended up. Yet as
thankful to God as I am, I still want 'more' and the question to myself, you, or anyone else that may know the answer..."Is that greed or
something else?"
Who knows? Either way, I look forward to finding the answer as I
continue on life's complex journey. I am fearful of it not working out, but
if the past has any indicator of what's to come, then I can't wait...
~Sheldon Shabrese Maye |