Conversation on School Culture and Leadership

In my first interview for The Grand Design Show, I was honored to have Adamseged Abebe, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, a Rhodes Scholar and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oxford. We sought, in our conversation to ascertain the extent to which individuals can inform and shape their lives in the context of challenging social constructs. The answer to the question of who owns or who can be assigned the responsibility for our success or failure is not a precise one. Are we the product of the construct of our social system or are we capable of writing the narratives of lives independently of our environment? This is a question that could be debated for eternity. I am of the view that the degree to which we can inform and shape our lives independent of our social construct will depend on the strength of our inherent resolve and grits. While our ecosystem will have a lot to say on the trajectory of our lives, each and every one of us can stake a significant claim on the depth and breadth what our lives could mean. In my view, social constructs are a reflection of how far humanity has come but individually we can assert a narrative of where that construct ought to be. In finding our own inherent design and in living to our aspirations, we will not only liberate and humanize our lived experience but also reshape and reassert a better narrative of our human journey. Being a human is not just a privilege but also a responsibility to find meaning and purpose in ourselves, in our relationship with all the species, in our planet, and in the hidden and manifest universe. Humanity is not just endowed with the potential for greatness but also with the task of navigating the treacherous journey of actualization. Yes, it will be great to have our communities reflect our individual aspirations for expressions but we must not succumb to the resistance and the zealous addiction to the status quo, and abdicate our responsibility.