For a few weeks now I have had the worst case of writer’s block. Nothing seemed to be coming to me, no inspiration, no ideas, I was just completely uninspired in every way possible.
Luckily, over Thanksgiving break I asked my cousin to take me to the store, I was craving something sweet. The ride home was silent but not as awkward as it sounds. With the mist of music in the background he said something, he cleared his throat, and again he said what I could not hear before, "wasted talent'…your next article should be about… 'Wasted Talent."
Everyone is born with a particular talent; wither it be drawing, singing, sports, problem-solving, computer savviness, writing, etc. The problem with your talent is in some cases it can get delayed, and it is not your fault. I know many people who have gone to school for one career and came out “reborn and refocused” on another. But what about the people who have known their talent from the beginning? The ones who’ve known “I want to be…” and have stuck with it thus far. The ones who have their life planned out but all of a sudden life switches up and decides to make you play the game her way. Life tried to do just that to Franckel Bazin.
In the sixth grade at the tender age of eleven Franckel knew he was going to pursue Architecture. “I drew something for my art teacher Mrs. Egan,” he said, then she told me to “look into architecture. I do not remember what I drew nor did I know what architecture was. Shortly after, I went to the school library and by the end of the day I knew what I wanted to be.” Since then he has dipped his foot in different areas and has favored the arts more than any subject. “I am creative. I love that I’m talented especially in art, whether it be drawing, music, films, photo’s, you name it I can do it.” His love for arts allowed him to graduate in 2013 from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Soon after graduating his biggest obstacle was staying in the right mindset and focusing on the bigger picture. He says, “with the right mindset and focus you can always persevere and overcome all of your problems. I know it is easier said than done, but it can get done.” To his surprise he learned he was expecting his first child. “To some people this could get perceived as a distraction or delay, I don’t necessarily see it that way,” said Franckel. Contrary to most, he didn’t allow this to hinder his quest in achieving the career he wanted to pursue.
But what about the people who allow lack of focus to sidetrack them and not allow their dream to step foot into reality? The other night I was with one of my friends we were walking back from shopping and a homeless man had asked her for money. She did him one better and bought him a meal. As we were walking back to her car, she says to me,“every time I pass by he’s always here, same spot, everything.” She then continues to say “I had a conversation with him once, he said he was successful and that he was a wealthy businessman but wasted it on things that didn’t matter.” Then it had me thinking of the conversation I had with this man on the bus on my way to Maryland. We were discussing the wasted talent of people who live life on the edge or the ones who are currently incarcerated. He said “none of the people who I grew up with who remained in the drug slaying mentality made it out the hood. None of them progressed, they're either stagnant in their old ways, in jail or dead.” The man who I spoke to decided to change his ways shortly after a near death experience. He joined the airforce and traveled to Italy. It was there he met his second wife and had their children, two boys. “I want to be a better father to my sons than I was for oldest daughter. I owe it them, it's like my second chance at improving my talent.
This left me to believe unlike wasted time can a wasted talent be regained? If you think about it, the only reason why someone would waste their talent is if an obstacle too big prevented them or they just didn’t believe that much in themselves. “I don't know what I would be doing if I did not believe in my talents or believe in following my dreams,” said Franckel. That’s what people's problems are nowadays they aren’t too focused on what or who they want to be. I personally didn’t know my talent from the beginning, I was confused like most people. I thought I wasn’t talented at all. Shoot I wouldn’t be writing if it wasn’t for my favorite person, my mother, Anthia. For as long as I have known her, she has always pushed me to be a better person and to follow what is best for me. A few years ago she put her talent (which happens to be helping people) in a non-profit organization titled Diversity Empowerment. This program is specialized to help individuals who want to effectively strengthen their talents via workshops. She is truly an inspiration not to mention a pain in the bum but like the gratitude I have for my mother, Franckel shares the same viewpoint. “My mother is the most supportive mother anyone could ever have. I wouldn’t be here without her and I am still here because of her. No matter what I want to do, she is 100% behind me,” says Franckel. This is a significant factor in finding your talent, hold close to the people who defend your beliefs in what you want to be. Although both Franckel and I share the same close person, both of our mothers. There is nothing wrong with that close person being a friend, a co-worker, your neighbor or yourself. Just as long as you and they believe in your talent.
To answer my question from before: yes, I do believe wasted talent can be regained, unlike time. “Keep an open mind. Try new things. Keep learning,” says Franckel. “If you can do something that you are talented in and enjoy doing it, then do that. You can always say that your time was well spent doing what you love,” he said. I totally agree. If you think about it, wasting time on your talent is time well spent. I believe you can find it, just have faith in you.
By Chloe Ridore
