The heart leads, the mind follows

I was asked to write my opinion regarding the Kony 2012 movement and I had a hard time deciding what to write about. I could write about Invisible Children and why I believe they are a respectable and reputable company or about how I believe the Kony 2012 movement is one that truly shows the power of social media, global community and the voice of the youth of our world, I believe this is about more than that.

However, Kony 2012 is about more than my opinion and whether I support this cause or not. It’s about more than hanging up posters this Friday; it’s about the dreams we have and the passion we have to reach them.

In some discussions I have participated in and heard about the Kony 2012 movement, I’ve heard many people say that while the people participating in this event and supporting the cause are passionate, they are uneducated about the complexity of the problems they are trying to solve.

While that may be true to some extent, it’s funny to me that passion and education are somehow separated in terms of this conversation. I believe passion is a stepping stone to education. You cannot be educated in something until you are passionate about it. Passion is where everything begins.

We don’t condemn young children who want to become lawyers or professional athletes by telling them they are not educated enough or not talented enough. Instead, we support their passions, however far-fetched they may be. And if that passion continues to grow, then education and skill will follow.

So, let’s not condemn those who believe they can make a change in the world. It may seem far-fetched, but I can’t think of a better passion to support or encourage than one to change the world.

There will always be more to learn, and there will always be time for that, but the time for change is now. Don’t wait until you know every detail, but jump in with a childlike passion and surround yourself with people who will encourage and support you.

This isn’t about whether you support Kony 2012 or not, but a challenge. Find your passions, dare to dream big and don’t be afraid to do something different. It’s amazing what one dream can do.

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