FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

JAMIE STECKART

Reprinted from The Hilltopper Magazine, Spring 2023

 

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HOW DOES ONE FIND THEIR PASSION IN LIFE?

For quite a while as an educator, I advised students to find their passion and pursue their dreams. After a number of years, I realized the advice I had given was one-dimensional and missing some critical aspects; the reality is, finding that “thing” is easier said than done. Meanwhile, we are constantly bombarded with messages that define what the idea of success should look like.

During my late 20’s, I had contemplated going to medical school and decided to talk to my uncle who was a doctor. We took a stroll around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, and he asked me two questions: What is your passion? What do you want to contribute to society? It was at that moment that I abandoned my desire to pursue medicine and threw myself into education instead. His advice, however, contained an additional dimension to finding one’s passion that set me on a more aligned path.

Later in my career, I came across Peter Marshall, a highly successful Hungarian filmmaker who sold off his belongings to open a school in Costa Rica. Peter introduced me to the Japanese concept of ikigai, which very roughly translates to “that which gives life meaning” or “one’s reason for waking in the morning.” Finally, I had a concept with multiple converging dimensions that would help lifelong learners.

Westerners have adopted an ikigai model based on the Venn Diagram of Purpose created by blogger Marc Winn, and made popular by Héctor Garcia in his book, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. There are two aspirational elements to the model: What do you love? What does the world need? These were the questions my uncle asked me. Additionally though, there are two practical and pragmatic elements that are questions my father would often ask me: What are you good at? What can you get paid for?

I love music and have enjoyed playing a variety of instruments both in my youth and still, as an adult. However, I’m a four to five chord guitar player with limited vocal range. It is highly unlikely that the world is going to compensate me for my musical love and abilities, given the level of skill I have in creating music. For this reason, these additional, more sensible questions need to be included in our conversations when talking with students here at Marshall School.

One of our aims is to encourage and inspire the dreams of our students, but in a practical way, similar to what is found in the concept of ikigai. The model can be used as a self-reflective tool; it is a map to present to others while they learn how to evaluate and direct themselves. Who are we to judge a student and how they choose a pathway for themselves? As adults and educators in a student’s life, we can use this illustration to help a student determine what they are capable of achieving. The mentor asks the mentee, “What do you love, what are you good at, what can you get paid for, and what does the world need?” It is through this lens of self-reflection that the student will spend their lifetime seeking answers.

My walk with my uncle never left me. In the back of my mind, I kept asking myself those two aspirational questions. In moments of doubt and uncertainty, I often found myself drawn to searching for those answers. Then, I would imagine my dad asking those two pragmatic questions. The answers to these inquiries are not static; they change over time, but it is important to keep asking. While there are few direct paths in life, having four guideposts allows each of us to evaluate our own choices—and we continue our journey.

With these questions in hand, may your life be filled with both passion and a robust and authentic internal examination, leading each of you to discover your own ikigai.

Jamie Steckart