The Unapologetic Pursuit Of Multiple Passions | Nkateko Masinga | TEDxPretoria

Remember the first time you were asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Most people think you only have one choice, one passion you can pursue.

In this thought provoking talk by Nkateko Masinga, she explores the link between occupation and identity and the liberating journey of following multiple dreams. Nkateko Masinga is a medical student, poet, author, publisher and theatre actress from Pretoria. Her poetry is published in U.S journal Illuminations and is forthcoming in UK pamphlet press Pyramid Editions in 2018. She is published in Malawi's Nthanda Review, Nigeria's Ake Review, the University of Edinburgh's Dangerous Women Project and is profiled in South African journals Poetry Potion, Any Body Zine, Ja. Magazine and Guillotine Magazine.

In 2015, her work was shortlisted for the ‘Respond’ Human Rights Poetry Award 2015/2016, organized by the United Human Rights Student Network. In 2017 she was a finalist for the 4th Crystal Ruth Bell Residency in Beijing, China. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society for outstanding academic achievements.

Nkateko is the director of NSUKU Publishing Consultancy, a company she started to assist aspiring writers to get their work published. She has also written and published three poetry collections of her own.

In August 2017, she founded Pass The Mic, a platform for women in the arts to produce work telling their stories on their own terms.

[antidelusionalpeeps]

I'm into...reading books, writing, self-development, spirituality, blogging, traveling, yoga, learning languages, photography, philosophy, psychology, playing the piano, dancing, editing, nature & animals AND I couldn't settle for just one thing.

[masha_fera]

I wanted to become many things in my life: an artist, a writer, a scientist, an architect, a psychologist, a movie director, a VFX artist, a news anchor, a reporter, a professional athlete and so on. I could never focus on one thing, until now. I'm now doing my master's degrees in journalism and am working on becoming a fitness trainer and stuntwoman at the same time. And I also plan to write books at some point in my life. It's exhausting to be like this and you always feel like a freak and as if you don't belong in this world. Everyone else seems to have this one passion in their life which they are good at. Just one thing to focus on... But I can't. This TED Talk made me feel less alone with my struggle.

[Baucelion]

I remember my teachers saying to my parents: your son will be great at whatever he decides to do. My parents received that notice with great joy. The thing is I cannot choose just one thing to do. I am philosophy graduate (the most general field of knowledge in which you study from literature to science) that wants to be a good writer, a good painter, a good martial artist... And I find myself having great ideas for things I will never be able to do because I don't have the skill (for example, ideas regarding to films). In the end I've come to terms with myself and accepted that it's not about to excel, it's about what you get along the way. I envy those that say "stick to what you want and don't stop until you get it". I cannot really stick since as I grow I find more and more passions. I'd love to go under a math graduate, learn a few languages (chinese amng them), record a hip hop album... But it's not possible. It's in my nature. I won't be in the history of great whatevers, but why should I care if I only got my life to live and won't get any profit of being in the list of famous personalities... So, go on and play and be creative. And don't let anyone tell you you are too old for whatever. My joy is to look back and remember my paintings, my writings, my photografies and be proud of myself saying "this is me and theese are my footsteps in life"

[talalsallmart]

This comment section feels like my own community in which everyone is just like me😭❤️

[Est.]

I finally found my community. Certain times it's hard to answer the question "what do you do?"

I have learned to share on what's relevant in that scenario.

I do photography, videography, music, design, engineering, mixologist, etc. 😊

I feel it's not about what we do it's that these crop of persons are built to thrive in what ever direction.

I think of it as water, can exist in different forms, frozen or solid state, gas, liquid, either way it embodies the shape of its container.

[Middusk]

I'm into storytelling, voice acting, playing the guitar and piano, writing, books, Illustrating, learning a Japanese, Spanish and filipino, self-development, Content creation, Musician, Comedian, Psychology, Being fit, traveling. I want to inspire people and bring smiles to them. I'm 16 years. working hard and Improving everyday.
This video makes me dream my vision better, although it's 5 years old.

[dramaluv]

This gives me the courage to follow my multi passions..

[shibanisoren]

"I don't have time is equivalent to I don't want to" TRUTH!!

[gbemisolaoluwasina]

It's interesting to learn that the celebrated philosophers of classical and early modern times were numerous things during their lives. How did we get to overly place attention on specialisation?

[kaylazx]

Since we're listing... I like language learning, speedcubing, juggling, ballet, tap dance, parkour, singing, drawing, and writing, and I want to do aerial silks, ice skating, unicycling, gymnastics/acrobatics, contortion... the list goes on :p

[ladybonezz]

Yessss I have so much trouble deciding bc people say so one thing but I want to do multiple things! I want to play music, do tarot readings, spirituality, history, learning, martial arts, working out (hiking, weight training, cardio/aerobics, yoga), learn languages, science, philosophy just so many things.

[kxexexaxixoxg]

She's so well-spoken. Her TED Talk is exactly what I needed.

[luizacollins]

I am also a person with many interests and talents such as drawing, painting, cooking, baking, writing poetry, exercise, hiking, reading and writing short stories and music. I have felt guilty at times for having so many passions and interests but now I see that is how God made me.

[ThuyLinh-bhhp]

Whether it's just one or many hobbies is fine, the important thing is to have real passion and natural talent.

[sadiahluna]

Life is about experiences. While you may not be able to do them all in one lifetime, dreaming big is the beauty life. Mastering one thing that could guide you into the next. These people not only have much wisdom to share but entertaining stories also. Thinking expansively is not a disorder, but a pure expression of being the offspring of one of the greatest creators, embodying everything, everywhere, all at once. Life has many aspects, and so do we. When harmonized with practicality it's the greatest thing.

[SharlenesJourney]

Thank you for this 🥺 I have multiple interests that’s why I can’t do a 9-5 I want to be my own boss and have multiple careers

[matchan]

Thank you for speaking about this subject: many people have the expectancy that one gets a profession and excels at it. But, one day I saw a reddit thread about people with great career paths were they had 2-4 different jobs, each one unique and interesting. Damn, I realised I wanted that too. I am in computer science (still unsure if programmer, data analyst or machine learning yet) but some of my passions are: animation, movies and movies critics, art (drawing+animation), nature obaervation and simply trying new things. I wish to at least get a stable work at computef science and art as a gig

[koilafinau]

This gave me courage to pursue my multiple passions ❤️❤️❤️

[sarah-tqqh]

Finally found this I'm literally super happy hearing her words
I'm just like that I'm passionate about everything I'm fond of everything everything. I'm into reading, writing, drawing, learning languages, learning about a lot of sciences especially astronomy entomology and anatomy even though I'm studying engineering, watching movies makes me wanna be an actress, listening to music makes me wanna be a singer, watching news on TV makes me wanna be a journalist. I also like law, Philosophy, history, geography, biology, fashion design, photography that's a lot but I feel like I wanna experience everything of it.

[solab]

One of the best speaches i've ever heard