Mio Tsukamoto
My story is a bit different from the others at Bill Baren Coaching. Their stories follow the route of "the path" to "the now, " but for me, the now is my path. I suppose you can chronicle this part of my life as the beginning of a journey where I have no idea where I might end up. This unknown destination seems a bit dark, mysterious and almost terrifying.
The best way to explain my motivation and passion is with a quote I hold dear to my heart: "None of us as an individual can save the world as a whole, but each of us must behave as though it were in our power to do so." I first heard this quote by Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, in a class at UC Santa Cruz. If every individual in this world acted as though it was in his/her power to change the world for the better, then change is possible. This quote is a steadfast reminder to not only empower myself, but motivate others to take steps toward a better self and thus a better world.
Wonderful, right? Well, I think you might be able to remember (or if you are now) being in your mid-twenties. You think, "I am going to change the world!" You have the entire world right at your fingertips. However, no matter how far you reach, you just cannot grasp it. The world is taunting you with cries of help, asking for you to just reach far enough to grab even the tiniest hold...
But no. I am perpetually reaching.
It was a heartbreaking experience for me when exiting fresh out of college with a B.A. in Psychology only a year ago (2007), to find that my prospects for a career were obsolete. My wide eyes and naive dreams of making a difference in this world were shattered when I spent my first year in the "real world" commuting to four part-time jobs just to survive. I am not an exception. Many of my friends and peers around me are stuck in entry-level jobs, jobs they hate, and/or unemployed for months even to just find something to do.
I understand that we all aren't going to be CEO of companies right off the bat or find the career of our dreams at first attempt. If you've read the stories of every one the coaches on this site, they all didn't start off doing what they love.
I suppose I am the exception. I found what I love to do, and I'm taking the path that I think is best suited for. My acceptance into a M.A. program at the University of San Francisco's Education department in Counseling Psychology was my first dream come true. I would get to pursue working with school-aged young people, who might be feeling just like me, help find their place in this world. My presence here at Bill Baren Coaching is enabling me to explore the route to personal development and engage in all of the behind-the-scenes action at maintaining an entrepreneurship. These will be valuable life-long lessons that I know I will draw from for the rest of my life.
I am living my path now. I not only believe that I can save the world, but I am taking the necessary steps to do so. I guess the destination isn't so dark and scary after all.
