The mild smell of sweat, the absent sound of children’s pitter-pattering feet, the fresh, cool feeling of the wind coming through the door, and the beautiful sight of an empty area full of creative potential, makes it a perfect Sunday evening for my dance instructor. I sit in the center of the empty dance studio with my ears wide open as my dance instructor sits by my side. She is wearing her favorite black, velvet dress lined with snake patterned cuffs, elegant pieces of jewelry, and black leather boots. She sits patiently, yet eagerly as I start questioning her about her college years, and as she begins to remember some of her most memorable times.
Joan Kennedy-Kirkpatrick was born on February 9, 1957 in Texarkana, Arkansas. She is one …show more content…
"I went to Cookstown University because of its fantastic art program," she explained with pride. Going to college really allowed her to learn more about herself. For example, the moment that she actually learned the crucial skill of listening really seemed to change her outlook on life. “During freshman year of college, I stayed with a pastor and his family to get a tour of, and become more familiar with the campus,” she described. During the visit, the pastor kept asking her questions. After the conversation, she remembers telling her sister, “I have not heard myself talk that much in my entire life.” My dance instructor was astonished by this. “It floored me," she states. "As a teenager growing up, I never really felt heard. I feel that you learn more about yourself by expressing yourself. After really opening up to the pastor, I began to understand the feeling of actually being listened to. It was an experience I will never forget,” she says as she sits back and reflects on the moment. By opening up about her feelings, she got a chance to understand herself as a whole. She realized that she had been missing out on this important skill for so long. After this occurrence, she had an epiphany. She made it her life goal to start listening and making people feel understood and loved. “I wanted to be just like that pastor. From that point on, I considered him as my mentor and inspiration,” she
Joan Kennedy-Kirkpatrick was born on February 9, 1957 in Texarkana, Arkansas. She is one …show more content…
"I went to Cookstown University because of its fantastic art program," she explained with pride. Going to college really allowed her to learn more about herself. For example, the moment that she actually learned the crucial skill of listening really seemed to change her outlook on life. “During freshman year of college, I stayed with a pastor and his family to get a tour of, and become more familiar with the campus,” she described. During the visit, the pastor kept asking her questions. After the conversation, she remembers telling her sister, “I have not heard myself talk that much in my entire life.” My dance instructor was astonished by this. “It floored me," she states. "As a teenager growing up, I never really felt heard. I feel that you learn more about yourself by expressing yourself. After really opening up to the pastor, I began to understand the feeling of actually being listened to. It was an experience I will never forget,” she says as she sits back and reflects on the moment. By opening up about her feelings, she got a chance to understand herself as a whole. She realized that she had been missing out on this important skill for so long. After this occurrence, she had an epiphany. She made it her life goal to start listening and making people feel understood and loved. “I wanted to be just like that pastor. From that point on, I considered him as my mentor and inspiration,” she