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| Image Credit: Stephen Brace |
Emelie Wasnick describes herself as a “multipotentialite”.
She describes how throughout her life people have looked to label her. She doesn't like labels because they speak about defining people by what they do rather than who they are. She also dislikes them because some of us (including many young people lost in the system) are not just one thing.
My life reveals a symphony of labels: artist, tennis coach, soldier, youthworker, painter and decorator, careers adviser etc etc none of which define me in any way. You need to see the bigger picture!
The truth is, like Emilie I became bored. I mastered things quickly but needed fresh challenges. This is not because I struggle to commit. Instead it is about possessing a real skill at connecting fields and domains and creating new ways of working that require me to have multiple interests and skill-sets that umbrella under an overarching theme.
We work hard with our children to help them discover their life’s goals and to discover a “niche”. The world needs specialists who can do this, but for some, this is the worst thing we can do.
They should not be judged on their desire to explore multiple interests. They may study graphic design because they are passionate about it. Don’t assume they want to extend this to a career in graphic design. Tell them it’s OK to explore all their interests because we are all missing out if we try to restrict them.
Emilie says this is not about “quitting”. Instead it is about growth. Her life has an overarching theme - the multipotentialite and all her interests and passions develop freely around this theme.
Not everyone is a specialist. Are you a multipotentialite?
John Hassall
Founder & Creative Director
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