Motivational Motives

By LaQuon S Johnson

Motivational Motives is a composite of parables put forth and prepared to help the reader confront childhood trauma and manage inevitable circumstances of life. Many of the characters of Motivational Motives were placed or conveniently placed themselves in a proverbial bubble that can be popped by anyone labeled as an authority figure, powerful,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Motivational Motives
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781736363218

LaQuon S Johnson

LaQuon S. Johnson is a native New Yorker and advocates for the black community and those labeled as "disabled" by society. Currently, he serves as the Disability Specialist at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) within their Office for Students with Disabilities. Previously, he assumed the position of CUNY LEADS (Linking Employment and Academics with Disability Services), Advisor, with John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). LaQuon has served as a Vocational Planner for Addicts Rehabilitation Center where he guided those with histories of substance abuse, homelessness, and incarceration down the road of vocational autonomy. LaQuon holds a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling degree from Hunter College (CUNY) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology accolade in which he attained from Lehman College (CUNY). As a teenager, LaQuon was diagnosed with rare eye dystrophy called Stargardt's. Stargardt's is a genetic eye disorder that decreases the central vision throughout the course of an individual's life, causing legal blindness. Due to his visual impairment, he has always envisioned a better tomorrow, sought the needle in the haystack, and vividly foreseen the light at the end of the tunnel. It is these desires that have fueled his epiphany to study the vocational process of those who have been placed in the position to utilize what many of the majority tend to take for granted; the power of the mind's eye. The Black Community exemplifies a journey that began with an immobilized group of individuals who were once subject to quarantine. He believes this voyage has taken us to a time where our population has flourished through education, technological advances, and the fortitude of our mind's eye fully observant predecessors. "A disability is a tool that SHOULD be utilized to pave the way to YOUR success"-QuonJohn

Book preview

Foreword

Motivational Motives was conceived during an ordinary afternoon of reading Curtis 50 Cent Jackson’s best-seller, Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter. The manner in which Mr. Jackson illustrated his past, present, and future endeavors encouraged me to take a stab, or in 50’s case, a shot at writing thought-provoking essays fit for the comprehension of the high school kid being bullied or the kid that is initiating the bullying or even the Ph.D. candidate that needs his/her works to be accepted, appreciated, and approved by the dissertation committee. Thanks 50, for putting the battery in my back! Also, I recently read a truly inspirational piece written by Delatorro McNeil II entitled, Caught Between a Job and a Dream. After reading, which led to the realization of my reality, I was truly inspired to keep writing and delve into a part of my soul that I vaguely tap into. Finally, the first book I read (during the years when I didn’t have some English teacher threatening to fail me if I did not show proof of the reading via Western world diction or writing style) was The Cross and the Switchblade written by David Wilkerson. I read this book roughly twenty years ago during a time that was pivotal to my development as an adult, a father, and faithful faculty member of GOD’S staff. Although I did not do much formal book reading thereafter, the sentiment of the book is in my possession until this day and I refer to certain pertinent passages during a variety of my public talks.

Preface

Motivational Motives is a composite of stories put forth to serve as a guide, self-help, and a tool to assist the reader in their day to day life decision-making. It is of my opinion that the word intelligent is utilized way too loosely in society’s everyday vernacular. One may deem an individual who excels at the highest scholastic level as intelligent. For sake of comparison, let us take the level of intelligence of the single mother of 3 children who left her abusive relationship, willing to work a multitude of jobs and attend business school online to protect the psycho-social-emotional livelihood of herself as well as her family. If the word intelligent should exist, I would say her actions depict TRUE cerebral prowess. This book attempts to walk the reader through the lives of those who have made monumental choices which could have landed them in a puddle of prosperity or an oasis of oblivion. Let us imagine a student that ‘sits before not ONE, but TWO supposed instructors in a common Western classroom setting. The student is instructed to write a well-versed manuscript pertaining to the subject of the instructors’ choice. The student submits their creation, but the instructors have contradicting thoughts regarding the final grade as well as the writing ability of the student. Professor X believes it’s a phenomenal piece of work worthy of an A rating. On the contrary, Professor Z is not at all pleased with the creation and associates a C grade with the document. Ask yourself, which one of these reputable scholars are correct? NEITHER! Let us also imagine either of the instructors being harshly criticized for his/her writing when they were pupils. This circumstance inevitably creates bias. Professor X/Z could take their critique literally due to the emotional pain it caused, mimic the sentiments of their predecessor and grade just as irrationally when they are given their position of powerful propaganda. The blood, sweat, and fears of your work disprove the suggestions of these dignitaries. Placing the significance of your creation in the hands of another mere mortal is absolutely absurd. The drift of the creation can ONLY be caught by the Creator.

Controlling

Obstinate

Worldly

Arrogant

Redundant

Debilitating

Words of Wisdom

In the dictionary, the definition of a coward is defined as a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, or pain.

It is estimated that 75 percent of the population disinters some form of gloss phobia. Gloss Phobia is the fear of public speaking.

Cowardly Correspondence

Lawrence, a fair skin complected Native Black male who was reared in the urban area of the South Bronx experienced his fair share of ridicule due to his possession of certain attributes. Now, Lawrence was an extremely mild-mannered and academically sound lad who stemmed from a two-parent middle-class upbringing. By way of their hard work and vigilance, his parents could afford to send him to a nearby private school. In the 1980s, this monetary aspect was extremely rare. Although Lawrence had many friends and comrades he would spend time playing basketball and video games with, there were times that he would be berated for his light complexion, up to date fashion, and lack of confrontational skills, as it pertained to violence. Lawrence’s parents were well-read individuals who gave him the best of anything their money could buy, but their relationship showed signs of disconnect on a daily basis. These altercations created a sense of anxiety whenever the boy would witness verbal or corporeal confusion amongst others. Lawrence formed the habit of simply walking away when confronted with these types of unavoidable antics. This was considered cowardly behavior in his neighborhood.

Lawrence would form a bond with a neighborhood pre-teen by the name of Edwin. Now, Edwin was the grandson of a strict Caribbean elderly couple. Edwin was sent from the South to live with his grandparents with anticipation of shaping him up into a respectable young man. The couple enrolled Edwin into the nearby private school where he and Lawrence instantly became friends. After spending their hard-earned money to send Edwin to school, the couple