Dr. Adair White-Johnson is pictured with several aspiring young writers who attended the conference. She attached this comment to this photo: “I had to gift the lil’ one in the front with the plaits and blue skirt 2 of my books on the DL because she was soooooooo engaged in my presentation, asked questions, and came to chat with me afterward.”
(NOTE: Dr. Adair White-Johnson of The Johnson Tribe Publishing House, based in Atlanta, Georgia, was one of the speakers at the SEAWORDS BAHAMAS Literary Festival and Writers Conference held at Atlantis, Paradise Island, November 9 – 11. Now back in Atlanta, she posted this short commentary.)
ATLANTA, Georgia, November 13, 2018 — The truth is that I always kinda, sorta knew what I wanted to be when I “grew up.” I cultivated and encouraged my dream and with dedication, tenacity, courage, perseverance, and diligence I was able to work for 27 years as a School Counselor.
During that tenure I tried really hard to touch the souls of many students whom I worked with.
I created specialized programs for marginalized populations so they could receive the knowledge they needed to empower themselves to move toward positive change in their lives and reach their dreams.
And, I never stopped believing in them.
Although I retired from School Counseling 5 years ago I haven’t stopped working with teens… They are still my passion.
Simply because I LOVE working with teens I created new programs for this new generation of young people to help them move toward their dreams and I travel to pour the main tenets of the programs into the teens.
This has come full circle for me as a featured speaker in my paternal homeland.
This weekend I was honored to present to parents, educators and several teens from various schools in Nassau.
My topic, “Turning Storms into Stories: Using Writing as a Tool to Motivate and Empower Youth,” focused on showing them how to use writing as a vehicle of expression. I also taught them the highlights of the publishing process as well.
I adored sharing with them and felt so honored that they showed up on a Sunday morning to receive my words..
Yes…it was a good day.
