Did You Hear the Beat of a Different Drum?

Here’s what got me going: two conversations this week …

I asked Lili if she was unconventional and into protest when a student, and she replied,

Yes, an unequivocal YES! Those who are still doing the work today did not sell out.

She told me that she’s been handed some tough stuff since the student days, and she’s also gone out looking for some mighty risky ventures. She’s even had a death-defying close call (being denied a seat on the Air India flight that crashed off the coast of Ireland). She draws on all of that fuel these days.

And Lili knows about ideals and inspiration; she produces PBS shows with the likes of Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, and the Dalai Lama. So she got me going.

And then my friend Warren told me how one morning he was reading Thoreau in English class (“…enough with the books, go out in the world…”) and decided to walk out of Shaker Heights High School for the rest of the day. One of his more benign acts, it still landed him in the principal’s office.

Today he says, “I would say that I still live in utter defiance of convention at this time, but only convention that seems important, not like saying thank you, or wearing deodorant.” So he got me going.

And then I asked some of the folks who’ve been in my workshops with me — even one from Pakistan — whether they thought they were unconventional back in school, and here’s what I heard …

“I kept my head down and just tried to get through high school. But by the time I started college in 1970 I was full of the passion that came with Earth Day. I think I’ve grown into my role as a quiet renegade and plan to stay there.”

“I would agree that I did see things differently but didn’t act on them at the time. I worked full time during my undergraduate years (11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m) and then went to school during the day. It didn’t leave much time to be a rebellious or a renegade.”

“Almost every child of the 60s sees themselves as ‘antiestablishment.’ That said, growing up in that era was an open invitation to challenge the conventional wisdom.”

“In high school I wanted so much to be liked AND to be like my other sisters — follow in their footsteps. So, I was ‘popular’ — a majorette and then a cheerleader for 2 years. All the time that I made good grades and tried to be the ‘perfect’ daughter, I was rebelling. That rebellion led me into the arms of a handsome athlete. I think I’ve said enough. I always admired the students who were the rebellious ones. When I got to college, I protested the Vietnam War. This brought the wrath of my mother, who decided that she and my father would no longer contribute to my college education. So, I worked 2 jobs and went to school part-time. It took me 6 years to graduate!”

And from Pakistan: “I think ‘Unconventional’ is the most suitable word to describe my own state. ‘Strange’ & ‘Odd’ are some others. The reason I am using these is that even when you are in the deepest dark, you still have the hope that a bright light is somewhere very near … so to me this is very odd, strange and unconventional … that in spite of all that adversity, you still think that you can attain the excellence.”

What about you? Let’s hear from you in the comments below.