Passion Pursuer - Brittany Mason A couple years ago I asked myself the question, “What is my purpose?” I wondered what I could do to make the world a better place. Throughout my journey to answering this question, I discovered my passion and talent for writing and performing slam poetry under my stage name “Epiphany.” I started small, going to open mic nights to spread positivity through poetry, and I eventually was invited to perform at various events with crowds reaching up to 600 people. I have been featured in the Omaha Star, the Heartland News, and performed at numerous places and events such as the Omega Gospelfest, the 100 Black Men of Omaha’s annual Men of Honor Gala, and Uta Halee Girls Village. While it is a great challenge to do all of this as a full-time college student involved in other extra-curricular activities, doing what I am passionate about has helped me to stay focused and motivated. I have been inspired by P4L in so many ways. There have even been times when I felt tired or discouraged and I watched some of the videos on the P4L site to get energy and motivation. Works every time! P4L’s message is contagious, inspiring, and life-changing! Web: www.epiphanyonline.com Twitter: @epiphany_love

Passion Pursuer - Tanner O’Dell  I’m a 16-year-old entrepreneur with a passion for cooking and entertaining! I’ve written two business plans in the last two years and been published in two national magazines for my culinary accomplishments. The first business plan I wrote was on a catering company, which allowed me to cater for the governor of Nebraska, The University of Nebraska, and many other companies and clients. I’m currently perusing my second plan that details how to incorporate motivational speaking and catering under a single brand name. I’m speaking on a panel in the UCLA extension restaurant industry conference in April 2011 and I’ll continue to form my business around what I love to do! In 2010, I attended my first P4L session and was extremely impressed with the knowledge that Lamarr had to share. I came thinking I didn’t have much to learn about passion, since I already found mine a while ago. What I did find by attending this session was how to be a passionate leader! You can’t just embrace what you love, but also embrace what others feel passionate about! Anyone you meet could potentially help you dive deeper into your passion with the knowledge they share. So always be more than willing to help other people, as well as receive help from them. The biggest tool that I took from the P4L session was to end your conversation with “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for YOU.” Contact Tanner @ Web: tannerodell.com Twitter: @tannerodel

Passion Pursuer -Tom Handyside My name is Tom Handyside, I am 22 years old and from Zion, Illinois. Right now I am taking a semester off school to run for office but will be I’ll be a senior at University of Wisconsin Parkside pursuing a degree in Political Science. I am currently running for my former high schools Board of Education. Being a political science major and wanting to pursue a career in politics, running for the board seemed to be something that would interest me. Being a former student and caring so much about my former school also was one of the main reasons I wanted to run. Giving back to my high school was something I did while I attended, so doing it after I left was a no brainer. I want to eventually be a United States Senator. Politics wasn’t always what I wanted to do but after my senior trip in high school I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I love helping people and being social so being in politics seemed to be the right fit for me. Unknown to Lamarr, I almost did not get to see his Passion for Leadership presentation. When I arrived at Western Illinois, I joined the fraternity Delta Upsilon. One of our first assignments during our pledge period was to get involved in another organization. It did not take long but soon I was filling out membership papers for the WIU Chapter of the NAACP to be the Treasurer. I got moved up to Vice President pretty quickly. While in the NAACP, we were responsible for providing to the students on the campus, so we brought Lamarr Womble to present his Define Your Passion workshop. While he was presenting I realized that me joining the NAACP was part of what he was saying as far as me personally stepping out of my comfort zone and getting involved in something I would have never imagined myself doing. P4L was one of the motivating factors for me running for my local school board, P4L made me rethink what was I waiting for? Why can’t I run for the board right now? So in the end P4L really helped me get motivated and going on my political career. Contact Tom @ Web: www.handysideforzbths.com Twitter: @tomforzbths Search on FB: Tom-Handyside-ZBTHS - Board of Education

Passion Pursuer -Timmy Parker My name is Timmy Parker. I am a 20 year old and two of my biggest interests have always been art and fashion. So from that grew my passion for creating and ultimately starting my own clothing brand. I started Destructive Gentleman clothing in the month of June, the summer going into my sophomore year of college. At first I had some great ideas creatively but had no focus or direction. So I owe a great deal of gratitude to my friend Aaron Pablo, a graphic design graduate from FHSU. He mentored me in those early stages and really got me focused on why I was doing this and what my message to the masses would be. After many months of brainstorming, mixed in with college and a football season, I developed my mission statement for my company. It really captures the overall essence of what Destructive Gentleman is and what we aim to do. My mission statement is this, Destructive Gentleman seeks to serve as inspiration to teens and young adults who have a passion but might not have the motivation to go for it and turn it into something they do. We carry out this mission by creating and providing dope clothing to the community as well as forming networks of young, talented entrepreneurs who seek to help each other grow. My vision for the future of Destructive Gentleman is simple. I want to continue to carry out this passion of mine as long as I live. I plan to break down every barrier that steps in my way and tries to derail what I have started. I also plan to use this company to inspire and aid others who seek to follow their passions. My ultimate goal would be to one day open a small boutique that carries my brand, as well as other up and coming brands, to give the community a source of good quality, underground clothing. I would also love to have workshops at my boutique for young clothing designers to educate them on the proper steps they must take if they want to turn their passion into a lifestyle. I took away a great deal from Lamarr’s workshop at the Big 12 conference. For one I learned that passion cannot become a reality if action is not taken. I had already started my business but that knowledge inspired me to continue because it reassured me that I was on the right path. Keep up the good work Lamarr! You can check out Destructive Gentleman at our: Webpage/blog: www.DestructiveGentleman.tumblr.com. Like us on Facebook: Destructive Gentleman Twitter at www.twitter.com/Destructive_G. Personal Email: tlparker20@gmail.com Business Email: DestructiveGs@gmail.com