To Me, With Love: My journey through poetry | Nicola Daniel-Symonette | TEDxMiramar Youth

Quick Overview

Nicola Daniel-Symonette recounts her journey through poetry and mentorship, emphasizing that a true mentor unlocks potential and uplifts without demanding acknowledgment, contrasting this with the expectations placed upon her by figures like Shakespeare and her father.

Key Points: A mentor is defined as someone who unlocks potential and uplifts without demanding acknowledgment or referring to themselves by titles like Professor or Muse. The speaker states she never had a mentor, contrasting this with the figures she studied, such as Shakespeare, whose works she felt were cited without acknowledgment. She reflects on her father, Mr. Underwood, who was not handsome or a classical figure, but who provided the necessary spiritual guidance and love. Daniel-Symonette learned that her father, despite not being conventionally perfect, was the father figure she needed, who worked out a plan for them together. She identifies the people who influenced her as writers like Chinua Achebe and George Lamming, whose works she studied, but ultimately realized her father embodied the necessary mentorship. The speaker recounts feeling 'salty' and 'solicited' by her father's influence, but ultimately realized he was the necessary guide to surpass her own limitations. The talk concludes with the speaker expressing gratitude for the guidance received, symbolized by the audience's applause.

Context: Nicola Daniel-Symonette delivers a personal TEDxMiramar Youth talk reflecting on the nature of mentorship and influence in her life, particularly contrasting the literary figures she studied with the real-life influence of her father, Mr. Underwood. She shares how her understanding of mentorship evolved beyond formal titles to encompass genuine, transformative support.

Detailed Analysis

Nicola Daniel-Symonette begins her talk by defining a true mentor as someone who helps unlock potential and uplift others without demanding recognition or titles like Professor or Muse. She reveals that despite her academic immersion in literature, she never personally had a formal mentor. She discusses how she studied the works of literary giants like Shakespeare and Chinua Achebe, noting that their famous quotes and works were often presented without proper attribution, leading her to question the nature of influence. She then pivots to discuss her father, Mr. Underwood, whom she describes as not handsome or a classical figure, but who was deeply influential. She recounts feeling 'salty' and 'solicited' by his presence, yet ultimately realized he was the vital father figure who had planned their life together. She contrasts the literary figures with her father, emphasizing that his guidance helped her expand her worldview and navigate challenges. She concludes by expressing gratitude for this foundational, yet unconventional, mentorship.