It’s all about forging new paths, chasing our dreams and profiting from them!
Meet Lebogang Maroleng, more informally known as my younger sister. This is the girl who has been behind the cam on majority of my blog posts and today she steps out in front of the cam. What’s the occasion you ask? Well firstly I am now the owner of a new DSLR camera and have to get some practice in and secondly who better to test my photography skills on than my lovely little sister who is all too familiar with this and patient as well.
Now I’m sure there are a couple of you who think that me branching into photography is a major yawn-fest especially since everyone these days seems to be trying to do everything, all of the time. The proverbial ‘Jack of all trades.’ With that said, I‘ve always wondered why most people are completely put off by someone who is actively pursuing different avenues across various fields. It’s sort of like we’re expected to know right off the bat who we are and what we like then proceed to venture on that path, living a life that can become redundant and unfulfilling.
People’s careers are always changing and we see this with the likes of Pearl Thusi who has transitioned from being a TV presenter to acting in an American based action series. Really and truly guys, the sky is the limit!
Granted it’s understandable for magazine editors and photographers to put their nose up at a blogger (like myself) and Instagram photographers, who may think that what they do actually qualifies them as writers, photographers etc. even though they do not have the formal education and skills to qualify them as such.
As time goes however, I’d like to argue that in a world with endless opportunities and ample information that is ever at the ready, people have the freedom to explore and move within multiple fields. Although being formally educated in a particular field is beneficial, one cannot help but acknowledge that skills and street smarts, in some cases, trump book smarts. I for one studied towards a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Anthropology yet here I am testing the waters in writing, photography, styling and designing. And why can’t I be known for doing it all? If you pursue whatever you want to do with the right amount of perfection and to the industry standard then it’s a go but you can’t expect your work to have any value if all you continue to do is mediocre.
If I may, I’d like to take you back to primary school where we learnt about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The pinnacle of that specific hierarchy was categorised as ‘Self Actualisation’ and was the final step after having satisfied the other needs. After doing a little research, I came to realise that the current generation has turned the hierarchy around. First we look for self-actualisation in knowing what our full potential is and subsequently we look to satisfy all our other needs from there.
My career trajectory has completely changed and I know that I am not alone. So many of us are not doing what we went to varsity for. Have we wasted our time? Certainly not, but we’ve been brave enough to go against the common narrative of linear progression in life and make our aspirations a reality. It’s all about forging new paths, chasing our dreams and profiting from them!
So allow me to reintroduce myself, I’m Lerato Maroleng, fashion blogger/photographer/fashion consultant/writer/creative director…….
…Because why not!? Universe, I hope you’re listening!
Xo.
I would love to read any comments you may have on this topic!
Outfit Deets
Vintro Clothing White crop top with crochet detailing
Photography: Lerato Maroleng
shot on Canon 100D with 75-300mm & 18-55mm lens
etchkHakani
7th Feb 2017 at 11:45 am24