As a young scholar, I have become quite fond of the acquisition of knowledge. Since I can remember, I have continually placed myself in uncomfortable positions in order to provide a space for amicable growth. On my birthday in 2017, I was on a visit to Florida State University in search of knowledge…and I came across an iconic quote that left me frozen, replicating the thinking-man statue (so much, in fact, that my Father and I lost the tour group we were a part of and eventually had to find our way back to the stadium in that Tallahassee heat…sweatin’). I was perplexed as I read the quote…over and over. My Father noticed the gears turning and sparked a short conversation about the symbolism of the sign existing as assurance that I was right were I was supposed to be. I would accept my offer the following hour.

Above the entrance to Dodd Hall (Florida State University Main Campus), the building quote reads…

It would be helpful if information was readily accessible to all people, but that is clearly not the case. There are still people among us who do not know how to read, write, or say the ABC's. There are people among us who do not know how to check their credit score, nor do they know why credit scores are important and the ways to maintain a healthy score. There are people among us who do not know how to operate smartphones or computers, in addition to motor vehicles and a plethora of other pleasantries that most of us are afforded access to on the daily basis. The knowledge gap is an extremely real concept in the current landscape of the world, and it manifests itself in the rather innocuous forms like those we have just mentioned. According to Study.com,

The knowledge gap hypothesis is the notion that individuals with a higher socioeconomic status absorb information presented by mass media at a faster rate than those with a lower socioeconomic status. This leads to an increased gap in knowledge between these two segments of society as a result.

For the sake of not making this overly academic, I will say this: we as a people should focus more of our attention on educating those around us…instead of hoarding our information and using it as a hierarchical tool to belittle those around us. We all remember that ‘know it all’ person who seemingly has an answer for everything, but in the most snarly way possible that allows them to assert themselves above everyone else. If you are currently shaking your head and saying you don’t know who that person is in your life, news flash: you are probably that person. Sadly, this takes place every single day. Think of the professors and teachers you have encountered over the course of your life who have asserted their intelligence over you in order to make themselves look genius while making you appear inferior. Think of the bosses that you have worked for that belittle you for your every mistake and take no time to educate you on ways to improve. Those people…are the worst. @ me, I do not care, I have time for all their smoke. If you are one of those people, please do better. It would be helpful if we exercised such a fruitful level of grace and respect to everyone that it was socially unacceptable to be an arrogant you-know-what. Instead, we live in a world where the hoarding of information is used as a tool to increase capital gains and further the knowledge gap.

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As a mentor, I recognize that it is often hard to put ourselves in the shoes of others…but we must try. Empathy is an iconic quality that appears to be lost on people, and it is quite heartbreaking to watch as people dehumanize and dismiss the blatant humanism of others for the sake of personal gain. Matters become much worse when we (as a society) blame everyone who has nothing…for having nothing. We must not forget that not all of us were born with the same set of resources and privileges, and some of us were legitimately born with nothing but a hope and a dream; a prayer and two crossed fingers. I have my community to thank for that perspective, as I find it impossible not to empathize with those who are less fortunate than I am, even though I was not born into much. There were plenty of nights where I wondered whether we had food to eat, water to drink, or electricity in the house…but we always had a house. We always had blankets and candles. We always had each other. As a people, we must not lose sight of that. For those of us with humble beginnings, it is imperative that we continue to uplift our community and pull others up as we get out of the mud. It. Is. Essential.

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People are not a lost cause. Although it may not look like they are trying very hard, nor may it seem that they have much to offer…please invest in their heart. You never know what your investment could morph into, especially when you have a small seedling who is just waiting to be watered and nurtured. People often want better for themselves, but they may not know what the specifics look like or how to dig themselves out of the symbolic rut that they are stuck in. Additionally, they may not have the knowledge necessary to realize how their shortsighted decisions (based on survival) could be detrimental to their long-term (based on longevity) trajectory. Lastly, remember your support system and access to resources vs theirs. Some people could want better for themselves or desire more for their lives, but remember that not everyone is afforded an illustrious support system like you and I may have. Personally, I am everything I am because of my support system…because they have fought for me and carried me when I was too weak/beat-down to walk/fight for myself. They protected me from falling to the bottom when I failed, which is a safety net that I am extremely grateful for. I was that symbolic seedling once (honestly, I’m still growing)…lost in the mud with no hope or belief that I could amount to anything, and now you are reading my words on your device. All of this is the result of daily watering from my team. I am not better than anyone else, and I will be the first to tell you that I don’t believe that I do anything special. I am simply a human who places extensive emphasis on spreading knowledge to the people and allowing it to be fuel for them to advance in this life. We are all human; all living beings with the desire to be loved and appreciated. Show more love and stop hoarding your information. If you take a little time to water the seedlings around you instead of keeping it all for yourself, you will be amazed at the beauty of seeing those seedlings around you can blossom into a field of magnificent sunflowers.

Lastly, Kobe Bryant wanted us to be great and he gave us the blueprint to do so! Keep the Mamba Mentality. Happy Kobe Day (8/24)

Siempre,

Savant 🌹

thank you for spending a few moments with me. i do value your time and thoughts, so please do not hesitate to send me a message @savantlamont and let me know what you think. i would love to hear from you!

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savant shelf selection: the law of success by napoleon hill

savant song selection: dedication // nipsey hussle ft kendrick lamar