What Defines You? How to Check Preconceptions at the Door
Is it your job? Your hometown? Your love of ’70s soft rock? We’d like to suggest that it’s something more elemental—a force that guides your decisions and roots you in your truth.
Guess Who?
Take a quick look at the above photos of these lovely folks, then consider the list of occupations below. Under each occupation, match the person you’d link it to.
Deejay
Fitness Instructor
Dancer
Military Laboratory Tech
Woodworker
Answers (from left to right)
Dancer: Erik Cavanaugh
“A teacher once told my parents I’d never find success as a dancer because of my size. Luckily, we didn’t listen—I eventually majored in dance in college. I may not have a Balanchine body, but that doesn’t mean I can’t move. And since my path was blocked, I started paving my own.”
Woodworker: Bozenka Shepherd
“Before this, I was designing pickup trucks at General Motors. Now, my partner and I repurpose salvaged wood we find around Detroit; I spend my days covered in dust, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Military Laboratory Tech: Dayna Lynch
“I always loved tattoos, and after a near-fatal car crash, I decided to express myself however I wanted. Still, plenty of people think tattoos are for thugs and criminals, so I have to cover some of mine with concealer daily. Most of my colleagues don’t know how heavily I’m inked—it feels like living a double life.”
Fitness Instructor: Zehra Allibhai
“Growing up in Toronto, I obsessively watched the Olympics. Now I’m a certified kinesiologist and teach about ten fitness classes a week. Most people have never encountered a woman in a hijab at CrossFit; I like seeing the shock in their eyes. It starts a conversation.”
Deejay (and dentist): Mazhar Alhadid
“Music was my first real passion. I started deejaying in clubs in 2004 and ran a music festival for about ten years. It’s not something I bring up with patients, but I did make a very calming playlist for my office.”
Answers (from left to right)
Dancer: Erik Cavanaugh
“A teacher once told my parents I’d never find success as a dancer because of my size. Luckily, we didn’t listen—I eventually majored in dance in college. I may not have a Balanchine body, but that doesn’t mean I can’t move. And since my path was blocked, I started paving my own.”
Woodworker: Bozenka Shepherd
“Before this, I was designing pickup trucks at General Motors. Now, my partner and I repurpose salvaged wood we find around Detroit; I spend my days covered in dust, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Military Laboratory Tech: Dayna Lynch
“I always loved tattoos, and after a near-fatal car crash, I decided to express myself however I wanted. Still, plenty of people think tattoos are for thugs and criminals, so I have to cover some of mine with concealer daily. Most of my colleagues don’t know how heavily I’m inked—it feels like living a double life.”
Fitness Instructor: Zehra Allibhai
“Growing up in Toronto, I obsessively watched the Olympics. Now I’m a certified kinesiologist and teach about ten fitness classes a week. Most people have never encountered a woman in a hijab at CrossFit; I like seeing the shock in their eyes. It starts a conversation.”
Deejay (and dentist): Mazhar Alhadid
“Music was my first real passion. I started deejaying in clubs in 2004 and ran a music festival for about ten years. It’s not something I bring up with patients, but I did make a very calming playlist for my office.”
From the February 2018 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine