Dr Swezy, Hailing from Jamaica, Is An Educator, Artist, Writer, Expat, and Ardent Supporter of Minority Groups. I Believe You Will enjoy our Heartfelt Conversations with.
Dear Subscribers, Happy Weekend!
I trust this post finds you in good health. It is an absolute pleasure for me to introduce authentic writers whose content is usually ignored by algorithms. This has started happening on diverse platforms, including Medium; therefore, I began posting these stories on multiple platforms to create the visibility these writers deserve.
Today, I will introduce an accomplished writer whom I have been following for a long time on this platform and others. I found Dr diana swezy an insightful, thoughtful, caring, and inspiring person. I am glad she accepted my invitation to introduce herself briefly.
Dr Swezy is originally from the United States, but now she lives in laid-back Jamaica and tells beautiful stories from that country, reflecting the esoteric culture I admire. She is a talented professional beyond writing. Let’s explore!
Meet Dr Diana Swezy
Hi Diana, Thank you for your time. Let’s start with your background.
Hi Mehmet, thank you for the kind invitation. I trained as a Visual Artist. My first degree was in Art Education, my specialization in school administration, my Master’s degree in Studio Art, and my Doctorate in Change and Educational Administration.
I worked for Kansas City Public Schools during the turbulent years, as it transformed from segregation to desegregation.
Kansas City has the distinction of reorganizing under the largest federally funded desegregation Magnet School program ever attempted in the history of education in the United States.
I worked with the Visual and Performing Arts and Communication Arts Magnet Schools.
I can’t recall when I fell in love with writing, but writing became a critical component as I worked as an Art administrator for Kansas City Public Schools. I consider writing an art.
I was gifted with an association with Lucy Caulkins at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Here I was taught how to guide children’s learning through a process known as Balanced Literacy. Reading, writing, and responding were critical components of this philosophy.
The proverbial mind map was a critical tool I use today to help organize my writing. I was an assistant principal and a Charter School Principal. Ending my career as the Director of Grants and At-Risk programs in a sub-urban school district.
I have always worked with challenging, damaged, minority populations.
What do health and well-being mean to you?
My health and well-being are paramount in my life.
I have managed the unpredictable disease of Multiple Sclerosis for over 30 years.
I don’t use pharmaceuticals unless I’m faced with a serious surgery, as I was in 2018 and 2023. Big pharma has convinced us that using a pill to manage a symptom makes us healthier. I respectfully disagree.
I use food, exercise, and lifestyle to manage my illness.
I have two rods, six screws, and two spacing baskets in my backpack.
I have to stretch daily to be able to walk. I need to monitor my diet to avoid gluten and most dairy. I consume as many unprocessed foods as possible. I use anti-inflammatory herbs and vegetables. Constantly monitoring how my body reacts so I can adjust accordingly.
What are your hobbies? What excites and entertains you?
I love the Kansas City Chiefs and European Football as well. I don’t know much about the games, but I love the energy and action on the field.
The Kansas City Chiefs are my hometown team, so I must follow them. They have brought so much to Kansas City economically and structurally.
Of course, I love Taylor Swift and everything she and Travis Kelce have done for Kansas City as well.
Music is one of my favorite entertainments. I’m fond of old Blues artists, New Orleans Jazz, and Reggae.
What are the top three books that have affected your life
My favorite books are too many to list here.
Whenever I’m asked this question, immediately what comes to mind is my first encounter with The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
I love how a child alien debases adults, finally deriving his answers to his
philosophical questions from a fox. It’s wonderful how Saint-Exupéry built his story from his expertise as a pilot, like a dream he always lived.
Recently, I’ve found the work of Mel Robbins, The Let Them Theory, helpful as I struggle to accept barriers that stop my progress. Life in Jamaica is always challenging to achieve goals. You need to be strong to accept the restrictions of life in a developing nation.
Why do you write on Medium
Medium gave me my first chance to write and connect with a larger world. I began reading authors on Medium because, where I’ve lived in Jamaica, libraries are limited. Once I began to write on Medium, I found a remarkably supportive community of readers and writers.
Do you write on other platforms like Substack? How do you find them?
On Substack, I write Veranda Vibes, it is my real-life health and wellness newsletter. My weekly sunshine pill from the land of eternal sun.
Recently, I added Writing in Your Ear. Writing in Your Ear is where I read curated stories from my Medium archive about living in a divergent culture in a rough and tumble developing nation. I hope these stories will form the bones for a book about fascinating customs and the crazy life of a disabled, aging American expat.
Again, I love the community on Substack. Writers, readers, et al are a fascinating group of people.
I’m worried about finding a way to monetize my newsletters. I understand that Substack is a capitalist endeavor. I know they are not making money with me. I know that can’t continue for long.
What are your values as a writer?
I honor the power of the written word. I value each and every reader who clicks away from my work, as well as those who choose to read and respond. I value choice in every respect when it comes to filling a page with words.
If I’ve impacted one person with my thought, that’s enough for me. I firmly believe in the power of one. One ripple in the energy of the Universe can make huge changes for the greater good.
How do you connect with your readers?
I write about life as I know it or have known it for many years. I hope I connect with readers in an authentically positive sense. Life is hard. It’s easy to become mired in the negativity of a victim mentality.
I want to be a happy place that a reader opens up to each time they find me. There are not enough good vibes or blessings in our world.
Why did you join Illumination? How do you find it so far?
I joined Illumination because I enjoyed the work of you, Dr. Yildiz. I was also impressed with the follower base. I also love the title Illumination. The word fits my reason for writing.
Who are some writers you follow on Medium?
I love the work of Sahil Bloom, Thomas Oppong, and Ayodeji Awosika.
What are your top 5 stories you want to share with your audience and why?
You can read my story about aging in our age of inauthenticity,
Get This…It Ain’t Going Away. I’m proud of my healthy lifestyle, which you can read about in my work, Do You Want a Simple Routine to Keep You Moving? My ascent out of the United States is addressed in my article, You Know You Have to Go. I wrote about an uncomfortable political moment in A Maga Moment. One Life Changing Event chronicles an adventure I had in New Orleans with the Neville Brothers.
What are the success factors for you as a writer?
I want to see myself getting stronger and stronger with my descriptive language. It would be lovely to be published by a big, well-known publisher. I definitely want to add meat to the bones I’m burying over in Words In Your Ear to flesh out a book about Jamaica.
What do you recommend to new writers?
Keep writing about whatever the spirit moves you to write. Eventually, you will find your dream topic and float into a huge world of success, whatever that looks like for you. Find your flow, and all will happen in good time. Never, never give up!
Finally, would you like to share some photos of your art?
Yes, I can share two photos as a sample of my work.
Many thanks to Diana for allocating her precious time to give us a glimpse into her interesting life. You can follow her on Medium and subscribe to her publications on Substack. More information is on her landing page on my author platform.
Thank you for being part of our community and joining our joyful and exciting journey. You can review some sample interviews I conducted. Please consider reviewing their profiles and stories, sharing them in your network, and reaching out to them to expand your professional connections.
This is an excellent networking opportunity for new writers who want to build their audiences on multiple platforms.
The more successful people you meet, the more successful you can become, from my experience. The more you give without expecting, the more you receive, as my grandparents taught me.
Links to Prior Interviews and Conversations
Interview, Dr Ashish Juneja, PhD, Interview Dr. Khalid Rahman, Interview Georgia Kreiger, Interview Hamid Akhtar, Interview Bear Kosik, Interview Dr Russell Carr,Interview Fildy Bejaoui, Interview Peter Mukherjee, Interview Patricia Ross, Interview Ana J, Interview Dr. Jason Hung, Interview Maria Cross,Interview Brooklyn Grace (editor), Interview Grant Lawson, Interview Ute Luppertz ✨, Interview Dr Kenneth Silvestri, Interview MAGDALENA PONURSKA, Interview with Joanie Adams (left Medium), Interview Liat Portal, Interview Dr Dominic Farsi, PhD RNutr, Interview Sara Redondo, MD, Interview Dr Bronce Rice, Interview Yana G.Y. Interview Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Interview Sinem Günel, Interview Recep Taylanhan, Interview John Worthington, Interview, Joellyn Rose Keener, ✍️Author Deaf and Determined, Interview Thomas Cherickal, Interview, Shamim Rajani, Interview, Svyatoslav Biryulin,Interview, Danielle Benvenuto, Interview Scarlet Ibis James 🦩, Interview Biswanath Datta,Interview Veronica Llorca-Smith,Interview James King, Interview Lauren Grawert, MD,InterviewJerry Keszka, Interview Davor Katusic,Interview David Gerken,Interview Claudio D’Andrea, Interview William Spivey,Interview James Boylan, Interview Ruby Noir, Interview Joshua Mason, Interview Michelle Mariscal, Interview Tim Denning, Interview Wendi Gordon, Interview Elle, Interview Bill Petro, Interview Sylvain Zyssman, Interview Matthew Bamberg, Interview Øivind H. Solheim, Interview Payal Koul, Interview Matt Lillywhite, Interview Genius Turner, Interview Shirley Willett, Interview David Mokotoff, MD, Interview Martin D. Hirsch, Interview Gill McCulloch, Interview Adelia Ritchie, PhD, Interview Dr. Lutz Kraushaar, Interview Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD, Interview Matt Williams-Spooner, Ph.D., Interview Pernoste & Dahl, Interview Luay Rahil, Interview Melissa Kalt, MD, Interview Ayodeji Awosika, Interview Dr. Preeti Singh, Interview Dr. ADAM TABRIZ, Interview Dr John Frederick Rose, Interview Yogesh Haribhau Kulkarni (PhD), Interview Hakima T A N T R I K A, Interview Mark Sanford, Ph.D, Interview Raymond M.E. Aguirre, Interview Keri Mangis, Interview John D. Leavy, Interview Toni Koraza, Interview Annelise Lords, Interview, Mike Zillo, Interview Charles Roast, Interview Libby Mitchell, Interview Timothy Key, Interview, Christopher D. Connors, Interview Desiree Driesenaar, Interview Jill Ebstein, Interview Bill Abbate, Interview Anita Lesko, Interview John Cousins, Interview Suntonu Bhadra, Interview Lawson Wallace, Interview Chelsea Renee MAT, Interview MaryJo Wagner, PhD, Interview Martine Weber, Interview Michael Patanella, Interview Tree Langdon, Interview, Agnes Laurens, Interview Liam Ireland.
Our editors compile them in a collection. If you want to be interviewed, please leave a comment on this story or reach out to me via this form.
Earlier today, I introduced a long-awaited advanced course for Substack success. It is called From Zero to Substack Hero Level 4, 5, 6 Bundle. If you write on that platform and sharpen your skills, this course might help you. You are welcome to be a beta learner with an 85% beta student discount on Udemy.
From Zero to Substack Hero: Advanced Levels 4, 5, & 6 Bundle Is Ready for Beta Learners
The Gift of Delay, the Promise of Growth: How my hectic schedule, our high standards, and a spirit of generosity shaped…medium.com
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