YOU ARE POWER WITH Dobijoki Emanuela

Dobijoki Emanuela, is currently enrolled in an Ed.D program, which is a professional Doctoral program centrally focused on Education and the founder of Dobijoki Personal Development.

Dobijoki Emanuela, 
Is currently enrolled in an Ed.D program, which is a professional Doctoral program centrally focused on Education and the founder of Dobijoki Personal Development. 
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share your story with the young people. You are doing tremendous work and it’s only right they know their role model.  

What is the meaning of your name in your mother tongue? 
The meaning of my name in my mother tongue is ‘From God’. The meaning that sits behind my naming is even stronger and speaks to the strength and resistance of my family from the violence that followed them from Sudan to Egypt. It is a privilege to carry the name as I know my ancestors are always in front of and behind me. 

What are the reason and motivations behind the #YouArePower Radio platform? 
You are Power Radio came about because I recognized the internal strength that I carried after overcoming many adversities. I then began to reflect on the Power of those around me; my elders, my friends, strangers that I witness so forth. I came to the realization that we are all-powerful through our unique life experiences - and once we own that Power, then we come to realize our full potential. 

I wanted to create a safe space for folks to speak with me about their Power, and if they were unsure about their Power, I wanted them to know that I was there to remind them of their strength. You are Power Radio is an extension and is powered by Dobijoki Personal Development. 

Why did you get into personal development as a career? 
I have always been into personal development, I just did not have a term to describe it. I have always been an understanding person, a reflective person and someone who appreciated introspection. What changed a couple of years back that lead me to begin sharing my personal development journey with others, was my life-changing experience when I went to work in South Africa back in 2016. 

Going to South Africa was my first visit back to the continent since 1997, and although I did not visit my native country, I was still able to experience my mother through Azania. I had a spiritual transformation due to the deep connections I made with the land, the people and the Higher Power. 


You are currently enrolled as a Ph.D. student. Why did you choose to pursue your doctorate?
I am currently enrolled in an Ed.D program, which is a professional Doctoral program centrally focused on Education. 

I once thought that I did not have the capacity to pursue higher education. This thought and idea developed due to the poor and false narrative imposed on me during my primary and secondary years of schooling. I rarely had educators that believed in my capabilities and were encouraging. When in high school and ready to begin looking into college programs, I was encouraged to go into the workforce (trade). Although I had nothing against trade work, I was never interested and had other goals for myself, however, when I was not offered the support I needed to believe in myself I began to doubt my knowledge. 

I persevered and was able to complete a community college program and then an undergraduate program. After completing my undergrad is when I went to South Africa to work. The reason why I consider South Africa to be such a sacred place for me is that it has a lot to do with where I am today. 

While in South Africa I was working in my profession as a Social Service Worker in a township school, I later began to teach and realized the potential in all of the students; even those that many expected to fail. I quickly began creating safe spaces and started alternative after school programs for the troubled boys who would otherwise be in their version of “detention”. While many saw these boys as trouble, I saw them as love and far beyond what they saw of themselves. I then began to see the similarities in my experience in school and the discouragement I faced, yet I saw my privilege because my teachers did not look like me. The dynamic was very different.

When I came back to Canada I contemplated applying for my masters, but I told myself that if I built the courage to apply and be accepted then there is nothing stopping me from my greatest fear; my own success. So I applied, and while writing my masters application I did just as much searching on what doctoral program I was going to pursue, I found it. I wrote applications for my masters which I used to apply and I also wrote my application for my doctorate of which I kept it saved in my archive. I got into all the master’s programs I applied to, and because I knew what the end goal was after my masters I was very strategic about the school, program and supervisor I chose. 

Now I am here, doing my doctorate, passing, but struggling (in a good way) - because I know my Power. 

What are your tips for success for anyone looking to become their best self? 
My tip for success is to know your heart, your heart should lead your intentions and your intentions will lead you towards your success. Owning our stories through self-reflective work is the best way to come to realize your best self.  

Most importantly, what are your words of encouragement for the youth in our community?  
Once upon a time, I thought that the idea of home meant experiencing the pain that home has left me over and over and over again. As I work toward bettering myself I have come to love my pain and use it to love those who have caused me pain, because without them we would not realize that we carry some of their traits. We are not perfect people, none of us are - but we are people with such a powerful and beautiful history which has been taken over by our current battle of the lands. Don't allow the pain of your brother and sister to make you cause the same pain to yourself if not, it is only you continuing on the cycle. 

Website: 
https://www.dobijoki.com/

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