S1E8: Why Me with Ramatoulaye Diallo

In this episode of Purpose Project, host Leslie Pagel interviews Rahma Diallo, who shares her impactful journey from growing up in Guinea, West Africa, to discovering her purpose in the United States. Rahma talks about her passion for education, inspired by the opportunities her father had received, and her unwavering dedication to helping young girls in Guinea pursue their dreams. The conversation delves into Rahma's efforts to establish a non-profit organization. Through her story, Rahma emphasizes the importance of paying it forward and living a meaningful life, highlighting the ripple effect that one person's actions can have on generational learning and the broader community.

00:00 Introduction to Purpose Project

00:35 Meet Rahma Diallo: A Journey from Guinea to the U.S.

03:16 Finding Purpose: Helping Young Girls Pursue Their Dreams

07:21 The Impact of Education: A Family Legacy

10:25 Paying It Forward: Establishing a Non-Profit

15:55 Future Aspirations: Expanding the Mission

20:27 Living a Meaningful Life

23:36 Breaking Down Big Goals

28:02 Advice on Finding Purpose

30:32 Reflecting on Life's Meaning

36:30 The Power of Kindness

38:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Resources: 

Email Rahma:  rdiallo08@icloud.com

Purpose Project is a research study on the topic of life's purpose. You can follow along in the making of Purpose Project:
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Transcript

0:05

Welcome to Purpose Project. My name is Leslie Pagel and I am so glad that you are here Because we have an unbelievable story to tell. We have Rahma Diallo who shares with us a simple question of asking, why me? And how this. Simple question can lead us to discover our purpose and live a meaningful life. Let's take a listen. Rahma, thank you so much for being here with me today. I'm really looking forward to learning from you and learning more about you on the topic of purpose. I am so delighted that you said yes to this and would love to just start by learning a little bit more about you. Who is Rahma who is, uh, well, thank you for having me. And, um, as I introduced myself, my name is Ramatoulaye Diallo. I was born and raised in Guinea, which is in West Africa. I moved to the U. S. in 1997. So almost 27 years now coming up August. Um, I went to IU. I'm a Kelley School of Business alumni. my background as far as career is finance and accounting. I have three kids. I'm very passionate about helping people because I feel like I, I was given a gift coming from where I come from to be able to, to pursue my dreams and, and as such. Right. So I'm really, like, passionate about helping people. Uh, paying it forward in a way, as you guys say it here. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I learned that we share one thing in common already, and that is we both graduated from Indiana University. Oh, yes! Hoosiers How did you get to Indiana University? I moved to Indiana in 2007. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I've been here since 97. I lived in Richmond, Virginia. Oh, and then California. Okay. Wow. Okay. So moved, from Guinea to Richmond. And then moved around in the States. Yes. Ended up in Indiana. Yes. Going to Indiana University. And then, well, yeah. This is life. Okay. Yeah. This is home now. I, I have my three kids here. Uh huh. Um, my, my career is here. Uh huh. My home is here. And I have a lot of family members now that live here. Really? So Indiana is home now. I'm a Hoosier. I've lived longer in Indiana than I've lived in my native country. Yep, yep, yep. There you go. Oh. So, thank you for sharing the historical background. I want to dive into why we're here today. And let's start with the basic, do you feel like you've found your life's At this age? Yes, you do. It was a process. But as I sit here, I am 100 percent sure. Really? Okay. What is that? It's to help young girls back home, uh, pursue their dreams. Um, a little, I'll give you a little background. Yeah. So that since that's like a little bit in a nutshell, where I come from, when I was growing up, at least. It was 80 to 90 percent poverty. So basically education wasn't attainable for a lot of people, a lot of families, you, especially if you're trying to feed, you know, to, to get food, do I eat or do I go to send my kids to school? Right. And so 90 percent of the population was really poor back then. And I was one of the fortunate ones who could, um, Go to school. My dad was an engineer. He was a geologist. Okay, so I've always felt like that was like a gift because as they say by the grace of God there goes I I mean 90 percent of the population is poor right? Why is it me right like I was born into a family that could afford to send me to school, afford to send me overseas. That has to be a reason. I mean, I could have easily been from a family that could, that was probably poor and couldn't send me to school. The other thing is, um, If the families usually could send and let's say they have a boy and a girl, they will prefer to send a boy because it's a very conservative country. So the boys end up becoming men that will have to take care of their families. Whereas the girls will end up being married off early. So it made sense to invest on the boy than the girl. Yeah. That makes sense. So, yeah, coming over here and realizing I was given that gift to pursue my dreams, not being married off early, and, and not being caught, like, I don't know if you are aware of that. familiar with female genital mutilation. I am not. Now that's another thing that plagues a lot of African countries not being part of that. I felt like I had to pay it forward. And the only way I feel I can do that is by being involved with organizations that can have that help. Right. But today I really want to, uh, start my own organization because I really know the country, the culture, the tribe. I know I will be a better vessel because I know, you know, I know the culture, but that is why really my whole purpose, I feel like is to go back home or not even just back home, but to start back home and reach out to kids, mainly young girls, help them go to school, help them pursue their dreams. Get to a point where they can realize whatever the dreamer, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. A lot to unpack. It is. As you were talking, I, I, I felt in my body this gift that you were describing and this, this questioning of like, Why me? Why me? Yeah. Yeah. It could have been me, easily. Right. Right. Right. But I was, I was born into a family that could, like, my dad was an engineer, so he could send me to school. Right. Right. But 90 percent of the population is poor. Right. Why not you? Right. Yeah. Talk, talk to me a little bit about that family dynamic, because, you Your father made different decisions. It's interesting too because he has a unique story. He was in the village, never been, he was seven or eight, never been to school. So that was during colonization. We haven't had our independence yet. And one of the French admin came to the village and was, I don't know what he was doing. But he, my dad had built a little using wire copper, built a little car and he was running around just wearing his little short and And he got a, for some reason got a liking or took interest to my dad and somehow whenever he would come weekly started talking and realized, Oh my God, the kid is bright. So convinced my grandmother. To please the French guy, let him take my dad and offer him education. So he was one of the few African kids who went to the French side of school. He was in the boarding school. That's how my dad got his education. So because of that. We all got educated. You went on to, to, to, to university in Paris, majored in geology, mining, and went back home and worked. But because he was also able to travel and see the world, he knew that educating his daughters will be important. Tremendously, right? Yeah, it will be something to do because he saw like in Paris and Moscow that women were being educated and working, right? So he wanted that for us. Wow. Yes. Yes. That's another, why me, yeah. Yeah. And my grandmother was like, yeah, he, my grandfather was against it. Okay. He was, I mean, understandably he wasn't trusting of the Europeans, but my grandmother was like, no. I want him to go to school. And they fought about it, but she won eventually. Oh, yes. I think he's the only one of 24 kids that went to school. Really? Really? And has that changed? Oh yeah, now it's changed. Since that, he's put 15 kids to school. Wow. I'm one of five. My dad had five, but he put 10 of his nieces and nephews with my mom, of course, to school. Yes. So we're like very educated now. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and going back to your purpose, this started way before I was with the Frenchman that sees your dad. Yes. Yes. And gave it and felt something. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. you talked earlier about how discovering your purpose has been a process. It is. Walk us through what that has looked like for you. Well, um, again, it's moving to the U. S. And just having all these opportunities given to me and, and knowing that I could just shape my life however I wanted, but always in the back of my mind, I was aware of where I came from, the, the environment. When I say the whole country, like I was aware that, that again, it's always. It could have been someone else. I could have been home, married off at 13, 14. And, but it was until I think I was about 25, 26, I heard someone speak. on paying it forward, and then it clicked that, Hey, okay, maybe this is a gift. And that maybe God or whoever made me is using me to reach out to one more person who hopefully will reach out to one more person. And then when I saw started talking to my dad about, Hey, dad, tell me about your childhood. And I realized that he was giving a chance, that I was here in the U S because someone gave my dad a chance for school. Right. I was like, I need to be that person. Yes. You are that really cemented it like it doesn't have to be big, but if I can just get one kid through school, then I feel like the process, it's a full circle, isn't it? Yes. And then I started being involved with different organization. There are a lot of organization out there that sponsor kids. Okay. Okay. Um, 30 a month, you're able to feed seven people. You're able to send kids to school, a lot of organization. But because right now I feel like a 48. Okay. I feel like I'm ready to take that big step of, the second,,journey I want to do something that's meaningful. Yeah. Yeah. Like I've raised my kids. I've had the career, but now I really want to dive into this. See if I can do maybe not just one kid, maybe a little bit more. But yeah, that's the whole process, you know. It's just hearing the idea, of paying it forward. Right. Being explained. And then realizing someone gave my dad a chance. Right. Yeah. Like, okay. Right. Okay. Yes. It is this like multiplier. Yes. You know, someone with your dad, he puts 15 people. Yeah. Through college. Yes. One of them is a neurosurgeon in Belgium. Wow. Yeah. One of them is a head engineer in Lake Mead. Wow. Las Vegas. So they went on to be. Yeah. These, uh, people, these amazing career. I mean, I can, I, I want him to write a book, but right now he's like, Oh, yeah. Someone told me recently that you don't always know the impact that you have. Yeah. And this story is bringing that really clear to me that while, we can trace through this, Understanding the full impact of what that Frenchman did, what your dad did, what you're doing is, is beyond what we're able to um, quantify. Exactly. And it's not just me, luckily all the other kids. Uh huh. They're all, you know, somehow, some way are involved in helping out. Yeah. Yeah. It's like we all grasp right that we were the lucky one. Right. How often do you go back to Guinea? I try every couple of years. The last time I was there was 2021. Okay. But in your efforts, here are to help the Children in Guinea. Is that my ultimate effort will be to help anyone all over the world who wants to study? But because I'm much more familiar with Guinea. Uh huh. I am starting that. Even if it's small, just to get into it first. But as I expand, I will really just, because I know like in Asia, Middle East, somewhere in Latin America, I've met a lot of people with like, yeah, education is not easy for certain people. And, um, yeah. You know, here in the U. S., education is probably, the debate is, do I move to a better school district? Right, exactly. It's not that whether you, you get it or not. Yeah. It's, oh, do I move to a, buy a house in a better school district so my kids can go to, no. But there, it's like, do I eat? Right. Or do I go to school? Yeah. Yeah. And most of the time, you know, you have to eat, you have to survive. So, and, and it's not even that expensive. Yeah. Yeah. So what are you, what are you doing now? Cause so you're, you're at a point in your life where you're like, okay, I'm, I'm ready to transition into spending my time towards more meaningful things. Yes. What, what does that look like for you today? So for the past couple of years, few of our, we call it the diaspora, but few people from Guinea, we all are IU educated, formed an association. Did you? Yes. Yes. We each give in 30 a month and we pick out a project. Like every couple of years we pick out a big project. So far, we've refurbished a whole school and set up the school like a computer room for the school. We've gotten school supplies. And these are the far reaching villages where it's Wow. non existent. Our latest project, actually, which is ongoing now, is we are re renovating the maternity ward. And, uh, the children's hospital in a far reaching, village. So, but that's just us contributing 30 a month the last three years. And it's not even, we're like 50 people all in all. Right. So Yeah, you said it's not that expensive. It's not. I mean, in the grand scheme of things. Yeah. Yeah, a couple thousand dollars will get you so far back home. We've gotten wells now you just go to this. Roundabout and get your water, your home. Hmm. But again, with that, I don't know that little wanting to do more. I expressed to them that we should not only form a non for non-for-profit organization, uhhuh A 5 0 1 C, and then see about. Starting to reach out to different organizations, getting partnership, getting help, you know, making it bigger. And that's when I am with Amy. She is the one who's doing the research as far as the paperwork. Okay. Okay. Amy is a good friend of both of ours. She's an amazing human being. Talk about compassionate people. She's one of them. But, uh, we will, we're taking it to the next level. Okay. Yeah. So she's helping, with setting it up as a legal entity. Yeah. The non profit. Yes. And then you are organizing through the group that you established years ago through Indiana University. No, we are all Indiana University alumni. Okay, alumni. Okay. Yeah, yeah. That came together. Okay. Yeah. Um, and so you're, you're working through them to grow. To grow. Uh, more of a non profit. Yes. That is focused on well focus on helping out back in Guinea, but I've also told them that we should set up an outreach program out here for the youth and maybe a scholarship program for the kids in, in, in, in, because we all went to IU. Maybe for kids who are going to IU, say like the Guinean community of Indianapolis scholarship. Because eventually also we have our own kids here. Yeah. And like me. That's right. Yeah. So even though we, we want to help back home, we have kids who are dealing with issues. Most American families are dealing with anywhere from drug issues to bullying. And so, we want to be also able to help all the kids as well, not just focus our energy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So when you wake up and you think about, your day and your purpose, how does that feel inside for you? It's, it's, When I think about the possibilities and the adventure that this journey, I don't know, I feel like I'm looking forward to life. Is that weird? No, it is not. I've lived, I'm almost 48, I've lived, but it's just this feeling like I am alive. I get excited, but in a way that's, It's like, yes, I know on my last day on this earth, if this is happening, I would say, yes, I lived a meaningful life. And yet I've done well so far, but this will be, to me, it's, I feel like it's honoring that French guy that gave my dad a chance. It's honoring my dad because he's, helped so many kids. It's just knowing I can give someone. An opportunity. To dream big. And it feels amazing. Oh, I'm excited. Fully excited. Yeah. I get the whole alive thing. I'm going through a similar thing with this Purpose Project and I feel like it's brought me to life. Yeah. Um, I also feel things like uncertainty and fear. Do you have those feelings too not so much fear, but definitely uncertainty because, and the uncertainty is not so much of me being capable of the people. Um, I have been doing this with being capable is more like the political climate back home. It's always unstable. Okay. Two years ago. We had a coup. So it's very unstable on that side. And when that happened, it shuts down everything. They could easily jam the internet and you don't have any way to communicate with people. They could stop your project. The government. It's a little bit dictatorial in a way, but. So that to me is where my answer to you lie. Got it. Like, are we able to set this up? Will it take time? Will it take a lot of effort? Yes. And there's no doubt about that. But once we are up and running. Properly. And we go home and then, or you're transferring money back home. And then it's like, you go to the bank, the bank is like, we don't have internet. We can't do any wire transfer or everything is shut down because of some kind of, I don't know, coup. So that's where the, for me, the things out of your control, that's all out of your control. Yeah. But it's bound to happen. So we consider it. Yeah. Yeah. So planning for that. Yeah. Yeah. Is a part of just bringing more certainty to exactly. But to me, that is it. It's not so much fear. I feel like, because I've been with this group for a couple of years. I feel calm and I feel, um, what's the word I'm looking for? Confident about the way it's going. But yeah, there is always a little uncertainty that can pop up. Yeah. Your purpose feels to me really big. It feels monumental. Does it feel that way to you? No, because I feel like I, if, if I can just help one person, which to me is doable. So it's doable. I guess I'm seeing it as one kid at a time. Exactly. It's the framing of it. Yeah, exactly. Because it's, it's, yeah, I cannot do it. At the level of, you know, these big organizations, but if I can do it one kid at a time or one project at a time, like we've been doing it for three years, then yeah, I don't feel like it's big because it's still, still small. I love that starting with the little things. Yeah, like starting with what can I do right now to make progress. Exactly. I'm one of those people, if you throw too much at me, I will be overwhelmed. Uh huh. So breaking it down, breaking it down, all the way until small steps. Yes. And then it, it's like, And your brain works that way naturally? Yeah, naturally. So if you, when we started, I was like, okay, I know where we want to be, but let's do what we can right now. Well, let's start slow. And I mean, it's been three, three years, but again, just our contribution. In three years, you've already done a lot, a lot, so, One thing we can all do is just look for the little thing. The next step that we can take. Yes. What is that for you? Do you have it all mapped out? Well, The way I have it in my mind, but we, I want to say this is me and a few others. So everybody has something to do, but, uh, we're setting it up and eventually we want to, we are partnering with different organization that are pushing us through. So once we set up really just to start, reaching out to different, uh, companies and then slowly but surely start raising funds, raising supplies, anything that we could, we can raise and utilize back home. Right. Right. And when you look out into the future, let's say, whatever the, the furthest horizon for you. What does that look like? Oh, going home and seeing kids, hopefully building a school, a full school from the ground up. Fully equipped, solar panels so that there is electricity, have a canteen so the kids can eat. They don't have to worry about, Oh, I didn't have breakfast. Um, and just kids who are studying, thriving. That's, that's the vision I have. Yes. Schools. It's, I know education nowadays, that's the way out of poverty. That's the way out. I would love to have a fully running school. Yeah. You're you, lit up, like, I can just see this. You saw this vision and it just came out of, of your face. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's, it, I am really passionate about it. It's again, I keep saying it's what gave me the life I have. It's what gave so many other kids in my family, the life they have, you know? So. To us, education, that's the surest way to lift yourself out of poverty. Yeah. Yeah. So I will. Yeah. Well, even revamp the whole school system if we're dreaming. Yeah. But to me, it's just to be able to say this school, walk in and see it. Kids learning. Kids hearing. I mean, I can hear the kids right now. I can visualize kids playing soccer. It's in my head. Right. Yep. So I imagine people are watching this and they're thinking, I can imagine that too, and I want to help. Help Rahma. Yeah. What can they do? How can they help? Well, uh, they can reach out. Okay. Uh, my email. Okay. I'll put that in the show notes. Yeah. I also imagine that people are going to be listening to this and, feel to their purpose. What advice do you have for them? My advice will be to, first of all, figure out what, what it is that you're really wanting to, to, to do in this life. Yeah. Well, when you are gone, What is it that you want to be remembered as? What legacy do you want to leave? And I think when people hear the word legacy, they're thinking bigger families. But a legacy could be one little thing, one, a person that you've impacted in this world. That's your legacy. It doesn't have to be grandiose. So just think of that. When I leave this planet, did I leave it in a better place? will someone know I came? Will my life, my action, will that have been meaningful or impactful in a good way? to even one person or an animal. Again, just find what you're passionate about. What is it that you're passionate about? I've wondered if passion and purpose are one and the same. To me, I feel like it is because, but because of my personality. If I'm not passionate about something, my mind, no matter how hard I try uhhuh, I will not be interested. Yeah. Like I have to, it has to grab me in a way, right? But some other people could find it differently, but that's how I see it. And I do think, someone is looking for their purpose. A place to start could be what lights you up. What are you passionate about? And again, it doesn't have to be big. It could be small. It could be planting a tree. It could be just feeding a cat. Small. But if it makes your life meaningful. Then that's your purpose. It doesn't have to be big. Yeah. And I like the advice that you shared about to understand a meaningful life, think about at the end of it. Yes. And ask yourself, how do you want to be remembered? Yes. And did you do those things through your life to be remembered in that way? Yeah. And if not, then work on those. Yeah. Do the small things. Yes. I want to look back when I'm on my deathbed and say, I have lived well. Yeah. And for me, living well is to know that I have, I was of service. Uh huh. Yeah. I helped. Because otherwise, what's the point? Yeah, and I love that you've been intentional and even thinking about that, because it's a little scary to think about. We don't really want to think about the end of life. Yeah, but that's how I Yeah. At least imagine like things that I want to do now going forward, it's when I'm on that day, that's what I want to make sure it's all meaningful, yes. When you're younger, you see life, you got, you got it. You have to do the careers. If you want to have kids, you have to raise kids and all of that. But then you get to a point where like, okay, I got another 10 years and then I'm retiring. Yeah. Then what? So let me start now. So by the time I'm completely out of it, I'm living that life. Yeah. How often do you think about that? This end of life question? Well, not that often. Yeah. Okay. It's just as I'm getting closer and closer to 50, closer to retirement in few years, I'm thinking, what do I do in my second part of the journey, this life, right? I want to be heavily involved as much as I can in what I am super passionate about. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. I'll have a lot of time coming up in 15 years. And if I am betting you will have made a lot of progress in 15 years as well. I've given us a one year. to set up the entity. I'm the I'm the goal oriented. We have one year. We need to be up and running within a year. so I love that because having milestones, doable things within it. Um, we have talked about your purpose, how you discovered it. and one of the things that stood out there was this defining moment of the pay it forward and how that shifted in your head. we've talked about, things that you're doing now to realize that the support you have, the, breaking it down to pieces. Yes. Is there anything left unsaid about the topic of purpose? I think other than just we all have it, really. Do you believe that? Yes, I do. I think we all are, we are as a community. We're here, like the world, people in general. I feel like we all have a role we're playing. Uh huh. And, and I feel like we all have a very distinct purpose. Uh huh. Yes, some might not realize that, some might realize that because of different circumstances, but I really do believe we all have a purpose. And just finding that out. It's, it's, it's the start. Right, right. Yes. Yeah. Finding what light that bulb in your head. It's a start. Yeah. Yeah. And finding that brings, why find it? So you know why you're here. So you know the meaning of your life. Yeah. Yeah. Because I, I I read a book of on people who were towards the end of their life. And the one common trait that I have noticed is that everybody looks back and say, I wish I wasn't too focused on my career. I wish I was of, I've done more service. I've helped out. Right. Yeah. Yeah. So that's why I believe we all, we all have that purpose in us. Yeah. And, and if you do find it, it's meaningful. Yeah. I was going to say, and yet, like you said, we all have this purpose and yet so many of us get stuck by just going through what society tells us we're supposed to do. Yes. And not always what we're called to do. And when you're younger, that's okay. I feel like it's okay to pursue your career dreams and stuff, but balance, I feel like balancing it out, but yeah, a lot of people don't get to that level. Yeah. Yeah. Because society. Yeah, right. Yeah. So we talked about finding purpose in your life and the reason in what that gives you that gives you meaning, meaning what is meaning in your life give you happiness, contentment, happiness and contentment. Yeah. And I hope to inspire my kids. That, uh, that they will see it and say, you know what, we need to keep moving this thing forward. Yeah. But to me, it's happiness. Right. I'm truly, because when I'm in, in the meetings or when we're planning, it's so I am so absorbed by it, but yet feel so light. I walk out smiling like, yes, we will do this. Or maybe I'm just too naive. Yeah. Purpose gives us meaning that gives us happiness, contentment. I think if you're living a meaningful life, you can, there's no way you're not going to be happy. At least that's my belief. Yeah. Yeah. I got goosebumps on that one. There's no way. Yeah. Because you're doing what you, in essence, what you want to do, what your soul wants to do. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Too much. I'm going to breathe into that one. I love it. Anything else on your mind to share? Ah, let's all be kind. Let's all just be kind to one another, you don't know what that person is going through, but just even if it's a simple smile. It's remind them there is humanity left. Exactly. So let's just all be kind. To one another. Yeah. Take it easy on ourselves as well. But that's it. Find, find what works for you. And do that. It doesn't have to be conventional. Forget about. Society way. Yeah. Makes you happy. Gives you purpose, right? When you were talking about being kind and I was just thinking about coming back to where we started about paying it forward, if we're all sharing kindness, yes, that multiplies as well. It does. It trickles down and it's so easy to do. I am walking away, feeling inspired about your purpose and what I can do to support you in that. but also just, thinking about what I can learn from you and, but, uh, thank you so much for having me. Absolutely. I, I enjoyed the conversation actually. Hopefully some, some of your listeners will have, will be inspired as well. Like you have, will walk away feeling like they can do it. It's not impossible. Right. And if anything, a little bit of kindness will take us a long way. That's right. That's right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Rathma. And thank you all for listening. Wasn't that an incredible story about the multiplying impact? that can happen when we pay it forward. It reminded me of episode five, Do It Even If You're Scared, where Janeva Shaw-Mims talks about when we live our life of purpose, it helps with generational learning. And Rahma's story is a perfect illustration of that. While we won't know the full impact that our purpose will have in this world. One thing is clear to me after listening to this conversation, and that is that our impact can reach far beyond our imagination. How can you pay it forward in your life? Thanks for listening.

Leslie: 39:10

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