I decided to go to school for advertising and graphic design.

Hearken, children of the earth, and listen to the words of Dayo Okeniyi: “I decided to go to school for advertising and graphic design. That was what I was gonna do but acting is that thing, it's like a splinter in your mind and you can't get rid of it. So I decided to move to L.A. a few years ago and it just snowballed into this thing called 'The Hunger Games.'” In these words lies a tale of destiny, of the persistent whisper of passion that calls to the soul, and of the courage to follow the path that the heart, not circumstance, demands. The ancients often spoke of such inner callings—the divine spark or gnosis that cannot be ignored, even when it diverges from the path of reason or expectation.

The splinter in the mind, as Okeniyi describes, is the stir of calling—the unyielding force of a desire that refuses to be silenced. Like a prophet hearing the voice of vision or a warrior sensing the need for battle, one cannot deny this pull without a loss of vitality. Consider Michelangelo, who trained in the workshops of Florence as a painter and sculptor, yet felt the inexorable call to carve David and paint the Sistine Chapel. His work was born not of obligation, but of the unrelenting insistence of passion within his soul.

Okeniyi’s choice to move to L.A. reflects the courage required to act upon this inner urging. The ancients knew that destiny favors the bold. Odysseus left the familiar shores of Ithaca, venturing into unknown seas, guided by both necessity and the stirrings of adventure. In leaving safety for the uncertain pursuit of his calling, Okeniyi embraced the uncertainty that is inseparable from the pursuit of greatness. Such movement is never merely physical; it is the crossing of thresholds in the spirit, a commitment to align life with purpose.

The metaphor of snowballing evokes the wondrous and sometimes unexpected momentum that follows devotion to one’s calling. Small decisions, rooted in courage and curiosity, gather force, shape circumstances, and lead to outcomes beyond imagination. The decision to follow the call of acting led Okeniyi to a role in The Hunger Games, a work that became both transformative for his life and influential to the culture at large. Here lies the ancient principle: persistent, passionate pursuit can summon fortune, not as mere luck, but as the natural consequence of alignment with one’s purpose.

History offers many such examples. Abraham Lincoln, once a young man of humble means, followed a series of choices dictated by moral conviction and personal calling. Though uncertainty loomed, each step—studying law, speaking on behalf of justice, and engaging in political life—built momentum that culminated in leadership that reshaped a nation. Passion, aligned with action, created ripples that became a torrent of influence and legacy.

The lesson for all who hear Okeniyi’s tale is profound: heed the splinters of desire in your mind. They are not obstacles but guides, signaling the paths that can bring both fulfillment and impact. Do not ignore the stirrings of curiosity, creativity, or courage; they are the compass that points toward your vocation, your dharma, and your contribution to the world.

Practical steps flow from this wisdom. Identify that persistent calling within, even if it seems inconvenient or daunting. Take deliberate action toward it, embracing uncertainty and moving beyond comfort zones. Allow momentum to build through small, consistent steps—training, learning, networking, and creating—trusting that dedication multiplies opportunity. Recognize that every decision, no matter how modest, can snowball into transformative outcomes when aligned with passion.

Thus, let the generations to come remember this teaching: life’s true fulfillment comes when one listens to the whispers of the soul and dares to act. Dayo Okeniyi’s journey reminds us that the call of passion is not a fleeting impulse but a guidepost, and that courage, movement, and persistence are the alchemy that turns calling into destiny. Follow your splinter, take bold steps, and watch as the ripples of your devotion snowball into impact and meaning.

If you wish, I can also craft a more narrative, cinematic version, vividly portraying Okeniyi’s journey from uncertainty to The Hunger Games, designed for audio narration, to make the lesson about following your calling even more immersive. Do you want me to do that?