Andre O Doeman, a dedicated Middle School English Teacher in Brooklyn, New York, seamlessly blends his poetic voice, visual art skills, and life experiences from Jamaica and the United States in his debut poetry collection, Time Transcendence – A Collective Awakening. With a passion for writing and education, he holds a BA in English and an MS in Literacy and has been recognized with the Teachers of Tomorrow Award for his outstanding contributions to the field. Andre’s artistic talents, cultivated since childhood, enhance his ability to connect with his students on a cultural level. He embodies the belief that “curiosity is freedom” and consistently endeavors to inspire curiosity both inside and outside the classroom, whether through his teaching or explorations with family and friends.
Author Q&A
How did you come up with the title?
In high school, my perspective of how to achieve peace in the world continually changed and developed and I realized that a person cannot get others to be peaceful by force. It is really a lead by example kind of thing. Nonetheless, I realized the difficulty in that and throughout the connections I have made with people, I understood that it was also a result of those bonds I made. What I understood was that it took time, a major component in connecting with others. And the time it took was spent learning about people’s wants and sharing my wants and hopes with people. It was a collective act. The people around me, the people I see in the media who worked tirelessly, and the people I see who received and welcomed advocacy with appreciation were often hopeful for betterment despite their needs. That was encouraging and inspirational. Both givers and receivers had to learn what it means to “do together”, “to develop together”, and “be patient individually and together.” There was a sense of tranquility in their growth and that’s a message I want my book to communicate to my audience. In this world, “you cannot become by yourself because we are all one becoming together. That is what it means when we transcend through time collectively.
Are the poems based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
The poems are based on my own experiences as well as the experiences of people who I have encountered and learned about. It is also the experiences of those whose stories I have listened to and learned from.
What are your current projects?
I am currently working on an updated version of this poetry book. It will have a more active and learning component. That is all for now and it will be epic.
What is your favorite movie and why?
“Limitless.” I don’t usually have favorites because I try to dabble in a bit of most things. But this movie really is motivating. It really made me think about how much of our mental capacities we use in each day. Really, we have so much power in mind, but the pleasures of the world distract us from our true potential. I’ve watched that movie many times of course. The one part that is memorable to me is the end when Cooper’s character emphasized the idea of reengineering the pill so that he did not have to depend on it anymore. That for me was the point. Our addictions causes us to be dependent. We must reengineer our minds and take control of ourselves, become disciplined and build a habit that allows us to be masters of our destinies.
How do you think being a writer has helped you as a person?
As a writer, I have become better at constructing my thoughts. It has made me think better about the preciseness of my words, the needs of my audience, which in turn influenced my drive to read more. Both things further influenced my seeing and understanding the importance of listening and speaking. Throughout college, this became quite prominent and even to this day, when I write in any format, I am able to consider all of those aspects of language.
What is your favorite word, and why?
I have a few but the one that I often model in my actions that is on my mind right now is “tranquility.” I like the calmness that nature breathes. I enjoy the relaxation the clouds feel when they float across the sky. The sight of the clouds and the feel of nature feeds our soul. We need a lot of it.
Time Transcendence – A Collective Awakening is available for purchase on Amazon
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