Dr. David Whitaker had it all: A happy marriage, a home in an affluent suburb, a new Porche, dual degrees in law and clinical psychology ‹ just to name a few.

You would think that someone with everything would live in content.

But something was missing in Dr. Whitaker's life, a void that not even money and power could fill.

Dr. Whitaker searched for ways to cure his inner ailment.

He finally realized that one must "open your third eye" ‹ the Mind's Eye ‹ to see life clearly.

Once this happened, his search led him to an African-centered initiation ceremony called Rites of Passage.

Rites of Passage helps individuals to intimately understand who they are and what they are about.

This initiation process helps to break through one's psyche and awaken the ultimate energies lying dormant inside one's Mind's Eye.

The Rites of Passage experience completely altered Dr. Whitaker's life course.

He continue to progress through higher, more vigorous levels in leadership training; Dr. Whitaker is now a Master Practitioner of Rites of Passage training, keenly understanding the balance between society and spirituality.

He still has it all, including validated success and prestige.

But more importantly, Dr. Whitaker is content with himself.

Harambee is sponsoring a lecture by Dr. Whitaker on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. in Oscar Ritchie Hall.

His address will center around the purposes and goals of Rites of Passage initiation and training.

Dr. Whitaker also will share insight into the relationship between spiritual self-fulfillment and the material world.

In short, he will instruct students on how to live soulfully content yet still achieve worldly "success."

Dr. Whitaker has been involved with KSU for the last three years, providing leadership training to incoming freshmen involved with the STARS program.

These initiates often step up to take on leadership roles within the university.

Rites of Passage training provides guidelines for identity and purpose that manifest in everyday life.

In an era where dissatisfaction with leadership crosses political, cultural, religious and economic lines, Rites of Passage offers students a new approach to leadership training, which is based on group upliftment as opposed to individual desires.

This methodology, which is humanitarian in nature, inspires all who seek the alternative approaches to the cosmos and the human experience.

Jason Shelton is a Stater Columnist