My rise to fame in high school
November 8th 2007 01:45
I have learned a few key lessons in life. Just a few. If I had learned more, I am sure I would be much wiser than I am!
However, these few lessons I can never forget because they came through actual experience. They transformed me. One of them I want to tell you about now.
When I entered high school, I had a dream to achieve...a dream to be on the stage in the school hall. I wanted to share myself to an audience. I wanted to speak. I wanted to lead.
During one fateful moment during the first tender year of high school, I made a pledge to myself. A performance was being held in the school hall and girls from an older year (whom I admired very much) were singing "How much is that doggy in the window?" and dancing along playfully. I looked at the stage and said to myself with full faith, without a niggling doubt, in complete determination: "I am going to be on that stage by the time I get to year 12."
I claimed my future. I valued myself as worthy to be on that stage. I wanted to break free from my primary school awkwardness where my expression and creativity was not given opportunity to thrive (there are many tales to tell on this alone...but another time). I had a mission to give to myself and to others. To live my creativity.
My pledge - and more importantly my total belief in it - led to my debut speech in Year 8 just to my grade alone and then my first public speech in Year 9 in front of the whole school. It was the first time I had ever spoken to hundreds of people. I did not prepare a simple, plain speech. My speech was funny and witty, and the audience showed me just how much they loved it by laughing and clapping hysterically. I was suddenly recognised by everyone in the school!
That high propelled me on to a fantastic journey through high school - many more speeches, debating, recitals, fund raising, student council presidency, organising events, becoming senior prefect & vice captain, drama classes, and most of all connecting with people through words. I loved sharing my imagination on the stage.
The biggest compliment I ever got was when a friend of mine noticed a blind man, who was visiting our school, eagerly move forward in his seat when he heard my voice on the stage. Prior to that he was slumped, seemingly bored with the other speakers. When she shared that with me, I knew I was giving the best of myself. I loved high school and I gave myself to it with abandon and a thirst to be all that I could be.
But it all started with the pledge of self belief...I claimed what I wanted and I believed it would happen. This is the root lesson: To be your best and achieve your dreams, recognise exactly what you want and then claim it. Doubt is not an option.
However, these few lessons I can never forget because they came through actual experience. They transformed me. One of them I want to tell you about now.
When I entered high school, I had a dream to achieve...a dream to be on the stage in the school hall. I wanted to share myself to an audience. I wanted to speak. I wanted to lead.
During one fateful moment during the first tender year of high school, I made a pledge to myself. A performance was being held in the school hall and girls from an older year (whom I admired very much) were singing "How much is that doggy in the window?" and dancing along playfully. I looked at the stage and said to myself with full faith, without a niggling doubt, in complete determination: "I am going to be on that stage by the time I get to year 12."
I claimed my future. I valued myself as worthy to be on that stage. I wanted to break free from my primary school awkwardness where my expression and creativity was not given opportunity to thrive (there are many tales to tell on this alone...but another time). I had a mission to give to myself and to others. To live my creativity.
My pledge - and more importantly my total belief in it - led to my debut speech in Year 8 just to my grade alone and then my first public speech in Year 9 in front of the whole school. It was the first time I had ever spoken to hundreds of people. I did not prepare a simple, plain speech. My speech was funny and witty, and the audience showed me just how much they loved it by laughing and clapping hysterically. I was suddenly recognised by everyone in the school!
That high propelled me on to a fantastic journey through high school - many more speeches, debating, recitals, fund raising, student council presidency, organising events, becoming senior prefect & vice captain, drama classes, and most of all connecting with people through words. I loved sharing my imagination on the stage.
The biggest compliment I ever got was when a friend of mine noticed a blind man, who was visiting our school, eagerly move forward in his seat when he heard my voice on the stage. Prior to that he was slumped, seemingly bored with the other speakers. When she shared that with me, I knew I was giving the best of myself. I loved high school and I gave myself to it with abandon and a thirst to be all that I could be.
But it all started with the pledge of self belief...I claimed what I wanted and I believed it would happen. This is the root lesson: To be your best and achieve your dreams, recognise exactly what you want and then claim it. Doubt is not an option.
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