10/04/2023
This is my dear friend’s son. Ye has an amazing philosophy. Check him out !
STORY TIME (A big moment for this girl)
I go to a lot of schools.
I’m lucky enough to speak to all ages of kids.
We talk about a huge variety of topics. And one of the questions I usually ask them is, “What are you good at?”
This is a tough question for a lot of kids.
Because self-esteem doesn’t exactly show its face in middle and high school a lot.
Confidence is a weird thing that you don’t just have. You must build it.
I was not a confident kid.
I didn’t want to mess up in front of people. I wasn’t sure of myself or what I could do. And I see the same thing in a lot of kids I get to meet.
At one school, I was speaking to a group of 8th graders and I asked the question, “What are you good at?”
A couple kids raised their hands and gave me some answers… basketball, drawing, baking.
I usually ask a followup question like, “What position in basketball?” or “What’s your best drawing?” or “What’s your favorite thing to bake?”
One girl raised her hand and said she was really good at singing.
I could tell she was a little shy. She had a quiet demeanor about her.
Usually when kids tell me that they’re good at singing, I ask them if they want to sing for the group.
Nobody ever takes me up on it.
They think it’s embarrassing. Usually they giggle and look away.
But this girl said, “Sure. I’ll do it.”
Everyone in the room was in shock.
I couldn’t tell if the shock was because this girl was usually reserved and quiet. Or that they were actually going to hear her sing.
She started singing and within the first few notes everyone’s jaw was on the floor.
There was a group of boys sitting in the back that had stopped their chatter and just stared at this girl, who was absolutely nailing this song.
When she finished, the class went nuts. They were clapping and cheering. That group of boys gave her a standing ovation.
She just kind of smiled and looked away again.
But I knew.
That was a big moment for her.
To be that brave. To be that strong. To do something that was probably scary. It was awesome.
When she left, I gave her a high five and said, “Thanks for singing.”
She just smiled back and said, “Thanks for listening.”
Talk soon,
Bryan
