If you're reading this I hope my little story can serve as a lesson. It's something that affected me a time ago. Just thinking about it now compels me to share this experience. My aim is to inspire people to believe in themselves and encourage younger generations worldwide to have confidence, in who they are. You see what we fear often leads us to confront those experiences so it's important to be prepared. During my years I faced a challenge – a fear of answering questions even when I knew the answers with certainty. Isn't that disheartening? I didn't want to make mistakes or become the subject of ridicule. Fear of being wrong held me back.
You know those moments when you have a crystal understanding of the answer but stay silent? Then someone else speaks up. Says what you wanted to say? You start mumbling under your breath "Yes! That's it!". That's what I was going to say." Those who answer confidently receive praise while you're perceived as someone lacking intelligence –. That wasn't true, for me; it was how others saw me.It went on in that manner until one day there was a quiz competition where the head boy. I represented our school along, with other schools, in the surrounding area.
I was feeling really nervous. It was obvious because I couldn't stop shaking my hands and feet. When it was finally my turn they asked me to spell "Pentecost." I spelled it out. Just as they were about to record the score a lady, from the crowd stood up and said I spelled it wrong.
That incident made me want to cry because I never saw it coming. She insisted that I spelled "Penticost" of "Pentecost." The panelists weren't sure if I had made a mistake. In order to clear their doubts they asked me to spell it with very little time left. Unfortunately all I managed to say were the letters "P" and "e" before they called time up. In that moment I felt like disappearing and there. Thankfully the head boy and school principal were there comforting me. Otherwise I might have collapsed on the spot. Burst into tears.
What am I trying to say? The thing you're afraid of will eventually happen if you don't confront it. Do you know why? Anything we fear becomes our master while we become its slave. Face your fears head on because if you're mistaken or incorrect about something you'll be corrected along the way. Never let fear be the reason, for holding yourself from rising up and speaking for yourself.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Embrace the opportunity to learn and grow from them.
Thank you