Discovering Your Own Ability

When I was growing up, I didn't see myself as particularly smart.

That might sound strange because both of my parents were very intelligent, and both had master's degrees.

My mom read constantly and I don't say that lightly. I mean ALL THE TIME. It was rare to see her without a book in her hand.

I would listen to her talk about the things she was reading, and for some reason, those things stuck with me. I wouldn't say I have a photographic memory, but I remembered a lot of what she told me.

In high school, I was on our Scholars Bowl team. We would compete against other schools to see which team could answer the most questions.

At one competition, something interesting happened.

Question after question came up, and I realized, "My mom told me about this."

So I answered.

And answered.

And answered.

We competed against several teams that day, and when it was over, I had answered more questions than any other competitor. They gave me a trophy recognizing that accomplishment.

And something changed in the way I saw myself.

I think about the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. He spent the whole story believing he didn't have a brain. Yet if you watch what he does throughout the journey, there is plenty of evidence that he can think.

Then the Wizard gives him a diploma.

The diploma didn't suddenly make the Scarecrow intelligent.

It changed the way he saw himself.

That trophy did something similar for me.

I remember thinking, "Maybe I really am smart."

Looking back, the trophy didn't make me smarter. The ability was already there. What changed was what I believed about myself.

So today, I'm giving you a diploma.

YOU ARE SMART. YOU ARE NOT DUMB. AND YES, YOU CAN LEARN.

Don't allow an old opinion of yourself to determine what you're capable of becoming.

CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF!