“Courage is to trust in the unknown”(Osho). This quote has opened my mind to new ways of expressing myself. A story I’d like to reflect on occurred in my 8th-grade year. I was a student who preferred to do things his way and always disregarded priorities. Although I never skipped, my actions got me into trouble as well as my attitude. I couldn’t tell you why I chose to behave in this manner, but now that I think back I see how it was a lack of self-awareness. With some supportive context now, I’d like to explain how a conversation I had with my principal changed my state of mind. So, in my first year at Jefferson middle school, I had gotten into an altercation with another student which shaped my self-image to be “one of those kids”. Everyone knows that one kid from school that thought he was cool for talking back, getting into trouble, and disrupting class. Well, that was me! The problem was, that I was seeking validation in a way that was against the grain and overall not beneficial to where I wanted to be in life academically and socially.
This behavior continued until the beginning of 8th grade, I was more cooperative but still had a low GPA. I got called into the principal’s office one morning and this time the vibe was more serious, it was more of a “So where do you see yourself shortly” discussion. This experience was crucial to me because as my principal started listing off careers that needed less or equal to a high school diploma, I honestly asked myself if this is where I saw myself being in my early twenties. She was listing off jobs such as an underwater welder, construction worker, and some mechanic jobs. Although these aren’t bad jobs, it wasn’t what I had in mind for myself. That was the moment I got in tune with my inner wisdom and realized I’m much more than what I am currently perceived as.
During the meeting, I had a realization that I never once imagined myself settling for less. I then got this feeling of expansion that I’ve never felt before, similar to being uncomfortable. It was the uncomfortable aspects of life that pushed me into becoming a better version of myself. With that realization, I became aware of my actions and how they affected where I end up in life. For the first time in my life, I had a sense of independence and direction, like I didn’t have to rely on someone else to fix me. It was all Within.
Finishing 8th grade with this frame of mind I completely made new friends, and it was apparent to the administration I had taken school seriously. I was recognized with two certificates both by teachers I had. One by my social studies teacher that observed my character throughout the three years, and my English teacher.
