This Friday I was the guest speaker at a Title-One school for about eighty-five, fifth and sixth graders! Wow! So fulfilling. My task was simple, “Will you bring something to encourage our students? They need to feel uplifted. Motivated.”
You picked the right girl for the job.
- I was once that kid!
- And, I love motivating others to act…to Cannonball-In!
Keep It REAL
Of course, I had the most current, pump-you-up, greatest hits playing as they came in. In fact, one little guy came up and said, “Your music is fire!”
#WinningSoFar
As they were all seated, I passed out Be REAL stickers and told them how stoked I was to be there! Then, it was time to tell my story. While I had keynote slides, they were only hand-created images to make my story more like a comic strip, and that is where I was astounded. These eleven-and-twelve-year-olds were my captive audience. They laughed out loud (even snorted), and I saw a few allow tears to drip during parts of the speech.
My story was all about Making Your Splash on the world! I shared a little of my childhood and my most favorite memory of my dad–the Cannonballing-In story at the city pool! We spoke a little about the dabblers and shared how we have to either ignore the critics in our life or SOAK them and make them want to get in the water with us. If you want to have a far-reaching SPLASH, you have to keep jumping. You can’t give up, and you definitely can’t listen to those who are not even jumping!
I didn’t speak long before requiring them to ACT!
Make Waves
What are your big dreams? What waves will you create?
As they were thinking and my volunteers were passing out pencils and “wave” paper, I pulled out a Tootsie-Pop, because you “have” fifth and sixth graders when you show them candy. Let’s be honest–food is the ultimate WIN!
As I held that Tootsie-Pop, I shared with them that we all have courage deep inside of us. It just takes work to expose it. It’s rarely easy to try something new. In fact, it’s tough! Being courageous doesn’t mean you’re not afraid or nervous; it means you’re willing to take that risk. It means you will strive to overcome difficult obstacles (tapping the outer part of the sucker) to get there.
I shared with them how becoming a first-generation college graduate was NOT easy. I had to work multiple jobs, pay my own way, and make good grades to keep my scholarships. I faced a lot of criticism (dabblers) and even had my family reject me because they had a skewed view of education.
Courage and Purpose
Just like the Tootsie-Pop, if you dig deep inside of you, you will find the courage to fulfill your purpose in this life. You’re going to have to work at it! Most people don’t “take one bite” and “reach” the courage to fulfill their purpose. We have to work hard–day in and day out. Make good choices and set our minds on something BIG–something to strive for in this life!
I shared my dreams with them and showed them some “dreams” I’ve already accomplished. I told them, when I was their age, my dream was to graduate high school. But, once I accomplished that one, the dreams began to multiply–and they are still multiplying. I told them, I have been a “cannonballer” every since I was a little girl at the city pool with my dad. I just set my mind on something I want to accomplish, and I run and JUMP with all my might to make the biggest SPLASH. Then, I swim hard. With each jump, I get stronger and stronger and learn more and more. But, it’s never good enough just to settle. I always head back to the high-dive! I’m always chasing the next dream–the next BIG SPLASH because “success” isn’t something you reach; we just have successful moments in our life, and they don’t run out until we breathe our last breath!
So, DREAM!
JUMP!
Make YOUR Splash!
No one can SPLASH quite like YOU, and the world needs YOU to Cannonball In!
Cannonball-In!
As they walked out, they shared their dreams with me and gave me huge hugs. Listening to them one by one, I knew I was meant to be there. One little girl walked up to me and embraced me in a hug with tears in her eyes and said, “Thank you for giving me hope!”
THAT is what it’s ALL about!
I didn’t understand it when I was younger, but I genuinely believe my REAL life experiences have given me purpose in this thing called life. One of which is to help others find courage deep within to do what they were placed on this Earth to do.
*And, to think…
I almost turned down the gig because November 16th is the anniversary day of my dad’s murder; I usually like to be alone on that day and cry a river. However, this year, I decided it is time to do something different. I have a splash that needs to be made.
Check Out These Waves
I wish I could fit all eighty-five of them on here.
Watch out world! These kiddos are ready to CANNONBALL IN!
