Be Confident by Allison

Be Confident by Allison - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

I sat in the back of the room, jiggling my knee impatiently, as I waited for somebody to blurt out the answer. The seconds ticked by and nobody uttered a word. I glanced around in confusion. Surely one of the brainiacs seated front and center knew what the teacher was asking. To me, the explanation seemed simple, but as time dragged on I began to question what was happening. I mumbled the answer to myself, perplexed why such a simple inquiry had stumped such a brilliant group of students. The teacher’s eyes snapped to mine and she smiled slightly.

“What was that?” she asked gleefully. All eyes turned to me. I chewed on my lip anxiously, suddenly unsure of my answer now that I was the center of attention. Hesitantly, I let the words stumble out of my mouth. They were met with gazes of complete astonishment.

“Exactly,” my teacher proclaimed. There were shocked rumblings traipsing around the room as my classmates marveled that I had spoken. My cheeks turned lobster red, and I cast my eyes downward as I scolded myself for daring to answer. Just as I was about to burst into tears, my teacher approached me. After writing an assignment on the board to busy the other students, she gently pulled me aside.

“I’ve been waiting for you to speak up since the day I finished grading the unit 1 exams,” she said. Her words puzzled me.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because you got the highest score in the class,” she stated simply.

“Okay,” I said, still not understanding where this was going.

“It came as a complete shock to me. You always sit in the back of the class, doodling and muttering under your breath. You never participate in the class discussion, but you managed to get a perfect score on the exam,” she babbled.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I promise I’m listening. I just write colorful notes all the time to help me remember and I say the answers to your questions under my breath,” I stammered out. My teacher’s smile could have brightened even the darkest of closets.

“I know that now, silly. But the fact is, none of your classmates knew that you were that smart. You have a gift, but you never let it shine. That’s why they were so shocked today. Not because you finally spoke up, but because of what you said,” she said kindly.

I sat in awe for a moment. From that day forward, I began to raise my hand for the difficult questions. I participated in debates, and I even volunteered for class demonstrations.

My teacher taught me one of the most important lessons of my entire life. She taught me to be confident. She taught me that it was okay to show off at times. She taught me that I was special and important.

My teacher truly changed my life that day, and not just in regards to my academics. I became more outspoken with my opinions. I became a social butterfly, with friendships that I cherish to this day. I became a talented athlete, unafraid to perform. I began to see the world through a different lens. I was excited for upcoming events rather than anxious. I saw myself as exceptionally talented rather than just average. And for that, I express my deepest gratitude. She changed my life with a few kind words, and I will be forever grateful for the lesson she taught me that day.

Now I pass it along to you. Be confident.