If you pay close attention to your life, you'll find moments that shaped how you saw the world from that point forward. I have three of those defining stories to share. Each one happened before I turned eighteen and left a lasting, positive impact on how I view myself and the values I carry today.
The first moment was when I was ten. I was in a scout troop when the den leader asked why I wasn't working toward more badges. Later that week, my father and I cracked open the scout handbook, and I mastered five requirements to earn the corresponding badges. Excited to show what I had learned, I demonstrated the five requirements to my den leader at the next scout meeting. I will never forget what this person said, "There is no way you could have learned all of this since the last meeting. I can't give you credit for all five requirements."
I am the only one who knows my potential; I should never let another person define me. I live this every day.
The second moment was when I was thirteen. In gym class, we participated in the Presidental Physical Fitness Test each school year. One of the fitness events was the shuttle run; the previous year, I was 1/10 of a second off the school record. The day was finally here when I could break the shuttle run school record. At the start of the gym class, we proceeded to the basketball gym instead of the carpeted multi-purpose room as we did the year before. Before starting my turn, I realized there was no way to break the school record on the slippery wooden floor. My year-long journey ended for reasons beyond my control—not because of anything I did wrong, but because life isn't always fair.
Letting go of what I can't control allows me to focus on what matters next.
The third moment was when I was seventeen. I loved playing soccer and played my best during my junior year of high school. I had the opportunity to lead on the field and cherished every minute of every game that season. The coach selected a different captain all season long before each game, but my turn never came. The season's last and most important game was against our school's biggest rival. The coach called me over before the start of the game, congratulated me on a great season, and made me captain. I felt seen. All the quiet leadership work that didn't come with a title hadn't gone unnoticed. Being named captain for the final game was validation.
Showing up with integrity matters, even when recognition doesn't come immediately or sometimes at all.
Looking back, which moments in your life have significantly impacted the person you are today?