Actions speak louder than words. — Everyone
Our actions may not have an impact right away. They might not even mean anything to anyone until they have a genuine purpose behind them.
Some say it’s all about timing things right. Others say it’s about having the right people behind us and our cause. Then, there are those who believe we need to be in the right place at the right time before something worthwhile happens. These ways of thinking hold a certain power and truth on their own – and they’re wise words to live by.
As I’d find out, however, something absolutely magical happens when all three are combined with one mindset— our actions will define who we are.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into my freshman year of college. I didn’t expect to get a letter in the mail notifying me I had been accepted at Penn State Altoona. It happened rather quickly. I didn’t feel like anything I’d done in my life particularly defined me, either – at least not in terms of making career choices or turning my passion for writing into something viable with a genuine heartbeat other people could feel.
That happened too, but it took time. I knew it would be an uphill battle, even if I didn’t have a disability. The fact I’ve never been without extra pressure motivated me. It helped me figure out how I wanted to approach my professors, as well as what kind of impression I wanted to put out there. It was very important to me that I showed them something other than the obvious – something they might not have known or guessed by looking at me.
If anything, I wanted to see if the choices and decisions I’d made up to this point were truly the right ones. Or close to being what I thought was right. I wasn’t terribly worried about anything else. I knew questions and concerns about my cerebral palsy would arise naturally, and I told myself they would be handled in the same manner. I wanted to believe Penn State Altoona was a place in which any judgments could be left at the door. I wanted it to be the place where I somehow bridged the gap between my writing and my disability. I was excited about the opportunity to start a new chapter in my life. I didn’t think it would open with a question like, “Have you considered writing as a career?”
I was only a few months into my freshman year. One of my English professors calmly pulled me aside after class one day and asked me this – perhaps the most crucial question I’ve ever been asked. There was no pause. No hesitation. There was a level of direct certainty and intention I had never heard before.
I swallowed hard and said, “Yes, that has been my dream ever since I was a little kid.”
A big smile crept across my professor’s face. I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant, but I knew enough to know it was genuine. I also had a strong feeling that this smile was coming from someone who already arrived at the place I wanted to be career-wise – and had been there enough times to know what they were doing.
It didn’t even cross my mind I’d been turning in well-written assignments. I gave my best no matter what I wrote or whom it was for. I guess in this particular moment, my best was enough to give someone, who would become very influential in my life, a reason to pause. It was the first time I didn’t have to explain myself or feel like I was being put underneath a microscope because of things I couldn’t control.
It felt great and I was determined to build upon this beautiful moment. I immediately wanted to make sure this professor – and every professor I’d have for all of my classes – knew I took writing seriously. I also had my mind set on making sure they weren’t wasting their time on me. That meant pouring my heart on paper, and most importantly, working harder than I’d ever worked before.
This was the start of something wonderful. I felt in my bones and deep down in my soul. If no one else knew it, I was going to show them. This was all on me – and I gave it all I had because it truly mattered now.
Sometimes an opportunity presents itself for you to shine. It may feel heavier than your shoulders can take. It may even feel a little awkward and unexpected, but that’s the moment when you kick the door down and show the world what you can truly do when you give yourself a chance.
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