At a recent school function, the chief guest delivered an inspiring speech. For once there was no feeling of ‘I hope he makes it short and sweet’.
He was a brilliant speaker, engaging his audience comprising children and their parents from the very beginning. The gist of what he said was a powerful message — to stand out and be counted.
He encouraged students to volunteer for projects as this would bring them to the attention of those in crucial decision-making positions. Their enthusiasm would leave an indelible impression on the adults. This is the age of brands and if you want to stand out (not stick out like a sore thumb), you must let others know that you, too, can make a valuable contribution.
Parents were told to motivate their children to take part in activities such as the recitation competition being held that day as they would learn to come out of their shell and become confident when in the public eye.
The students, in turn, were advised not to hide their light under a bushel because no one has the time to search for hidden gems. So, go out there and be noticed, he exhorted his audience.
As I listened to his speech and saw how he had connected with those assembled there, I thought back to another time when children were expected to keep a low profile. They were never told to advertise their skills or proficiency in any field. What they were made to understand was that if you were good enough, recognition would follow. You didn’t have to call attention to yourself as adults were perspicacious enough to spot talent however deep it may lie.
I realised that this is a brave new world, very different from the times we grew up in, and it is necessary to stand up for your convictions and stand out if you want to succeed. Our acceptance of certain rules and our inability to speak up for ourselves perhaps made us lose out on many opportunities.
It takes courage to go out of your way to do what you think is right even if you are beset by doubt. The young generation has access to so much information that helps them make informed choices. We had only our parents or elders to turn to and maybe they weren’t always in a position to point us in the right direction. Playing safe was what they advocated. So, we did just that and the what-ifs surfaced much later.
I am glad that the young audience appreciated the advice given by the gentleman and I hope it inspires some of them to go all out to achieve what they truly desire.
At the end of his speech, the gentleman introduced a very inspiring message about giving back to society. He told us that he had once been invited as a guest speaker at an important occasion and that he told the organisers that instead of paying him, he would rather they contributed to the digging of a well in an impoverished country. They were taken aback at this request but agreed immediately. Their corporate sense of responsibility must have kicked in.
Later, he was delighted to learn that, after financing that first well, they went on to support the digging of many more.
The importance of giving back or paying it forward is something every child should be made aware of. Giving back to one’s community doesn’t necessarily mean collecting funds or donations. One can volunteer one’s time and take part in activities that aim to help or appreciate those less fortunate than us.
At the end of the speech, there was a moment of silence — the highest tribute that can be paid to a moving experience.
