Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous—
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
Won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some of us: It is in everyone,
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
Give other people permission to do the same.
--Marianne Williamson
I find these words very motivating. So many times students, and adults, settle for mediocre just so we don't stand out and make anyone else feel overshadowed. But if everyone allows mediocre to be okay how will we ever have anything better to offer anyone. Nelson Mandela & Martin Luther King, Jr. stand out as profound men who surpassed the expectations of others, not because they were any more talented that those around them but because they were willing to stand alone and help those around them dream. If we can engender this kind of inspiration among our students, imagine what could result.
Sadly many view education as a way to promote conformity and not bravery.
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