Help write each other鈥檚 story
For Maddie in Year 11, lockdown has been a time to reflect on who matters in her life and why. It鈥檚 made her realise how lucky she is to be surrounded by family and friends who value her for who she is.
When I was offered the opportunity to speak in Assembly a few weeks ago, I鈥檒l admit I spent a considerable amount of time trying to work out my story. In doing so, I realised that thanks to all the special people in my life, my story has been built on kindness, acceptance, and generosity. It鈥檚 these people who have given me the empty pages of my book 鈥 the pages on which my story will be written and from where, one day, it will be read out loud.
It made me see that the biggest part of owning our story is staying true to our values and supporting those around us. It was during lockdown that I learnt this. Despite its limitations, lockdown taught me an invaluable lesson and that is, if we let other people鈥檚 perceptions of us dictate our behaviour and influence our emotions, we will never grow as people. But if we leave ourselves open to experience, despite what others think of us, then we will learn and grow.
Reflecting on the people I missed most during this period of isolation made me realise this. They are the family and friends who always support me and who managed to see past the initial judgement we all have when we meet someone for the first time. I am the best version of myself around these people, because I don鈥檛 worry about being judged when I'm with them, nor do I feel constrained by the unrealistic goals that society often imposes on us. Instead, I am the happiest version of myself.
Learning this was a true milestone in my storybook. It highlighted to me the importance of supporting others. As individuals, we all have power and a voice, but by coming together as a collective, we can wield more influence and create more impact.
We need to reverse the stereotype that women don鈥檛 support women. By withholding judgement when we meet someone for the first time 鈥 often based on rumours, gossip, or their social media identity 鈥 we can focus on getting to know them, become friends with them, and work together to write our own stories. After all, it鈥檚 virtually impossible to write our story if we鈥檙e worried about being judged. And it鈥檚 only human to want to hide our personalities if we feel people are judging us based on rumours and gossip.
As a community we need to focus on supporting the people around us, lifting them up so that we can all be the best versions of ourselves when we are together. If our unique quirks, interests, perspectives and differences are celebrated and accepted, then we will all thrive. And this will enable us all to develop our own stories in a safe, supported space.
Girls, if there鈥檚 one thing that you take from my speech it's this: there are no limits to what you can achieve when you stop caring about what other people think or say about you! Become part of the collective and empower others to develop their own story. Be yourself and be proud of who you are! And never be ashamed of how others perceive you!
As Steve Jobs once said, 鈥淵our time is limited so don鈥檛 waste it living somebody else鈥檚 life!鈥
Thank you and have a great day!
Maddie, Year 11