Most Likely to Succeed?

Most of my childhood memories involve sports.

In middle & high school-

I earned awards in multiple sports.

In addition to academics.

Acknowledgement of my athletic abilities

Earned me on spot a Div 1 college team.

My first childhood dream, realized.

However, there's 1 award that stands out to me

Above the rest, though it sounds silly

And went seemingly unrecognized.

In high school, our peers voted on class superlatives.

Naturally, I assumed mine would be athletic-based,

But when they were announced,

I flipped to the back of the yearbook to see:

BEST PERSONALITY.

What I took away from that moment,

And several conversations in the passing weeks,

Was that I was seen for more than just my utility.

I was not a stereotypical jock,

I wasn't the mean girl,

Nor was I the valedictorian.

I've read we are our true selves in high school,

And if that's true-

I believe that I was recognized

For my ability to cross-pollinate,

To be kind and fun and inclusive,

And to not take myself so seriously,

All of which is still true to this day.

So remember that even the most trivial things

Can carry weight far beyond what you expect.

It's all comes back to the way you make ppl feel!

Just a reminder to add more kindness,

More fun & more inclusivity into your life.

Treat others with respect.

And FFS, stop taking yourself so seriously!

So let me ask you this:

Who were YOU in high school?

Does it still ring true today?