I AM CONFIDENT

A confident man is not groomed overnight. He has been trained over time with reassuring words and acts that has made him believe in confidence and see no way other than it. "you can" and " you will" are words that he is used to hearing. Our words especially as parents, teachers and elderly ones have a great influence on our children, younger ones or children placed in our care. Some children get that motivation, self esteem and inner strength they need from within themselves while some other children greatly require our help to build such confident notion of themselves. Reprimand them when necessary but never dampen their spirit with your words. I wrote this story in relation to this.
                                         
The morning of the 3rd of October had been one to remember and I wished assembly had lasted some one hour more. The applause from the entire staff and students made my ribs move, my cheeks red and my  nostrils hold in much air than it was used to. My name had been called, "and now for the post of senior prefect girl, we call on Hadiza Danjuma!". I was the one!, I was the only student with that name in the whole school. I suddenly felt lighter, prettier, stronger, I could hold the world in my hands right now. I moved with poise and dignity, I was given an official handshake by my principal, my small palm clasped in his like partners exchanging handshakes after signing an attractive deal. I paid utmost attraction during all my classes that day. I was the head girl now and so I had to lead by example.My walk home was a little slow unlike the other days. I watched my steps, made sure I walked like a star, stars don't walk so hastily, I thought to myself."What would mum think", I asked rhetorically as I walked along.
My newly found strength was on the verge of  being befuddled. Mum had once again punctured my self-esteem by telling me she doubted if I could handle the responsibilities of being a head girl because I was too shy. "Head girl?, can you? you know you are the very shy type, it needs courage and confidence". If it needed courage and confident, couldn't she have taught me, couldn't she have told me how to act courageously?, the words to say, the expressions to give?. Miss Obi, my chemistry teacher had come at the right time, though I was reluctant to speak but she forced the words out of me. I had been chosen as the senior prefect girl and I wasn't ready to be a flop. I would be the best senior prefect girl that Forerunner Academy had ever had.