Wednesday Wisdom: Who Were You in 6th Grade?

Inspiration, Motivation, Wisdom

As the Alka Seltzer cold medicine fizzed in the clear cup, a statement from my 6th-grade teacher rose as well. “Tracy is very effervescent,” my report card said. Always one to be sent out in the hall, my twelfth-grade mindset thought, “Oh, effervescent must be a bad word! Darn it, I’m going to be in trouble.”

Walking home, I wondered if I should throw my report card out, hiding it from my parents. It was summer break, after all, and the lake and my aunt’s pool called my free spirit. Sixth grade was over. I passed elementary school, and in September, I was headed to middle school. Yahoo!

Once in the house, I sheepishly asked my mom, “What does effervescent mean?” She responded, “It means bubbly, spirited, full of energy.” I liked it! Mrs. Gardner was right. I was full of spirit and energy, constantly raising my hand to answer questions, becoming our grade’s commencement speaker, and leading others down the hall to gym class.

What I learned in 1976 was the essence of who I was and would continue to be. I’ve never backed down from a challenge or opportunity to lead, raise my hand, and boldly state my mind. It has led me to great opportunities.

On Saturday, I helped promote, gather, and co-lead 550 women, men, and children in the Women’s March in Syracuse. It was a joyful, peaceful, and empowering event as Women TIES teamed with New Feminists for Justice. Not only was I effervescent on the one-mile journey from the gathering place to the United Methodist Church, but so were others.

Standing before the crowd to photograph the audience, I saw the microphone ready for four speakers. I secretly yearned to say something uplifting in it. Just as I thought it, a neighborhood woman who saw me grow up in Rome, New York, yelled my name and hugged me. “I knew you had to be here helping with this cause based on knowing who you are,” she said. I drifted back in time, silently thanking Mrs. Gardner, my sixth-grade teacher, for helping me know who I would be.

Today’s Wednesday Wisdom should inspire you to recall a description or two from your childhood or teenage years that still resonates with who you are today. Even if your external self-image doesn’t reflect your 12-year-old one, does the glint in your eye or throbbing of your heart mirror it? Is there a way to remind yourself of your internal self-image as you approach life and business this year? How can you use it for your benefit? How can you change your community or world?

Don’t back down from your strongest internal strengths and core beliefs. If you must, raise your hand, join others, and lead the way only you know how to do!