Authentic self

Authentic self

We all have something within ourselves, some of us have talents of many and creative minds we all develop a different sense of. I adore the many talents and strengths I possess. With the many talents out in the world and some of the one's I encounter include artwork and singing. In high school as a senior project, I had used my art skills for it . As everyone else stood up to show off their talents and things they love doing, it was my turn to stand up and show what I can do. Well, one of the few things I can do. At first, in the beginning; I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do for my project. Once I heard of it and what we had to do I could think of one thing I really, really, really wanted to do. That was to sing.

I had a close friend of mines who knew how to play the ukulele and this was around the time I was building my confidence and self-esteem back up again. It wasn’t an easy step to take and around that time I was barely starting the transition. So, asking him and thinking about singing a song with one of my closest-long-time friends, it would’ve been special to me, I would’ve been able to sing at my best and most of all I would’ve been very comfortable doing it with him. As I had considered the idea, being the open-minded person that I am, I started thinking maybe I should open my options and/or ask others for suggestions of what I should do. Instead, I thought, “hey! Why don’t I just draw something, or a few things, or maybe even show a few of the pictures I have drawn recently to show off a different hidden talent I have?” I wasn't well-known of being an artist with my peers(only my family & best friend). One of the reasons being is that in high school I joined choir.

In this class, we sang at Women & Men’s basketball games, football games, events outside of school, and a few competitions. Around school I was more well known for singing after a year of being with choir. It had helped gain my confidence back; there was a lot of support. I even almost went to an art school. So many of those people knew that it was a part of my life. Being able to sing with those people I called my friends I became close with and those days were more than amazing to me. In the spark of the idea, I suppose, I came to my conclusion in an instant. So through school hours, library sessions, and nights at home, I worked on my project for the duration of the open date’s until the due date. Within my drawings it was more of practice for me and as I learned more, it comes out to more than perfection but of more quality to me. At most, serene.

As I casually outline my thoughts and other inspirations I get my drawings from with my special utensils, I glide courageously, unapologetically, and sincerely to make all the imperfections, perfect. Sounds funny right? For some of us it’s understandable because then you get the upright most bits of laughter and creative ideas. That’s also what I wanted to put into my project-laughter. I want to show people other sides of me that makes me, me. The things that makes me whole. Omitting meeting my other half. As the time was coming to an end , I felt more and more confident in my project than I did about the one before. Although, I would have loved to sing in front of my class and for them, not mentioning for my grade as well, it would have been a lot of work on my partner to learn a song just for me to sing, and I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to put him through that, also realizing , maybe he has other ideas of his own on what he wants to do for his project and maybe I’m just budging in, stepping on his toes, before he gets the chance to let me know what his thoughts on his project would be. So I figured maybe just take the weight off of both of our shoulders and recollect for a second. We did that and that’s when my plans changed.

The due date is up; it’s now time to enter class. Of course, before presentations, the teacher would have to go up and discuss how to go about the variant of students and how we will be presenting. When she is finished, as I recall, she starts to ask for volunteers. Quite a few people jump up before I do. Being the person I am and at that time the person who I was, barely breaking out of her own shell, I sat back until I felt it was the right time for me to go up and present. I didn’t want to feel anxious anymore. Within me feeling anxious: I get very hot , I kind of obtain a studder effect, and I can stay quit or get a little jumpy . All things in which would make me feel very much uncomfortable and I don’t know if I’d be able to get through the presentation making eye contact. Yep, those were the days . What can I say, “it happens to the best of us”. So around a few people have gotten up and they have passed, I decide it’s my turn. So as she ask for volunteers I look around first, hoping no one would say anything or raise their hand (good thing they didn’t). Guess who did? Yes, Me! I went up there and killed it. For my presentation, I gathered around 6-8 of my favorite art drawings and I plastered them onto a big, papered poster board. On this poster, I kind of made little drawings around it, I of course added color because just pasting uncolored, sketched, and non sketched drawings onto a plain sheet of paper does not say the word “PASS” on it. Nor does it even give the hint out a little bit. I decided to do more and add color make it look more authentic by making it original but not plain . To me it came out amazing. As I presented I discussed the drawings, Why I drew them? and When? As I did, it was getting passed around for the whole class to take a look at. Doing this I felt accomplished; I felt like this is one of the milestones in my life as to where my family isn’t the only one to see my talents and to see what I have instore.

Having a lot to offer the world is an amazing attribute to have. It makes you courageous, a go-getter, an overachiever at most times , and most definitely a unique individual. We all have talents, our own talents, and/or even talents similar to others. It’s your choice whether or not you want to be seen or heard. Many people admire your talents so it’s amazing to show others that many people can do the unexpected or do something unseen before and feel that love and inspiration in that piece of creativity, in that piece of art. We all have that within ourselves , all we have to do now is find it if it hasn't been found yet, but if it has, let it grow . Embrace your authentic self.