State FFA Convention

This week I had the opportunity to attend the 2009 Utah State FFA Convention held at USU. I was asked to help judge the Prepared Public Speaking contest. This is the third year in a row that I have been a judge. I am not sure why they keep asking me to help, but I am glad they do. Each year I am impressed with the quality of the speeches and the ability of these young high school students. When I was in high school, I did not have the confidence to compete in anything like this. I simply would not have done it. Looking back, I wish I had. Over the years I have come to understand that we grow as individuals by forcing ourselves out of our comfort zone and doing things we are not comfortable doing. I think the real challenge is to place ourselves in those situations to be able to improve and grow. I believe these FFA students, whether they chose to compete on their own or were pushed by a parent or an advisor, learned valuable skills and confidence that will benefit them throughout their lives.

I think about myself- when I was younger I was very quiet, I did not want anything to do with speaking in front of people. I didn't like speaking at all. One day someone told me about the YF&R discussion meet and suggested that I enter it. I thought "no way". However, after watching my wife compete the first time I decided that I could try it. I believe this was one of the best decisions of my life, as it has in many ways changed my life. The first time I did the discussion meet I was terrible. I was very nervous at first and did not do very well, but I survived. The next year it was easier to compete and I did much better. During several years of competing, I slowly gained confidence in myself and my ability to speak and articulate my point of view. I finally won the state discussion meet and a Polaris four wheeler. I am told all the time what a nice reward the four wheeler is for my effort, however I believe the real reward was much more than that. Competing in the discussion meet helped me gain confidence in myself and has led me to do many things I other wise may not have done. Such as becoming the state YF&R chairman, testifying before a state senate committee, and speaking at the FFA convention.

I hear people tell me all the time that they cannot do things like this, but I believe they simply lack the confidence to try. I now look for opportunities to make myself do things that seem beyond my abilities, because I know these are opportunities for me to learn and improve myself.

I wish I had learned this lesson in high school as these FFA students are, they are far ahead of where I was at their age.