摘要：
Foreword:Confidenceissomethingthatcanbedifficulttocomeby,especiallyifyouhaveexperience... Foreword:
Confidenceissomethingthatcanbedifficulttocomeby,especiallyifyouhaveexperiencedsetbacksorstrugglesinyourlife.Iknowthisfrompersonalexperience,asIusedtostrugglewithconfidenceissuesmyself.However,therewasonepersonwhomadeallthedifferenceforme–myteacher.Shebelievedinmewhennooneelsedid,andherunwaveringsupportgavemetheconfidenceIneededtosucceed.Itallstartedinmythirdyearofhighschool.Ihadjustmovedtoanewtown,andIwasstrugglingtoadjusttomynewsurroundings.Mygradeswereslipping,andIwashavingahardtimemakingfriends.Tomakemattersworse,Iwasdealingwithsomepersonalissuesathomethatwereweighingheavilyonmymind.Oneday,Iwassittinginclassfeelingparticularlydownwhenmyteacher,Ms.Lee,calledmeuptoherdesk.Atfirst,IthoughtIwasintrouble,butinsteadsheaskedmehowIwasdoing.Itwasasimplegesture,butitmeanttheworldtome.
Overthenextfewweeks,Ms.Leecontinuedtocheckinonmeandoffermewordsofencouragement.ShenoticedwhenIwasstrugglinginclassandofferedtostayafterschooltohelpmecatchup.Sheeveninvitedmetojoinaclubshewasrunning,whichhelpedmemakesomenewfriends.Atfirst,IwashesitanttoacceptMs.Lee'shelp.Ididn'twanttobeaburdenonheroranyoneelse.Butshewouldn'ttakenoforananswer.ShesawsomethinginmethatIcouldn'tseeinmyself–potential.Astimewenton,Ms.Lee'sinfluenceonmylifebecamemoreandmoreapparent.Istartedtobelieveinmyselfandmyabilities.Ibecamemoreconfidentinclassandstartedtoparticipatemore.Ievenjoinedtheschool'sdebateteam,somethingIneverwouldhavethoughtpossiblebefore.Oneday,afteraparticularlysuccessfuldebatetournament,Ms.Leepulledmeasideandtoldmehowproudshewasofme.ShesaidthatsheknewIhaditinmeallalongandthatshewasgladIfinallysawittoo.
Thosewordsmeanteverythingtome.TheywereavalidationofallthehardworkIhadputinandalltheprogressIhadmade.Theygavemetheconfidencetokeeppushingforward,tokeepstrivingforsuccess.Overtheyears,Ms.Leecontinuedtobeasourceofsupportandinspirationforme.Shewrotemelettersofrecommendationforcollegeandevenattendedmygraduationceremony.Sheneverstoppedbelievinginme,evenwhenIdoubtedmyself.Lookingbackonmyhighschoolyearsnow,IrealizejusthowmuchMs.Leechangedmylife.Withoutherguidanceandsupport,Idon'tknowwhereIwouldbetoday.Shegavemetheconfidencetopursuemydreamsandnevergiveuponmyself.IoftenwonderifMs.Leeknowsjusthowmuchshemeanstome.Ihopeshedoes.Ihopesheknowsthatherkindnessandbeliefinmechangedmylifeforthebetter.
Sometimesallittakesisonepersontomakeadifferenceinyourlife.Forme,thatpersonwasMs.Lee.Sheshowedmethatnomatterhowhardthingsmayseem,thereisalwayssomeonewhobelievesinyou.IbelievethateveryonedeservestohavesomeonelikeMs.Leeintheirlife–someonewhoseestheirpotentialandencouragesthemtoreachforthestars.ItisbecauseofherthatIamtheconfident,successfulpersonIamtoday.IhopethatonedayIcanbethatpersonforsomeoneelse.IhopethatIcanbetheonetoofferwordsofencouragementandsupport,justlikeMs.Leedidforme.Ifyouarestrugglingwithconfidenceissues,knowthatyouarenotalone.It'sokaytoaskforhelp,andtherearepeopleouttherewhowanttosupportyou.Rememberthatonepersoncanmakeallthedifference.
Believeinyourselfandyourabilities.Knowthatyouarecapableofachievinggreatthings,evenifitdoesn'tfeellikeitrightnow.Andmostimportantly,surroundyourselfwithpeoplewhobelieveinyoutoo.Confidenceisnotsomethingthatcomeseasily,butitissomethingthatcanbedevelopedovertime.Ittakespracticeandpatience,butitisworthitintheend.Takesmallstepstowardsbuildingyourconfidence.Setachievablegoalsforyourselfandcelebrateyoursuccesses,nomatterhowsmalltheymayseem.Surroundyourselfwithpositivityandfocusonyourstrengths.Andifyoueverfeellikegivingup,rememberthestoryofMs.Leeandhowshehelpedmefindmyconfidence.Knowthatthereissomeoneouttherewhobelievesinyoutoo,evenifyoudon'tseeityet.
Inconclusion,confidenceissomethingthatcanbedifficulttocomeby,butwiththerightsupportandencouragement,anythingispossible.Itisbecauseofmyteacher,Ms.Lee,thatIamtheconfident,successfulpersonIamtoday.Andforthat,Iwillbeforevergrateful.Soifyoutakeanythingawayfromthisstory,letitbethis–believeinyourselfandyourabilities,surroundyourselfwithpositivity,andnevergiveuponyourdreams.Withtherightmindsetandsupport,anythingispossible.Thankyou,Ms.Lee,forgivingmetheconfidencetosucceed.Youwillalwaysholdaspecialplaceinmyheart.Andtoanyoneelseouttherestrugglingwithconfidenceissues,knowthatyouarenotalone.Youarecapableofachievinggreatness,andthereissomeoneouttherewhobelievesinyoutoo.
