Being Valedictorian Is The Bare Minimum
As a star student and chronic teacher's pet, I grew accustomed to schools throwing a celebration on my behalf. My academic honors were usually accompanied by ceremonies, certificates, and congrats. So when I ranked #1 out of 845 students in my accelerated Educational Leadership graduate degree program (with no one to call out my greatness), I didn’t notice it until I was reviewing my transcript two years later!
How could I have never noticed such a huge accomplishment?!
I don’t know, but I have some ideas…
In some ways, it makes me think of how much Black women have had to endure to be seen, heard, and taken seriously. For the longest time, our opinions and ideas were glazed over or stolen. If we had a new perspective to add, our suggestions received a lackluster response. Although the tide is now turning, it makes sense why I (subconsciously) would not have acknowledged my gift as such.
But there are upsides to not placing an excessive emphasis on academic success. I proved to myself that teaching is my calling, even if it is manifesting differently from what I had originally imagined. I was so devoted to the content and execution of my profession that I stopped caring about grades. I was more concerned with my professors’ feedback and advice. Plus, as a woman of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a commitment to excellence is standard in all we do, academic or otherwise.
When you find what you love, then work and operate in that love, everything else will follow. It will also reveal the true art of humility. I don't recall if anyone ever explicitly told me this, but I always remember understanding that one’s knowledge/intelligence/talents are to be shared with others. It is used in service to all living things; to pour back into your community. I am honored to have been taught such a philosophy, even implicitly, because it has driven many of my efforts in education.
I have now learned how to balance praising myself for my creative endeavors while also never forgetting to whom all credit is due. Once I sat back and realized all I had accomplished, it gave me the confidence to reach for more. I somehow felt like I could achieve greater than I had previously thought possible. Yet, as I remember how blessed I am to have earned multiple post-secondary degrees, it becomes more of my responsibility to uplift others.
So as complex as it may be that I was not conditioned to be my own cheerleader; the Levi of Levi&Toonk is the best to ever do it! A dash of his outrageous boldness lives within each of us and always inspires me. Whatever your talent may be, boost yourself! We only need to take a moment, step back, and witness the greatness within ourselves.
