On Encouragement, Kindness, and Writing

As President of WAG, Jenny was invited to be the Guest Speaker at the inaugural ceremony of the P.K. Yonge UF Research School’s induction ceremony of 29 Seniors into the National English Honor Society (NEHS). Jenny received a lot of positive feedback from people who found the speech motivational and inspiring. She would like to share this speech and hopes it gives you a different perspective on how we can help each other, not only during the holiday season, but all year long.

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I feel privileged to be here today to recognize each of you as the leaders and role models of your generation. Each of you should feel proud of what you’ve accomplished to bring you to this point in your academic career.

As you know, I am the President of the Writers Alliance of Gainesville. I am a children’s author and illustrator. I haven’t been writing long; since 2017.

I like to think that I’m pretty good; kind of an “undiscovered” talent. I write for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it gives me, my inner being, pleasure. It took me years to start writing because no one told me I could.

That kind of brings me to my first point:

Don’t let anyone discourage you from trying. That’s really hard. Here I am trying to encourage you to be all you can be, yet I know it’s one of the hardest things to do. No matter what you do there is always going to be someone with a dissenting opinion, a negative voice.

You want to go to college? Someone will tell you that they didn’t go to college and they’re doing just fine.

You don’t want to go to college? Someone will tell you that college is the only way to get ahead in this world.

How do you learn to ignore those voices and choose your own path?

That’s tough to say, but you first have to know a little bit about power and control. Every time you talk to someone, energy is exchanged. If you are not aware, you and the other person get into a battle for control.

Have you ever been in a conversation and the other person kept trying to “one-up” you? They’re trying to gain the upper hand and take the conversation’s power.

Have you ever been in a conversation and the other person starts giving you the silent treatment? You can try to get power by being silent, too.

Maybe you’re the one who has accidentally fallen into these traps. Maybe someone has used this type of power trip on you.

Education is the key to just about everything. If you know the dynamics of power and control, you are actually the one in control.

I know you may not believe it, but you have an incredible amount of power. People look at your success with awe. Some of those people are going to be jealous and try to take away your power.

So, let me give you a tool that may help you when you become flummoxed and start losing your power.

Writing. Writing equals control.

Whenever those voices try to push you around, whenever you get confused, start writing. You can use writing to figure out your situation or you can use writing to escape from your situation. And the more you write, the less those negative voices have control over you. Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged, said, “Words are a lens to focus one’s mind.” I couldn’t agree more. And then, if you feel like it (because you’re in control), you may want to share your writing with others.

Once you have control over those nay-saying voices, you can do anything.

A cliché, yet still true, is “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Basically that means, if you focus your energies on the things you want, you can figure out the ways to accomplish them. Writing can help you brainstorm ways to work through the difficult minutia.

You want to be an astronaut and be one of the first people to live on Mars?

You’ve already taken your first steps to achieving that goal just by preparing yourself academically. So, what’s the next step?

Certainly don’t let anyone tell you it’s too difficult to get there!

I would like to give you a gift. The gift of giving.

Maya Angelou, who wrote I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, didn’t let bullies strip her of her power and self-confidence. That’s the whole crux of the story. She got her power by giving willingly. She said, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

Brené Brown put it another way. She says each of us is a brightly burning flame. Surround yourself with people who will help you keep burning brightly. Conversely, don’t be a person that dulls or extinguishes someone else’s flame. Helping keep another person’s fire going will help yours grow in intensity.

Give your power freely. Don’t tear down; build up. You are in a unique and powerful position as members of the NEHS.

Use your power for good. Consciously decide not to be someone else’s roadblock. Consciously decide to give the nay-sayer a smile. Instead of giving them the negative energy they want because they feel powerless, be the bigger person.

Be their advocate.

Help them figure out how to get to Mars.