Often I believe that we look toward outside sources for inspiration. We love to hear about the person who, against all odds, rose up to meet the challenge. We are motivated by the stories of Michael Jordan, Einstein, and even fairytales such as Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast. Each story inspires us to rise up and be examples to the rest of the world. While each of these stories is uniquely inspiring, I believe the most inspiring story is our own.

In today’s society, more often than not, we will all be bombarded with self deprecating thoughts. We will be told we are not good enough. We will be told we cannot achieve. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges in life is to believe in your potential, to believe that you have skills and talents that cannot be replaced, and to believe that your voice deserves to be heard. When we are successful in truly believing in ourselves, our own inspiring story comes to life.

If you are anything like me, the thought of leading an inspiring life is a bit humorous. As a high school senior, filling out applications for colleges and applying for scholarships has left me considering just how under qualified I am. I do not feel inspirational, especially to myself. However, I have realized recently that perhaps it is not the big things that inspire. Maybe instead, it is the smallest things that truly make the biggest impact. In reflecting on these past few high school years, I have been bombarded with a plethora of memories. Some are big. Winning state FBLA and feeling the breeze tousle my hair as I celebrated with the rest of my chapter atop the town’s fire truck was one of those big events. Lamenting with the rest of my basketball team as we neared the end of a tough game and realized that this would be our last time playing in high school together was one of those as well. However, I believe the most rewarding experiences were the smallest ones. The multiple events in which each member of our chapter competed and the accompanying study time will continue to be revered. The painstaking hours of sweaty basketball practice will evoke an eternal hatred for wall sits and sprints, but I will always remember the hours of laughter that filled our bus on the way to every game.

The friendships that have been forged in these high school years will never be forgotten. While contemplating on these past experiences, I was astonished to feel the light caress of a euphoric wonder seep into my thoughts. I realized the impact each person involved in these events had on me. With this realization, suddenly my past experiences became my source of inspiration. I recognized how much I had learned and how far I had come with my fellow classmates. It is nothing short of a miracle that we were able to grow and learn together and forge these friendships. Moving on to college at times seems like an overwhelming endeavor. However, I remember my past experiences, and somehow it doesn’t seem so daunting anymore. My own story has become my refuge and my source of inspiration.

By remembering who we are, where we have come from, and who we want to be, we are successful in believing in ourselves. We all have the opportunity to dream big and to go far in life. By simply remembering even the smallest of past experiences, we are able to generate a source of inspiration that will propel us into the future. Each one of us has what it takes. Believe in what you can do, dream of your future, and inspire even yourself!