Page 31 - March 2020

Embrace Your

Moment

Yusuf Arifin

Shoulders shaking. Heart racing. Eyes
fluttering. My first speech before my peers was

one of complete unfamiliarity. I wasn’t sure if
all the members would actually listen to what I
had to say, or laugh me off the stage. What if I
was just a bad speaker in general? Would I still

be allowed into Future Stars?
Thoughts and questions like these flooded
my mind in the days leading up to the big day. I
had practiced my speech until I could recite it in

my sleep, but nothing helped calm my nerves. I
walked onto that stage for the first time feeling teachings I have received. One of the biggest
clammy and scared enough to run away. satisfactions as my role as Club President is
That first speech was one of many that seeing our new members develop and grow

have shaped who I’ve become as a person. Sure, into much better communicators, speakers, and
my first speech as a tiny 5th grader was short evaluators. Person by person, our club is growing
and really basic, but the experience was so much a community of hard-working, intelligent young
more than just a few minutes of me running people.

my mouth. It was a cornerstone in my path to I simply cannot state enough how much of
becoming an officer of one of the most influential an impact Future Stars has had on my personal
clubs of my life. life. Everything I’ve heard and observed, from
Four years later, as a freshman in high funny guest speakers to intense officer meetings,

school, I’m already experiencing the benefits has taught me to stay true to what I believe in
of going to Future Stars. Most notably, the no matter what. Our coaches have consistently
leadership skills I’ve acquired. Who would’ve taught us that our age and talent shouldn’t matter.
thought that me from the past—a shy, timid It’s about the effort we put in.

kid—would evolve into someone much more So to that kid who fears public speaking like
outspoken and obnoxious? death: Embrace your moment. Everyone wants
Even outside of school and in to hear you speak. With that motivation and
extracurriculars, I’m now able to pass down the mindset, the possibilities to grow are endless.

VOICES! | MARCH 2020 31