The quote that I'm using for the beginning of the speech I heard in the movie 'Coach Carter', and it is what gave me the idea for this story. I don't own any of this I just enjoy using other peoples things.
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"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world, there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine, as children do. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others." I paused to let these words sink in, hoping that my classmates understood what I was trying to say. "When we were sophomores, a group of five boys transferred to our school. I'm sure you all remember them." There were acknowledgement nods and murmurs from everyone. "They were only here for a year, and I'm sure that somewhere down the road of our life we'll forget, or have to look at our yearbook to remember what they looked like, but we will never forget the impression that they left on our hearts, and in our minds. I know that I never will.
"At that point in my life, I was scared to show who I really was. I'm sure that most of you remember how I was picked on, and I would just scrunch up in a little ball most of the time and try to shrink down as much as I could. Those five boys showed me that by doing so, I was only hurting myself. They didn't do anything fancy, they were simply themselves. And by being themselves, they showed me that it was all right for me to be my self. That nothing bad was going to happen if I did.
"Those five boys showed me that I could shine, even though I wasn't as tall, or as pretty, or as smart as others. That just by being myself, I could help others to conquer their fear, as I was helped to conquer mine." I took a deep breath, calming myself so that I wouldn't cry. "After today most of us will not see each other again for ten years, when we have our high school reunion, if we even make it to that. I hope that the next time we do see each other, we have done our best to be ourselves, and let our own light shine through."
I sat back down in my seat amidst cheers and clapping, and Kari, who was graduating with honors, squeezed my hand and gave me a brilliant smile, which I returned shakily. I then searched the audience, finally spotting my brother about halfway in the middle seating area, and he gave me the biggest smile that I had ever seen on his face, and two thumbs up. I really smiled then, and all of my nervousness washed away to be replaced by my own pride. I had done it. I had proven to myself that I shined just as much as the former Gundam Pilots.
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I hope that this lived up to expectations, and that you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.