Being Brave: A Story of Growth

Hi everyone,

I recently watched a TED talk by a brave woman named Reshma Saujani. She said, "Teach girls bravery, not perfection." It made me think about my own experiences.

When I was little, I was brave. I'd climb to the top of the tallest slide at the playground and wave to everyone below. I was the queen of the monkey bars, swinging from one side to the other. I even climbed onto a bar, turned around, and slid down. I loved swinging high to the sky. While others were worried, I felt proud of my accomplishments. It took practice, but I pushed myself step by step. My dad also kept me safe, so I wasn't reckless.

But I was also shy. When I was in school in the United States, I was quiet. Most kids in my class were from different countries, and I didn't know how to talk to them. I was nervous to raise my hand in class. I only had a couple of friends, and we were all quiet.

Things changed when I moved to Shenyang, China. I had more friends who were like me. But my first teacher was very strict, and I was still shy. Then I met my best friend, Lao Li. She was brave, and she encouraged me to speak up in class, raise my hand, and have fun at break. Even if my ideas weren't always right, I realized nothing bad happened when I shared them.

Then, we had a new teacher in fifth grade who was really nice. She gave us chances to join school activities, instead of thinking we were rebels.

I found ways to express myself. I joined the Shenyang Gavel Club, which helped me practice speeches. I started to feel comfortable on stage. We cultured mushrooms in science class and presented our findings in front of many parents and other adults. I volunteered to host a science session, talking about robot swarms and how they move.

Lao Li and I discovered a new way to express ourselves - hand clapping. We practiced together and even made a video of our performance!

Over time, with the help of encouraging people, I learned that bravery grows through small acts of trying, even if I'm not always perfect. I hope my story inspires others struggling with shyness. They too can find their voice through practice and support from friends. Reshma Saujani is right - we need to teach girls to be brave and courageous instead of insisting on flawless perfection. I'm grateful for my journey of getting comfortable with imperfection on my path to bravery.

Thank you for listening today.