Believe in Yourself

Before you read. The book shows a boy at the bottom of a staircase with one very tall step. What do you feel at the bottom of a hard task? Excitement, nerves, self-doubt. What makes you take the first step? Think of one time you did, like speaking on stage for the first time.

A word first: status quo means things as they are now. People happy with the status quo don't want any change.

Read the poem in your book on page 246, by Robert Langley. Its four short stanzas speak directly to 'you'.

Stanza 1: meeting a challenge is personal. There is no crowd watching; it is just you, the future, and where you want to be.

Stanza 2: will the future pull you forward, or fear push you back? Choices are hard as the future comes near. Fear is natural; the question is whether you let it decide for you.

Stanza 3: it is easy and comfortable to keep the status quo, but this isn't what we are made for; it isn't how we grow.

Stanza 4: the first step is the hardest, and there is no turning back. You just need to believe in yourself for your future to be on track.