It's that magical time once again, The beginning of Summer! Personally, the end of the previous school year always brings back the nostalgic feelings of receiving yearbooks. When I think back about the past yearbooks, there is always one particular statement that sticks out in the back of my mind. At the end of my seventh grade year a teacher had signed the back of my yearbook with Don't be afraid to stand up and be counted.

As a simple thirteen year old going through puberty I was not quite sure what the teacher meant by it. Standing up in what way? Being counted in what way? Did they mean numerically? This is a simple phrase that has indefinitely changed my life and has stuck by my side even now in my early twenties.

A huge anonymous thank you to this teacher. It made perfect sense why this teacher had said that. During my middle school years I was not the most confident individual. I hated any sort of public speech. I kept any opinions to myself and rarely took the opportunity to answer any question even when I knew the answer.

Time has passed by, and as I have grown older confidence is something I have gained much more strength in. Naturally I have thought a lot more about the idea of standing up and being counted lately. I believe that I now understand what that teacher meant along with his hidden agenda.