~:[CH14 - Day 74]:~ Following Footsteps

 
~:[CH14 - Day 74]:~ Following Footsteps

It's difficult when you have to follow in the footsteps of those who came before you, especially when they have a long track record of success. We've done pretty well year after year at Nationals. We could limit the size of our delegation and only take our top delegates, however, we trust that we can take more delegates and that they'll do the work to rise up to the level we are expecting. We had a handful of delegates who didn't qualify for the team and I placed them in the Nationals Training Academy, which assigned them extra work to help improve their skills. It was great to see them do the work to improve despite facing numerous struggles. Although it's difficult to follow in the footsteps of those who succeeded before, it also means it will push you to rise up to their level. One of those students who went to the academy progressed slowly, but in the end, he also stood on this very stage and also gave a speech after receiving the awards of distinction and the honor of speaking at plenary. While we had delegates, like the two pictured, who excelled from the start, sometimes, when you push yourself, instead of following in the footsteps of others, you gain the skills and confidence to guide yourself and make your own footprints for others to follow. I was proud of my delegates who put in so much work to carry on the tradition of our program. They maintained their composure and they represented our program the way we always hope, with substance and diplomacy. As while it may feel impossible to follow int he footsteps of some, never count yourself out and find it in yourself to forge your own path to create footprints for others to follow.