Oh hey. So tomorrow we (my Ag teachers, another member, and I) are going to do this little presentation about our Ag program for a bunch of big time business peeps and board members in the district. Mr. Jones is going to explain a bunch of hoop-la about the three career paths our programs focuses on (animals, horticulture, and landscaping... none of which I've ever planned to be apart... I'm sort of an oddball product of FFA). And then he will introduce the other member and I to talk about how agriculture has had an impact on our lives. This is my spill about it. It's not a subject I talk about a lot because I try not to use it as any sort of crutch or excuse, I'm stronger than that. But my teacher asked me to talk about it because it's a different view point than talking just about the animals or whatever. In realizing I still needed to blog this week, I decided to also share it with you. It is very possibly something you don't know about me, so go crazy in learning something new.
Oh and remember while you're reading that it is meant to be spoken in front of a crowd...
"I'm Taylor Atchley, the North Shore FFA President and a senior at NSSH.
I've been lucky to be apart of FFA and agriculture since the sixth grade,
and with its help, I've come a long way.
As a child, I had major speech problems. At age six, my mother was
still the
only one who could decipher what I was trying to say beneath
my murmurs, slurs, and stutters. So, when it was time for me to start school,
I was enrolled in intense speech therapy. I spent
6 years staying behind from
recess or being taken out of art class to go practice speaking; learning how
to shape my mouth to made sounds like "CH" and "SH". This made me
stay in a shell of shyness for a long, LONG time. I wouldn't talk to
people because I was afraid of them saying "What?! I don't understand you."
after I speak. It made me extremely insecure.
I literally did not talk.
I joined FFA as that timid girl. But in finding a passion for agriculture, I've
been able to overcome my insecurities. It started by being in a new
environment where I didn't know anybody and I had to
speak to make
new friends. And then with the support of these new friends, I was handed a
microphone and, shaking in terror, uttered out a simple announcement.
But I still dreaded speaking.
Getting into high school, I was able to learn a lot more about agriculture.
Then, at some point it all just clicked that agriculture is a BIG DEAL and the
only way I can educate others about it's importance is to stand up and
TELL THEM! I started making myself speak to crowds, no matter
how scare and nervous and uncomfortable I was, telling them how
agriculture effects everybody. Through this I was able to, over time,
gain confidence that I had lacked. Then one day I was speaking to an audience
and found myself completely comfortable.
Agriculture has helped me grow as a person and a leader, it gave me a
reason to speak up. I can't think of a more positive contribution to my life.
I am NOT that shy kid anymore. Now, I'm here talking to you, just telling you
all about my struggles like it's nothing. And THIS[public speaking] is what I love
to do. I jump at the chance to speak to an audience, even though right now
my face is probably beat red. I love doing this! I love it so much it's one of the
reasons I'm going to college at the University of Texas to study in the communication
field. Without agriculture and the FFA, I'd probably be in some corner right now,
dead quiet, fearing the moment when I would have to speak. But I like being here
with the confidence to speak to all of you a lot better, I wouldn't give this up for anything.
Agriculture has made my life so much better and has helped me prepare for
a very bright future."
And that's that. The only other thing I have for you is an assumption of what I will precisely look like tomorrow morning when I'm deliver the speech. Lovely... KBYE.
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