It could’ve been a scene out of a Hitchcock movie
Picture this. You’re having a conversation with someone when, all of sudden, a group of blind teenagers starts coming at you. They’re all talking and tapping their canes.
What would you do? Run? Hide? Say, “excuse me”?
This was my first time at the school for the blind. The principal acted like it was nothing and continued the conversation. I was mortified. I didn’t know what to do. I stayed next to the principal and tried to act like everything was normal.
There was nothing normal about this.
Where should I put my hands? What should I say?
I found myself talking louder just so they would know that I was there.
Have you ever been in that position, where you felt like an imposter? You didn’t feel like you belonged. That’s how I felt.
Once I officially started my job at the school it didn’t get much better. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I didn’t know what I was. I didn’t know what I was supposed to be.
The principal came to me one day and could sense the concern in my voice. She said, “you’re a dad of three amazing people. Just be a dad. Encourage them if they need encouragement. Discipline them if they need disciplined. Laugh with them if they laugh at you. You got this!”
“Just be who you are.”
What a simple yet very profound statement. Just be who you are.
I think we all can take that advice. There are times that all of us feel imposter syndrome. We’re not sure if we’re qualified to be where were are. We’re not sure that they realize we don’t know what we’re doing.
That day was one of the first days that I realized I was way over my head. I had no clue what I was doing. I had no certification to be there. I wasn’t even blind. Sort of.
Yet, here I was. In the middle.
I was there for a reason. I needed to step into that role. What is it that you’re denying and need to step into?
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About the author
Brian E. Wagner is a Speaker, Author and Coach, and he is also the Creator of A RADICAL VISION.
