Draft for "This I Believe" Script

This week, I will use my RCL blog to showcase a draft of my "This I Believe" podcast script. Let me know what you think in the comments down below!

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I have dealt with stressful situations before, but none quite like this. As my seventeen year-old self sat on the high stand, staring out at the sweltering public pool waters I guarded daily, I can recall thinking that I was going to need to apply more sunscreen for the day. Just as I reached over to rub my burning left shoulder, I noticed something not quite right in the water. There was too much splashing in the deep end. As I looked on with more scrutiny, I noticed a kid about ten years old struggling to stay afloat in the churning water. As a rule of thumb, I began my countdown from ten before deciding to jump in or not, because children often like to splash and fake drown.

My pulse began to race as I reached the halfway mark of my countdown, and my mind began to frantically recall my training as I prepared for the leap. Shaking, I suddenly realized that I was letting fear and nerves control me. I promised myself, right then, to let the fear run its course, but only for the next three seconds. After that, I needed to make a decision. When the three seconds were up, I kicked the fear out. I knew exactly what to do. I exhaled, stood up, and jumped off my stand.

After diving in and returning the child to his frantic mother on the side of the pool, I sat inside the lifeguard house and replayed the whole event in my head. More importantly, I recalled the sense of calm and energy I gained once I shut the fear out. After my first save as a lifeguard, I grew increasingly more confident throughout the next three years, and I was able to make more difficult saves while never shedding a second thought before I acted.

I have always been a strong believer in self confidence. Being confident in stressful situations can help calm my nerves, and it allows me to think clearly. For me, self confidence is not about being cocky; rather, it is about believing that no matter what, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. My mom used to remind me of this phrase all the time as a child, and I truly believed it. After years of carrying this idea, I find confidence somewhat easy to find during my every day actions like taking tests, participating in sporting events, and performing musically. In fact, I often find myself performing better under pressure than during a private practice session.

Conversely, there are still the occasional events in life that throw my stomach for a loop and cause my palms to become sweaty. In moments like these, I recall that first save I ever had and I begin to count down slowly from three. After three seconds, the fear and nerves have had time to make their presence known. After three seconds, I am clear to think and ready to act accordingly. After three seconds, I am free.

I believe in letting the fear in.

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