“Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
People said that I was too young to be a speaker. That I lacked the experience of white heard 50 something motivational speakers. They said people listen to experience.
Friends, I am a respecter of people’s experiences. I know that evaluated experiences are a rich source of wisdom.
When I was a school teacher, I learned more about relationship and learning from the stories shared by my students than from the hundreds of books about relationships that I read. I was the first to tell my students that each person’s experience is a gift. Nobody has the same exact experience as the other person. It is therefore to our benefit to allow the other person to share his story because everytime we listen we do expand our world. So, it was always my prayer that each of my students open up, improve her self-esteem, and gain enough confidence to speak and share her world with us. Experiences are God’s gifts which we can share with others to enrich people’s lives.
Some people think that experience is gained by growing old. One time, as I was about to start a workshop, a senior manager whom I thought was just ten years older than me stood up and expressed his disappointment. He said that I was too young to train them; the participants have been trained many times before here and abroad. He concluded his long speech saying,” I know I will just be wasting my time, but because I respect the organizer, I will stay for a while.” After that, one of the organizers grabbed another microphone and reminded him of the house rules numbered 1: Respect the speaker at all times. I thought that it was not a show of disrespect. The man was just expressing the wealth of his experiences. With his titles, education, and trips abroad, he must have heard OLD wise people and YOUNG mediocre speakers. It was a two-day train the trainer program. I started speaking by introducing myself and my humble beginnings, for I did not have their titles, education and trips abroad. I accepted that it was my privilege to speak before learned people and that I expected to learn more from them as they will learn from each other in the next few hours. And since it was a learning moment, I told them that different audiences have unique experiences and expectations. I promised to them that they will learn how to handle each “difficult” audience. Then I told them that as much as I respect experience, I don’t see experience the way most people do. Experience is not measured by age. Tumandang walang pinagkatandaan (Have grown old but did not learn) is a phrase familiar to us Filipinos. Some people have overrated old age, something most people will reach. One does not have to be old to gain experiece. One does not have to be old to have wisdom. Experience is not growing old. Experience is growing up.
Wonderful things happened on that day. The “disappointed” workshop participant gave me “excellent” rates in his evaluation sheet. The company opted to hire another guy with title and all for the second batch. After that, they requested me to facilitate the next four batches.
My teacher friends, I encourage you to gain experience. Remember that teaching using the same lesson plan for 15 years does not give you 15 years of experience. It is one year experience repeated 14 more times. Grow up as you grow old in your profession. What was true in 1975 is history. We learn from the past, but we live for today and prepare our children for the future. For young teachers, always remember that you have experiences which the old people in your profession will never experience. Learn from them, but don’t be afraid to share with them what you know. That is one of your special works.
For parent friends, always remember that you did not have previous parenting experiences before your first child was born. You were born into parenthood the same day as your child. Some of you must have doubted your capability. You can do your special work.
For my young friends, you don’t have to wait growing old for you to do special things. People around us have overrated education and old age. You can achieve the first and get to the second. Make use of the most important key to success: YOU.
Figure out your mission, the special work you are meant to do. Then do it. Some people will say that you are too young (or too old) to make a difference in this world. Thank them for their opinions. But don’t allow the opinion of others about their own limitations to determine your actions. You are meant to fulfill great things.
It is not always easy to speak before people who are not willing to listen to you because you are still young, to speak before those who judge appearances. Some people will be hesitant to give you time to speak. But speak if you must (or do whatever you are supposed to do)! Do your special work, and lives will change.
Remember God’s words to Jeremiah.
‘Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.”
Do your special work.
Jef Menguin
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