"We never know how high we are til we are asked to rise. And then if we are true to plan, our statures touch the skies. The heroism we recite will be a normal thing, did not ourselves the cubits warp for fear to be a king." -Emily Dickenson
I first read this poem in the seventh grade (and yes I know it by heart) and even before we did the whole analyzing and discussing of what the author meant and so on, the message behind it struck me. So much of what is said is how I was feeling, things I had already thought. A lot of times I underestimate my own potential. I don't seem as smart or as creative or outgoing as the next person and sometimes I am amazed at just how amazing I can be. Its true that you hardly realize just how far you've gone, or how well you've done until it is time to advance to the next level. I'm experiencing it right now, in my last semester before my nursing program and being on the brink of a new level makes me realize just how far I've come. In the past two years I have made friends and became apart of a school that I will miss. I had great teachers and unforgettable experiences that will come to shape the rest of my life. I got to witness multiple role models in women that have taught some of my classes that give me hope and something to aspire to be. Seeing them teach with such passion and knowing that their spiritual lives and family are not compromised and still remains first is encouraging to me and as far as I have come I am yet hopeful and expectant for where I want to go. I can say that in the past couple of years I have been at Missouri Baptist I have gotten a clearer picture than I had had before of what my life can look like and who I want to be. I have enjoyed watching these women just "be". As crazy as that sounds, I do! It was an eye opening experience to see women like my A&P and Psych teachers and how they are smart and strong and well rounded in life. You can see that they are fulfilled and whole individuals and I pray to learn from them not just academically but also practically and to be more like them as a wife, mother and person. They represent the kind of greatness I aspire to be. Living in times that we do it has become more and more of a commodity to find such women who are spiritually sound and happy with life and contribute such things to those around them. You never know how your presence affects those around you and I am glad to say that I was one of them. I expect more from myself and I know more of what is possible which makes it harder for me accept anything less from myself or my life.
"The heroism we recite would be a normal thing, did not ourselves the cubits warp for fear to be a king". This is my favorite part of Dickenson's poem. She gets right to the point, the meat and potatoes and plain and simply says, that we can ALL be great. That the level of greatness we so often talk about and uphold in others can be ours too as long as we stop trying to alter the measure at which we judge ourselves. As humans we can be so futile. We negatively judge others based off of their actions and ourselves off of our intentions when it comes to them doing things wrong or making mistakes. But then we also tend to exaggerate and over-romantisize the successes of those we envy or covet to be like, living in the shadows of their greatness rather than believing in the possibility of our own. I know it can be a scary thing to do, believing in yourself because that means you have expectations and those expectations means you could possibly be disappointed.. but you could also be greatly astounded. You can't gain what you don't risk. Bottom line. So, get out there and try something new or something you've been afraid to do if only just to say you did it, because the first step in becoming great is simply "being" and "doing".
