The words we utter to children, no matter what their age, are important. Those words can build them up, or tear them down. They can make them, or break them.
Thatโs because children look up to those around them to help them interpret the world, those around them, and themselves.
The tiniest bit of enthusiasm or negativity that you donโt think twice about projecting can stick with a child forever and turn them into the adult that they become. Children have the ability to do and become just about anything if they are told itโs possible and encouraged to follow through.
But if children arenโt taught that the possibilities in their lives are endless and that they can be or do anything they aspire to do, wellโฆ
Thankfully, one young woman didnโt have to find out the latter.
She had a role model who encouraged her to grow up and follow her dreams.
That person was her 12-year-old babysitter named Raquel, who is now a poet that loves you. Raquel didnโt spend long hours with her or lecture her with talks filled with wisdom, and she didnโt serve as the girlโs mentor.
All she did was encourage the little girl she babysat for and showed a little bit of interest and enthusiasm in the things that little girl was interested in.
That little girl went onto pursue her dream of being an artist and went on to get accepted to three major art schools. All because of the confidence Raquel helped to instill in her.
Raquel explained the situation on her blog, Red Blood, Black Ink, which features her poetry:
โWhen I was 12 I babysat this girl for a few years and she would come to me and show me her art, drag me by my wrists and point at the pieces sheโd made during the week. And sheโd be like โdo the voiceโ and Iโd put on a sports-announcer Olympics-style voice and be like โsuch form! this level of coloring! Why I havenโt seen such perfection in Crayola in a long time. And what is this? Why jeff, now this is a true riskโฆ it seems sheโs made โฆ a monochrome pink canvasโฆ. I havenโt seen this attempted since winter 1932โฆ and I gotta say, jeff, itโs absolutely splendid.โ And sheโd fall back giggling. At the end of every night sheโd check with me: โDid you really like it?โ and Iโd say, โYesโ and talk about something I noticed and tucked her in.โ
โShe was just accepted into three major art schools. She wrote me a letter. Inside was a picture from when she was younger. Monochrome pink. โThank you,โ it said, โTo somebody who saw the best in me.'โ
Sometimes it doesnโt take big grand gestures to change a personโs life. Sometimes itโs the little things.
So, the next time you utter some words in front of a child, think of how Raquelโs words had the power to change that little girlโs life.
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