By Jabari Bovell
Sometimes, the people around you can see your potential before you can see it yourself. As teenagers, we are still trying to figure out who we are, what we’re good at, and what we want to do with our lives. During that process, having someone believe in you can make a bigger difference than they may ever realize.
I’ve had people in my life who pushed me to do things I probably wouldn’t have tried on my own. Whether it was writing, podcasting, speaking up, or stepping outside of my comfort zone, their encouragement helped me see that I was capable of more. Sometimes all it takes is somebody saying, “I know you can do this,” for you to start believing it too.
I think encouragement is especially important for young people because we hear so much about what we’re doing wrong. People talk about our generation being distracted, lazy, disrespectful, or always on our phones. But what happens when somebody focuses on what we can become instead?
A few words of encouragement can stick with a person for years. A teacher can notice a talent. A mentor can open a door. A family member can remind you not to give up. Even a friend can say something at the right moment that changes how you see yourself.
I also believe God puts certain people in our lives for a reason. Sometimes we may think we met someone by accident, but later we realize they taught us something, encouraged us, or helped lead us toward an opportunity we never expected.
That is why I believe we should not only appreciate the people who believe in us—we should become those people for somebody else. If you see potential in someone, tell them. If you notice somebody doing something great, encourage them.
You never know how powerful your words might be.
Sometimes you just need someone else to see it first.
