Speak Up    

And shocking.

I still have to catch myself sometimes, remind myself I’m not who I once was, take in the knowledge that I’m now a sought-after speaker.

How did this surprising meteoric rise to fame happen?

I’ve come a long way from that first model lesson in seminary. But my transformation precedes that by at least a decade.

The comments on my report card were predictable: “We wish she would share more in class!” “Such depth, she could potentially contribute so much.” “Quiet, but an important asset to the grade.”