Your words still haunt me. “You’re not smart enough to do that; maybe you should shoot lower.” That moment is a reoccurring flashback for me, probably because you affirmed one of my biggest fears…That I actually wasn’t able to do what I wanted. That I wasn’t smart enough… Don’t have what it takes. But this letter is a thank you to you.

Not only did I achieve my dream, I went past it and am successful. You see, your words started a fire in me. A fire that not a lot of people can start, so props to you.

I have turned into a determined person. I very rarely take no for an answer, I put myself out there, getting in touch with whoever I need to to make my dreams a reality. Whether it be emails to people years and years older than me, calling businesses multiple times after no responses, I have turned into a go-getter. And I owe that all to you.

Because of your stinging words, I thought to myself, “You know what? No one tells me that I can’t do something. No one tells me that I’m not smart enough. No one tells me that I don’t have what it takes. So just watch me prove him wrong. Watch me prove the world wrong.” Now, I will admit, a little bit of my advancements I can mark up to spite, but I am not ashamed. I have now changed the spite into a challenge to try just a little bit harder.

I now own my own business. I work for one of the biggest theater companies in the capital region. I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Albany branch of Odyssey. And how did I get here? Well, if I’m being honest, I got here because of you. I got here because your words hit a nerve with me and because of what you said, I had and still have never been more motivated to succeed in my entire life.

I’m still searching for opportunities. I met Broadway actors because I was diligent in emailing people (maybe to the point of annoyance). But it happened because I was persistent. It happened because I wanted to show the world what I’m made of. I’m not someone that is knocked down easily. When I’m rejected, I figure out where I went wrong, learn from it, and am onto the next potential opportunity.

So you may not think that I am smart enough to achieve something that means the world to me. You may not think I have what it takes. But just watch me. Watch me not only meet my goals and desires but outdo them. Watch me shoot for the stars and make it. Watch me love what I do and be successful.

So my past friend, thank you for your words. I used to take them as heat, but now I realize that maybe those words may have been the best ones I could have heard. The ones I needed to hear the most. I hope you remember that conversation.

Best wishes,

Just Watch Me