Mrs.

Flowers:MyContinuation

Imfeeling...doubtfulaboutthis.IhesitantlytoldMrs.Flowers.
Well,thereisonesimplesolution:dont.Youhavetheskillsyouneedtomakesurethis
presentationisthebestitcouldbe.Highschoolistooshort.Makeitworthallthewhile!Besides,
whenyou'regraduatingintwoyearsyouwillrememberyoureleventhgradeasthetimeyou
branchedandcreatedtheleavestoyourfuture.
Theyearwashereoralpresentations.Writingthespeechhadbeennoworrytome
becauseIknewexactlywhatIhadtodominusthepresentationpart.It'sbeenthreeyearssince
Mrs.BerthaFlowersthrewmemyfirstlifeline,andIhavelistenedtoherquiteabit.Participation
inclasswasmystrongsuit,andIvemademorefriendsthanIeverthoughtimaginable.Theonly
eventthathaseverscaredmesinceeighthgradewastheoralpresentation.Theoralpresentation
wasonlygiventoafewpeopleinthewholeschool.Yes,itwasahugehonortobeinvolvedin
suchaproject.Thecatchwasthatthetotalpopulationofthedistrictthatisaroundfivethousand
peoplewouldbewatchingyouonafootballfieldwaitingforamistake.Thespeecheswere
supposedtobeinspiringandmotivatingsothattheaudiencewouldfeeltouchedbythetimethey
walkedoffthedewygrass.
IsatdowninfrontofthemirrornearMrs.Flowerstablelacedwiththefinestofcloths
anddeclaredwithpaintedpinkflowers.Thecuecardsweretenselybeingheldinmytrembling
fingertipscloseenoughformyeyestoreadthepapers.
Goodmorning.IstuttereduncontrollablytoMrs.Flowers.Mynameismynameis
Margueriteand
Marguerite,youhavetostopworrying!Lifewillbeasdryasapavementrockifyour
heartbeatdoesntfeellikeyourchestwillexplodeonceinawhile.Remember,withinyourtime
oflivingregretcancomeinmanyforms.Theworstformiswhenyouarethinkingaboutwhat
youcouldhavedonetomakeyourselfbeatoutofyourchest.Youhavetodothisforyourself,no
oneelse.
Iwantto.Thewordsjustdontflowout!
Thinkofyourmouthasawaterfall.Ithasthepowertodotheunthinkablepositiveor
negative.Youwantthewordstodancegentlyoutprovidingagreatsenseofhelptothosewho
areinneed.Thewaterpressuredependsallonyou.Canyoudoit?
Thethoughtsallracedthroughmyhead,andIdidnotknowhowtocope.ShouldIgiveup?
ShouldIkeeptrying?
Icandoit.Iconfidentlytoldher.
Iwentbacktomycomfortinghomewithmyspeechfloatinginthebackhead.Iwas
tryingtopullitout,butitwasjammed.
ItwasofficiallythreedaysuntilIhadtogivemyspeechandIhadreachedoutfarenoughinto
mybraintocreateapresentablespeech.TherushoffearcameovermewhenIfinishedreciting

myoralpresentationforthetenthtime.Itsclose.Itsclose!IwasmorenervousthanIhadever
beeninmyschoolingexperience.
IwalkedoverwithaweightonmyshoulderstoMrs.Flowershome.Shewastheone
thingthatmightbeabletoliftmyspiritsup.
Hello,Marguerite.Howislifetreatingyouthesedays?Sheaskedmepolitely.
Imratherscared,Mrs.Flowers.IknowIcandothis,thereisjustonelingeringthoughtthatis
tellingmetogiveup.
Well,Iwillnotletyoudothis!Everythingyouhaveworkedforwillgodownthedrain
alongwithyourselfrespect!Peoplearewaitingforyou.Nothim,norher,justyou.Nomatter
whatformyoucomein,itsyouthatisthegoldinapileofsilver.
Okay.Icandothis.Ireallycandothis.
Thedaywasfinallyhere,andmyfeelingscouldnotevenbedescribed.Mypulsewaspounding
likeahammeronasolidwall.IstartedtowalkontothegreenfieldwhenIcaughtaglimpseof
Mrs.Flowers.IthoughtabouteverythingshesaidlikehowIwasapieceofgoldscatteredina
clusterofsilver.Iwasdifferentthantherestofmyclassmates.IcameacrossthefactthatIhad
somanymomentsofsuccesswithinthetimeframeofMrs.Flowerslessontoknow.Icando
this.
Iwalkedontothepodiumwithunsteadyhandsandasetmind.Hello.IamMarguerite,a
graduateoftheyearof2018.IkeptgoingtakingbreathseachtimeIfeltlikeIwouldcollapse
rightthereinfrontofeveryone.Isawmymomoutintheaudiencewithhopefulsparkles
glimmeringinhereyes.IsawthefriendsthatIconnectedwith,andtheyallhadbrightsmileson
theirfaces.IstartedtowellupwithtearsbecauseIrealizedthatImeantsomethingtoeveryone
standingupapplaudingforme.Thankyoufortakingthetimetolisten.
Iwalkedoffthestagewithprideandasmirk.Youdidit.Youcandoit.