Against The Current
Have you ever felt like you’re swimming against the current? I did, especially when I decided a shark hat was the perfect touch to my outfit at Area Officer Institute. What started as a quirky fashion statement turned into a powerful lesson about embracing my unique path, both in and out of FFA. It was something small, but it instantly made me recognizable the whole 24 hours I wore it. The rest of the weekend, I was “the guy in the shark hat,” and this opened so many new doors and created friendships. I wasn’t worried about standing out; I was just being myself, and I was okay with being different.
Whenever I think of sharks, I think of an American staple: the Bass Pro Shops Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium. The second you enter the aquarium, you’re greeted by a school of fish. You look up and see all of these fish swimming in one direction together. But what stands out to me are the fish that are different in a way. They are swimming in the opposite direction. This opened my eyes to see you don’t always have to follow the current. You can take a different path and embrace being different.
As I progress in life, I’ve noticed my path will be different. Unlike most of my teammates, I am not attending college. I’ve always done things differently, and I’m sure you have too. It may feel like swimming against the current, but I’ve learned not to let that discourage me.
As FFA members, we all have something that makes us different. Embrace your different path. Don’t be afraid to swim against the current. It doesn’t make you less. In fact, it makes you authentically you. Being true to that difference doesn’t close doors; it actually opens entirely new ones to unique opportunities. Dare to be different and don’t be afraid to go against the current.