Maggie Starke

Oprah Winfrey once said, “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” As you go through life, you will encounter challenges. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the times of struggle. Your time in the blue jacket will include both victories and challenges. In high school, you will face both victories and challenges. Even in college and later in your career, you will face both victories and challenges.

It’s human nature to struggle. All of us will have moments in life where life just feels hard. How we overcome those challenges is what matters. Do we let a setback define the steps that we take forward? Or, do we overcome and persevere, emerging stronger on the other side? When we face a struggle, we have the power to determine what the outcome will look like. 

If I take a moment to look back and think of the struggles I have faced while wearing my blue jacket, the list is long. Still, I can think of how each experience made me stronger in some way, shape, or form. I think of how I learned to put the time in to memorize a speech before a contest, that sometimes you have to ask others for guidance and actually accept their help, and that no matter what you can’t give up. 

As you go through life, remember that you are not alone in your struggles. Others can help you overcome challenges. Ultimately, you get to make the decision on how those struggles affect your future. Finally, remember that you are stronger than you think. You’ve got this, no matter what. 

It can be easy to think that you aren’t capable. It’s easy to turn down an opportunity in order to protect yourself. When I look back on my FFA career, I think of all the times I considered saying never, no way can I do that. I think of all the opportunities I would have missed. I think of how many times I could have stayed in my comfort zone and failed myself. 

 As a freshman first saying the creed to today, where I get the amazing opportunity to serve as a State Officer there have been many instances where I’ve had to get comfortable being uncomfortable. During the summer before my freshman year, I missed out on opportunities to be involved in my FFA chapter because I was afraid of not knowing anyone.  Looking back, I wish I would have participated from the beginning. I quickly used that summer as a lesson to always be involved, not be afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone, and not to turn down an opportunity no matter how big or small. When asked to do public speaking my first thought was no way, but I remembered to never say no and give it a shot. You never know what might come from it.  

 We often find ourselves stuck in a place where we are comfortable. We don’t feel a need to take any further steps. Still,  I encourage each and every FFA member to take a step. Try a new activity within our organization —from joining a contest team you are unsure about, to giving public speaking a try, or running for an officer. Don’t doubt yourself, and take the steps forward. I challenge you to become comfortable being uncomfortable.