I had an interesting question from my 10-year-old daughter Claire. She asked me if I had always been this confident. I thought about it for a while and gave her the best answer in terms of my own personal development.
I was born and1in a small town in Zambia. From a very young age I was encouraged to 2 the world and ask as many questions as I could. My grandfather was a(n) 3 holding a high position in the government, but he treated everyone with 4 like what others did to him. And I often watched him 5 with people that way. As a child, I was determined to be like him 6 I grew up. I wanted to make people feel good about 7 and have meaningful conversations that would 8 people to take action and create a better world for everyone.
As an ordinary African girl, I know what life had to 9. And I also knew that I would have some bad days as well as good days. I saw this with my parents, as they 10 hid their feelings or situations. And from that, I had a 11 view of my reality.
I tell Claire that my confidence comes from within and I am bound to 12 moments when I'm worried about whether things will work in my 13, but I have the courage not to give up on my dreams. It's the strong belief that I am good enough and I can do it that has had me going for the last 20 years. A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid that the branch will 14 because its trust is not on the branch but on its own 15. Always believe in yourself.
