Good am Prof. You asked us to prepare a speech po for our communication skills. Prof, this is a speech po I delivered before the youth in one of the Youth Leadership Camps I sponsored po last November 2013. This is a project po of the Ang Lahi Movement of our mother Church where we inspire, encourage and empower our youth today to dream big and become leaders.
I was young once. I still remember the good old days when I was your age. I came from a large family of 10 children. I am the third oldest, a twin. My twin sister is just a few minutes older than me. We are both doctors. Did I know I wanted to be a doctor? Yes. I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a doctor. Lucky me, right? But it wasn't all that easy.
Growing up in a large family had its ups and downs. My parents had to work a lot. I learned at an early age to stay focused on my goals. Although my parents worked many hours, they were very good role models, especially my mom.
You, young people, need role models. This can be your father, mother, brother, sister, a relative, your teacher, friend, coach, a TV personality, famous person, or even Jesus. We all strive to be like our role model. But we also need to know that we are unique in and of ourselves. We can't really be exactly like our role model but we can do something similar to what he/she has done, like overcoming obstacles and not giving up.
You have heard the famous cliché, "the youth is the future leader of tomorrow." Believe it or not, that is a huge responsibility! It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be a politician to be a leader. You can be a leader in your own home, school, organization, and the like. To be a leader does not mean giving out orders. To be a leader means being a good follower. As the bible says and I quote, "whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." What does this mean? It means that we must put others first before us. It means that we must value the needs of others first before our own needs. That is the true meaning of being a leader.
God blessed each one of us with different talents. Some may be good actors, singers, doctors, mathematicians, dancers, cooks, and many more. Do you remember the Parable of the Talents? I quote from Matthew chapter 25, versus 14-29:
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents; to another two; to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You, wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
This parable teaches us that we are here on earth to serve God and that we are held accountable for the talents that God has given us. That can be scary, isn't it? It also shows that we are not all created equal. Some have more talents than others. You might think that is not fair! On the contrary, God is the fairest of all. Did you realize that if you have five talents, then it takes five times as hard to produce something good out of it than if you only had two talents? Success is a product of our work. How we use those talents, whether you have one, two, or five, is up to us. Don't forget that God will give us everything we need to do what he has called us to do. So, don't ever put yourself down. If you think you only have one talent, then, your one talent is enough to fulfill your purpose here on earth.
Greatness is not measured by fame, popularity, wealth, or other earthly standards. Greatness is measured by servanthood and leadership is servanthood.
So, are you ready to be a leader?
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