Personally, I think that people learn from their surroundings and the events that have gone on in their past. I’ve never really had any self confidence or faith in myself. I was always compared to my older sister and brothers, and, really, mainly my sister because she’s good at everything. She’s very pretty, skinny, a great artist, and a majorette at the University of Georgia. I was never anything like her and I couldn’t stand always being in her shadow. I’m the exact opposite of her and I always felt like I could never do anything right, if it wasn’t the way my sister did it. My sister could do no wrong when it came to my father, and everything was always my fault. I rarely liked to play sports on a team, because I didn’t like people watching me, especially if I messed up.
Well, I had never shown pigs before and I wanted to try it in the 9th grade. I really had no idea about how to go about it or anything about it in general. When I started, I still didn’t know much. I tried my best to do everything like the other people who had been raising and showing pigs since they were five. My first year showing, I only went to two shows, because I felt like I wasn’t ready to do anything. I was nervous, but I decided to stick it out that season and keep trying. Over the time period that shows weren’t going on, I learned a lot about showing, judging what the pigs need to look like, how they should act, and what judges typically like. The next season, I went to all of the shows. I got 2nd or 3rd place at each show, until I went to the state show in Perry, Ga. I went there with my mind set that there was no way I would ever place. I made the cut and was one of the 8 who placed. My pig and I walked out of that show with 1st place! I learned that with consistency and determination, I could do a lot of things. I finally was able to break out of my sister’s shadow. I accomplished a lot that season. Not just the awards that I got, but the confidence in myself of knowing that I’ll just get better and better each year. I’m personally proud of myself, but having my parents and grandparents, especially my granddaddy, be so proud of me is the best thing in the world. I don’t doubt myself nearly as much as I used to. That’s a huge help for me, as well as my pigs! I’ve learned that I learn best when I develop self-confidence and trust in myself. I may not be a majorette at the University of Georgia, but my sister has never won first place in the state for showing pigs either!