Sometimes, your loved ones are there to remind you that THEY and the WORLD SEE YOU and that your representation truly matters.
To understand this point, you have to understand who I am and why that matters.
On April 15, 2022, I will officially have served as an Administrative Law Judge within a United States Government agency for 5 years. It is hard to truly appreciate that milestone but whether I believe it or not, I have had the chance to serve.
For those of you who don’t know me, you have to understand that I have been and continue to be a very humble person. I am thankful and very grateful for the opportunities I have received and the accomplishments I have attained. However, there are times when I don’t appreciate the significance of my accomplishments.
Which brings me to an interesting story.
A couple of years ago, a dear friend, Veronica, invited my wife and I to her retirement ceremony after almost 40 years in the United States Navy. As part of her celebration, she had a party of about 100 plus people to allow her friends to fellowship and share stories about her.
So, I decided that I would take the opportunity to speak on behalf of the core group of friends who were stationed with her at Camp Lejeune, NC as Naval officers.
When I walked and grabbed the microphone, there were a few people who were chattering right before I spoke. Veronica was loved by many and I didn’t know a lot of her loved ones so I wasn’t too surprised that persons would not necessarily pay attention to what I had to say.
So, as I started speak and while others chattering in the background, Veronica proceeded to do a call and response to what I was saying by saying “Alright JUDGE!”. And as I continued to speak, she proceeded to say“Alright JUDGE” a second time. To my surprise, the chattering stopped and all attention was on what I had to say.
Now for some, this may not seem that significant. And in my mind, I just thought this was Veronica’s way of getting people to stop talking. And I can tell you, I was fully prepared to talk over those people who decided that they would continue their conversations despite the fact I was speaking.
However, what I didn’t appreciate was the fact that Veronica was sending a very POWERFUL message. She wanted to people SEE ME!
In that room of a few hundred persons (the majority of which were persons of color), she wanted it known that there was a Judge. She wanted it known that there was a Judge who was a person of color. She wanted it known that although there were many dynamic individuals in that room, she also wanted it known that there were individuals who occupied, what I refer to as, ‘rarified air’.
And it was at that point that I realized that I had a responsibility. I had a responsibility to recognize that there were people who looked like me and needed to know that it is possible to be like me. And for me, this lesson was important. Because sometimes, it can become really easy to want to ‘hide’ in the back, or ‘downplay’ what you’ve done, or ‘move out’ of the spot light because you truly don’t think what you are doing or what you have done is any ‘big deal’.
But Veronica taught me a powerful lesson that day. She reminded me that there a people who need to know they are being represented. She reminded me that it is important to know and appreciate the uniqueness of my accomplishments. She reminded me that even if you don’t believe you matter, there are those out who are watching and to them, I MATTER!
So for those people who find themselves being the FIRST or the ONLY because you are in position of displaying unique level of greatness and distinction, remember these words:
1) I want the world to SEE YOU!
2) And those who know, love and admire what you have accomplished, THEY want the world to SEE YOU, TOO!
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