Confidence(Short Story)

I walk into Art class and take my usual seat at the back. Everyone else walks into the class talking about all kinds of different things. I don’t join in. I’m not brave enough to talk to people in my class. Every time I try I feel like I might mess it up.

Miss Ash walks into the class. “Good morning girls.” 

“Good morning miss.”

Miss Ash sits at her desk and places her folder, phone and papers onto the desk. “Girls silence for the register please and then I have something important to talk to you about.”

Everyone stops talking. “Thank you. Aisha?”

“Here Miss.” Says a tall girl who is known as the class gossiper. She spreads around gossip about people everyday. She even makes stuff up about people sometimes. Even about her own friends. They don’t know. 

I stay away from her as much as possible.

When the register was done, Miss Ash stood up and walked to the front of the class. “Ok girls as you know we are coming into the last 2 terms of the year and we are going to do a final project where you will work in groups to do an art piece on nature, architecture or space. You will present your artwork within the last week of the year. I have chosen your groups and I'll put them up now.”

No! I can’t present in front of the whole class. How am I going to go up there without messing it up? What if I trip and fall in front of everyone? What if I forget what to say? What if I accidentally say the wrong thing and everyone in my group gets mad at me? I can’t do it. I have no self belief and I’m too quiet.

Miss Ash puts the groups up on the board. I was in a group with Amelia and Aisha. “Girls I would like you to get into your groups and Hanna I would like to speak to you quickly is that ok?”

I nod and I go outside of the classroom and wait for Miss Ash.

Miss Ash comes outside shortly after me. “Ok look I know your quiet and don’t have a lot of confidence but if you're thinking of dropping out of this project your not going to do you understand?”

“Yes miss.” I knew Miss would do this. She is the type of teacher who likes to encourage students.

“Hanna, sometimes you gain your confidence by pushing, encouraging, and self believing in yourself about things you're not sure you have the confidence to do.”

I nod and walk back to class. Miss really believes in me. 

When Miss walks in she says something that I never thought any teacher would do. “Girls Hanna is having some doubts about doing this project. Do you think she is able to do it?”

“Yes Miss.” The class says. “You can do this Hanna. You have got this.”

“Do you think she has enough self belief to do it?”

“Yes Miss.” The class says again. 

“Sometimes self belief is all it takes. We believe in you Hanna.” Says one girl.

“Hanna?” Says Miss Ash. “Will you do the project? The class believes in you and I believe in you.”

I consider it. If everyone really believes in me that much, shouldn't I believe in myself too? “I’ll do it Miss.”

“Good. Hanna please go to your group. If anyone needs me I will be at my desk.”

I walk towards my group. “Look who it is.” Says Aisha. “I'm not a confident enough and quiet girl in the class.”  Aisha starts laughing and Amelia joins in.

“Yes I’m quiet, do you have a problem with that?” I replied.

“Wow look guys the quiet girl just spoke. How shocking.”

“Just because I’m quiet doesn't mean I can’t talk, you know. There is more to quiet people than you think.”

“Really like what? You're excellent at ignoring people and staying still?”

“I’m good at observing people. I’m a good listener. I doubt you would have any of those qualities since you're too busy gossiping and spreading lies.”

 “Excuse me. I do not spend my whole time gossiping. I also….”

“I don’t care what you do but it doesn’t mean you should assume stuff about people before you know it’s true.” I interrupt. “I may be quiet but I can talk but I’m not going to waste my time talking to people like you.”

I sit next to the seat beside Amelia. Did I really just do that? I guess when I am not thinking about it I can really do things I wouldn’t expect even if my low self confidence would normally get in the way of things.