Immunization against this 'NO Disease'

When I was ten years old, I was in Form 1 (that's like JHS 1, to those of you born in the nineties). One day, our literature teacher travelled and they brought in a substitute teacher for the day. I don't even remember her name, but I will never forget that lesson.

We were practicing oral recitals, which meant we all took turns to recite the same poem. That day, it was "The Sands of Dee", by Charles Kingsley. I was called up first. As soon as I started, the teacher interrupted with a loud "NO!"

It was so odd. But I regained my composure and started from the top. "O Mary, go…" Again, this strange teacher interrupted my flow with a resounding "NO!" I was so confused. Had I got the words wrong? I checked my memory. I was definitely reciting the right poem. I started again. "O Mary, go and call the ca…" "NO!", she screamed even louder than before. I just stood there bemused.

Some of my classmates started to snigger. Then the teacher said, "Mr Yankson, if you can't recite the poem, please sit down and let somebody else try" Utterly dumbfounded, I resumed my seat. I then watched as she did the same thing to the next two boys she called up. She wouldn't let more than a few words escape their lips before she would interrupt with a loud, harsh, and totally inexplicable "NO!"

Eventually, I lifted my hand and asked, "Madam, what are we doing wrong?" She smiled and said, "Mr Yankson, do you know the poem?" I answered, "Yes"

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yes, Madam, I've even checked the textbook", I squeaked, brandishing the book in her general direction. Then she asked, "So why did you allow me to stop your recital?" I had no answer for that. And it was then that I understood the true lesson of the day.

You see, our lives are full of people telling us No. "No, you can't do that. No, you are wrong. No, you are too old. Too young. Too weak. No, you don't have the education. You don't have the background. You don't have the money, No, it can't be done". And it becomes like a disease. The more you hear it, the more it "infects" your self-esteem.

The only immunization against this 'No Disease', is an unshakeable self confidence. if you are confident in yourself and your abilities, you keep going no matter how many times you hear the word 'No'.

My dear friends, you know yourselves. You know what lies within you. You know what you are capable of. But more importantly, those who doubt you, DON'T know what you have inside you, so don't let those who don't know you, tell you what you can't do. No matter how many times they say no, just keep going. You know the words, so stand up and recite the poem. My name is Kojo Yankson, and I believe in you.