They never believed anybody as introverted as I am could be capable of anything like it.
I was in front of my IB Theory of Knowledge class rapping and it was meaningful.
Their mouths hung open, and their eyes popped in a mixture of surprise and delight.
I started with sweaty hands and a foot that could not stop bouncing softly on the floor. The first words were a mix of rushed nervous tension and a stuttering tongue. I am not sure when, but at some point the connection was made between me and the class. This bond gripped us throughout the entire performance. As our souls interacted through my presentation, I swallowed my fears, and eventually my nervousness seemed to take a back seat to my growing confidence and passion I had in my presentation. I was hovering between earth and a plane of existence that captured the essence of my lyrics and soul.
I focused on the theme of perseverance and determination and had created a constant reference to empires and conquests. I projected ourselves as young Napoleons at the crossroads of our lives. I referenced the hardships we face; whether it is the extended essay, our internal assessments, our community projects, or even the stress we may feel at home and made sure they were presented elegantly. I introduce our common flaws, and encouraged the class to win over them. We all had the same feeling, as you could see from the expressions in our eyes. I finally ended it with lyrics that sum up where we are right now in our lives:
"My heart remains tranquil at a standstill
We are all kings but the question is
Will we rule kingdoms or sand castles?"
After I was done, silence boomed throughout the classroom for a strong moment, until the first clap tipped the domino set into a thunderous applause. It was more than a rap, or a presentation about the emotion brought from realizing perseverance, or a spontaneous chance to do something different. It was a unifying anthem that collected the dreams of everyone as a class, and reminded us just how possible they are. This is what we gained from the presentation and that was what united us. More often than not, we are faced with obstacles that seem immovable, but we cannot forget the rewards and goals that lie beyond them. These are what escalate and define our determination and what makes these, immovable, objects light as a feather. Determination and endurance are both virtues I live by that help define me as a person.
