Good evening
I am unfortunately not able to be here today as I am on a voyage with the Spirit of Bermuda Sailing to Canada. Something 9 months ago I could have never seen myself doing during my summer holiday.
9 months ago I came into Mirrors as a person who wouldn’t back down from a fight and looked for trouble. I was easily influenced by boys. I had their back they had mine. Guys rolled hard together. I got into a lot of trouble doing some very mischievous things that got me in trouble with the law on numerous occasions. That lifestyle meant that the relationship with the person I love the most was built on lies… my mother.
I can say that over these 9 months, I have been hard at work on myself. You know when you sign up you think yea I’ll make all these changes it will be easy. Not the case. Mirrors is a real program and my thoughts were very different from my reality. I have made some major mistakes during these 9 months which I am actually really grateful because they actually helped my growth as a person.
Whilst handling these mistakes I got to look at my peers and the role they played in my life. Look at why I am fighting and where this mentality is taking me in life, Look at my anger and figure out where it was coming from. And think about what I want my relationship with my mother to look like.
I remember one coaching session when Darren asked WHAT DO I WANT FOR MYSELF IN LIFE? Do I want to keep on the path I am on now, be in and out of jail, always in trouble, unemployable, fighting week in and week out or do I want something different for myself.
After talking through both of those options I decided that I wanted something different. I didn’t know how to get there but I was willing to be at work.
From there my Mirrors journey really started.
I’ve practiced…Taking Responsibility for actions – Even when it’s hard and I am in trouble. I own up and tell the truth. This has allowed me to rebuild trust and improve my relationship with my mother.
I have self control – I think for myself and think about the consequences of my actions.
I have a new self worth and mindset – I realized that I have a bright future, I can reach my goals, I’m better than where I was and I don’t care what other people think
I realized my leadership potential. I am a natural leader someone that people follow, someone that people respect. I don’t have to prove who I am by fighting and getting in trouble.
It took a lot of coaching and support to reach where I am now and I didn’t do it all alone.
Aunt Jo thank you for staying by side and not letting me quit. Even when I wanted to, you never let me quit and you made sure I was in action 100 percent. You always showed that even though I was in trouble there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Darren my CP (coach). Thanks for being real with me. You had some tough conversations with me keeping it 100% with me at all times. You questioned my friends, questioned my actions and my mindset. Questioned if I really wanted to change, what I really wanted in life and didn’t judge me at all in the process. Thanks for being there through it with me and holding me to my stand.
Mom…Thank you for being there and sticking with me through all my trouble. Thank you for never giving up on me, always seeing the good in me and loving me unconditionally. I know I have caused you a lot of pain. I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I love you, you are my rock
To cohort 9 – My real “peoples”, I’m glad that we were put together as a group. Everyone here today stuck through it. You guys like are FAMILY to me and I am sad I couldn’t be here today to celebrate our success.
Finally when I wrote this stand I didn’t know if I could ever live up to. But through these 9 months I have made majors changes and been at work to transform myself into being this person. I can happily say that:
I DECLARE THAT THE POSSIBILITY THAT WHO I AM IS THE STAND
ITAKE, THE STAND I TAKE IS:
I AM A LEADER THAT THINKS FOR MYSELF,
I MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES,
I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ACTIONS AS I AM THE CAUSE.
I COMMIT TO BEING A POSTIVE ROLE MODEL TO MY
BROTHER AND FRIENDS.
I AM TRUSTWORTHY, I AM MY WORD, AND I AM STRONG.
I CAN HOLD MY OWN IN LIFE BECAUSE I AM DILLON SMITH.
