3rd speaker Takami Shiokawa
"Jump!"
Why she delivers her speech
When we take on a challenge, we tend to focus on the result rather than the fact we tried. That’s why we are afraid of failure and hesitate to try. But if we stop trying we won’t start or change anything. I wrote the speech, Jump!, to encourage everyone to be brave and try whatever they wish to try.
Script
Isaac Newton discovered it when he was 22. I discovered it when I was only 6. Newton discovered it just by watching an apple fall. I discovered it by watching MYSELF fall.
I was 6 years old. One morning, I went to the park. It was an early summer. The air was clear and crisp. I ran straight to the jungle gym and climbed up. I always believed I could fly like Superman if I jumped high in the air. When I reached the top edge, a brilliant idea hit me. “Maybe, I can fly today”. Then slowly I stood up on the top edge of the jungle gym. The sky was high and blue. A mild breeze touched my face. Three, two, one, JUMP!! I was high in the air, flying like Superman… That’s how I felt.
In reality, something pulled me down. I fell on the ground in a Superman pose. “My arm! It hurts!” That’s how I got this. That’s how I discovered it, “Gravity”.
Fifteen years later. I was a college student. I was sitting in a job interview at the well-established corporation. The interviewer asked. “Miss Shiokawa, what is your dream?” “My dream? Why? I just gave up my dream. Of course, I still want to go to the United States and experience something new. But I have to get a job. What’s my dream? Wrong question” I screamed, only in my head. What I really said to him was “Thank you for asking a wonderful question. My only dream is to be a member of your company”
The interview went smoothly until he said “Miss Shiokawa, tell us about your biggest achievement” Great! I prepared the answer! No! I cannot remember it!!! Without thinking I told him about my Jump from the jungle gym. He said “Wooow!! That sounds painful. It was an achievement?”, “Well, It was very painful. But the pain was nothing compared to the excitement and satisfaction I still have. It was my dream come true experience. I’m proud of myself ”. “Would you try it again if you could go back?” “Definitely! But this time I will prepare the mat on the ground”
Surprisingly, the company offered me a job. But I didn’t take it. The interview made me realize I don’t want to give up my dream. I decided to go to the United States. My friend said “Takami, are you crazy? You didn’t take that job!!! My parents said “Takami, you are crazy! Going to America? Do you have a job? Do you have money? Do you speak English?” The reality tried to pull me down like Gravity. But I knew I was going to regret it if I didn’t try at all. So I jumped as high as possible. And I went to America.
One year later, I came back to Japan. At Narita airport, I was looking for my parents. “There they are. Mom! Dad! Long time no see! I am here!!!” Can you imagine your own parents can’t recognize you? Maybe because I changed so much in that one year. I gained confidence and also gained 20 kg.
If you have that weight, the choice of your fashion is limited. But if you have courage to jump, the choice in your life is unlimited. I became an English-speaking communicator with lots of friends in America. Twenty kg was nothing compared to what I really gained.
Since then, I’ve tried different things. When I got a job as a money broker, it was a huge challenge as I was not good with numbers. But I wanted to try. So I jumped. When I was introduced to Toastmasters, public speaking horrified me but wanted to challenge myself. So I jumped. When I met my husband, well I was not sure but I jumped anyway.
Gravity IS everywhere: lack of time, not enough money, low confidence, too much anxiety and too many problems. After all we cannot expect zero-gravity on this earth. But even if gravity pulls you down, and breaks your arm, the pain won’t last while the satisfaction stays with you forever. Then, giving up even before you try would be the only failure.
What is your gravity? What pulls you down?
Imagine, now you are standing on the top edge of the jungle gym. The sky is high and blue. A mild breeze is touching your face. Three, two, one, Jump!