TRANSCRIPT

You know what time it is. Here we go. It’s story time a I said it’s story time. Alright, now today’s story guys, is connected to what I was teaching you in the tips that I gave you Today. We’re talking about confidence speaking English fluently. And I wanna tell you about a time that I did not have confidence in myself until I remembered something so many of you know, and maybe you do, maybe you know as well.

I love sports. When I was in high school, I was voted the most athletic female in my high school. When I got to college, I was voted the most athletic female out of all the females in my college. As you can tell, I’ve always loved sports, very athletic. I like taking care of myself, and my favorite sport has always been basketball.

I’ve been playing it since I was a child, and I remember when I was in college, you know, college basketball is harder than high school basketball, of course, but right before I went to college. There was a gentleman, Mr. Rayford, if he ever watches this. And Mr. Rayford actually coached me a little bit on the side, not, uh, officially, but he would give me tips and he would help me with, um, some of the steps I needed to master to get to the basket, you know, the hoop faster and properly, and some things with dribbling to kind of avoid my opponents.

He really gave me some good basketball tips. So when I was around Mr. Rafford. I felt confident in my basketball skills. Now, fast forward, I remember the day it happened. I was a freshman in college and we were in basketball practice, and my coach when I was in college, he was good. He was a little bit, he yelled a lot more than I was used to, but you know, he’s a nice guy.

So anyways, we’re in practice and I played the point guard. I was the number one or the number two, uh, number one being the point guard that brings the ball down and hands it out to the, the team, the players, or number two being the one that helps the point guard and also as a shooting guard. So anyways, I, at the time, I was playing the point guard during practice, but I was getting a little bit nervous.

The coach was yelling, I wasn’t able to see the floor properly, I wasn’t getting the passes off properly. And the more mistakes I made. The less confident I was getting in myself. I was focusing on my mistakes and not my wins. So practice continued. Coach again, still yelling. I was feeling bad about myself even though I could play basketball.

I wasn’t doing well, and all of a sudden the door behind me opened. We were in a big gymnasium, but you know when the doors open, you can hear. And I turned around and it was Mr. Rayford. I remember it like it was yesterday. This was literally about 20 years ago. 20 or so years ago. And I remember like it was yesterday, I turned around.

Now Mr. Rayford was not from, I was in Alabama. That’s where I University college was. But I’m from Maryland and Mr. Rafer is also from Maryland. So I was shocked that he was in Alabama. Mr. Rayford opened the door and he walked in. He didn’t say, man is so powerful, y’all. He didn’t say anything, but he looked me in my eye.

He just walked in. He didn’t know that I was making mistakes over and over again. So he walked in. I looked at him and he kinda smiled like, Hey Tiff, I was in practice. He wasn’t gonna in interfere. He smiled. I looked at him and I smiled, and he sat down and something happened. Now, I didn’t recognize it immediately, but my coach recognized it.

Remember throughout the entire practice, my coach was yelling, TIFF, what are you doing? Come on. So I kept making mistakes and I was focusing on my mistakes. And I wasn’t getting better, but all of a sudden the dribbling got better, my passes got smoother, my shot got better. I was playing like I knew I could.

And I only realized it when my coach stopped us from practice and said, TIFF, I don’t know what just happened, but what you’re doing right now. Yes, keep going. Keep doing it. And at that moment I realized it was because Mr. Rayford had walked into the gym. I associated wins with Mr. Rayford. I associated my ability to achieve.

Mr. Rayford always told me, TIFF, there’s nothing you can’t do. You can play basketball. You are good. So it really, sorry, my nose is running guys. So. At that moment, I realized, wow, your mindset, what you focus on affects you so much. Now, the rest of the practice went really well. Mr. Rafford was there. I felt confident in myself, and I want you to realize, I want to be your Mr.

Rafford. I believe in you. I have confidence in your abilities. The only reason I create these lessons and anything I create is to help you realize that you can do it. Don’t focus on your mistakes. Focus on your wins. Remember that if you really want to speak English fluently, apply what you learn immediately.

Remember all the tips that I’ve taught you today, and I want to be your Mr. Rafford. I love you all. I genuinely want you to speak English fluently and I’ll see you next time.