Believe.
Dictionary.com defines it as, “to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.”
This word and what it stands for has been so powerfully etched into the fabric of my life that its threads are woven into my dreams, plans, career, friends, and family. To be honest the ability to believe in something that I had no proof existed was self-serving as a child, because it almost always ended with me being the recipient of a much-coveted gift. As much as I would like to say that I was one of those rare kids that was a joy to be around and never gave my parents any problems, the truth is that I was only able to pull this off for a couple of weeks before Christmas or Easter.
You see, I did believe that Santa kept a list and knew if I was good or bad. Unfortunately, for my parents, my attention span was short and I only exercised my best behavior when the prize was close at hand. I believed with all my heart that if I was a good little girl, on Christmas morning Santa would reward me with the Growin’ Pretty Hair Barbie Doll or the Easy Bake Oven I longed for. And, on the rare occasion that I did not receive what I wanted, my parents had a ready explanation, which I bought hook line and sinker.
Why?
Because I wanted to believe in Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny. I wanted to believe in something that brought so much happiness to so many.
As I progressed through school, my view of believe expanded. Much like The Little Engine that Could, I realized how important believing in myself was to achieving my goals. It was no longer enough to be polite, keep my room clean, and listen to my parents – I had to sacrifice my precious playtime to achieve goals that either my parents or I had set for me. No matter how bad I wanted to make good grades or to be on the poetry team, it was not going to happen without my sacrificing what I wanted to do with what I needed to do. This was a difficult transition, I knew in the end there was a value far greater than what Santa left under the tree, but even us baby boomers sometimes want instant gratification. In the end, what I learned about myself was the best gift I could get. I knew with certainty that if I believed in myself, stayed positive, set goals and worked hard my future was filled with possibilities.
While I always had my family, friends, and a few selected teachers who believed in me, it was not until I entered the workforce that I profoundly felt the effects of what I think is the most powerful form of believe. Believing in others. Fortunately for me, I have been able to work for some amazing individuals, who for one reason or another believed in me and recognized a value in what I brought to the table. Their belief in me was not loud and self-serving, it was quiet and constant. Anyone that knows me knows that I am not the type to want or require constant praise and affirmation. In fact, I would question the motive if I was constantly receiving this type of feedback. What these individuals gave me was the freedom to be the best version of myself without fear of ending up in an unemployment line. Don’t get me wrong they held me accountable, but they did it in a way that reassured not discouraged, that focused on my strengths not highlighted my weaknesses, and recognized that mistakes are made along the path to success. They demonstrated their belief in me by being a role model, by being a mentor, by challenging me, and most importantly by holding me accountable.
At Camp Fire, we believe in creating Spark Champions – adults who support youth in pursuing their sparks (passions). We use Thriveology which encourages youth to have a growth mindset, set goals, and reflect on what they’ve learned. Looking back at my experiences, I now realize that what I was doing – making sacrifices, working hard, and believing in myself – is so similar to what Camp Fire teaches youth today.
My life has taught me how important it is to have something or someone to believe in. This is why I am so proud of the work we do at Camp Fire. Through the programs we offer we demonstrate that we believe in our future generations and we want to help them find their true passion and purpose.
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”
― Jim Valvano
Linda Ramoz serves as the council’s Chief Financial Officer. She brings more than 20 years of experience in general accounting, financial and operational analysis and project management to the First Texas Council. Prior to joining Camp Fire, she worked for the MHA Group and Hawkins Family Enterprises. Linda holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Angelo.
