The
Inspirational Olympian
by Robyn Tellefsen
"I
was always called a tomboy in school," recalls
Olympic gymnast DOMINIQUE DAWES. "I had a squeaky
little voice, and I was also called 'shorty.'"
Because of this, she was afraid to speak up in class
and be noticed. "I didn't want to raise my hand
and ask questions, because [I thought] people were going
to hear that squeaky little voice or see me stand up,
and wonder if I was still sitting down," she explains.
"I constantly worried about what other students
were going to say and think."
Surprised
that a savvy celeb feels the same way you do? Don't
be. "Even a three-time Olympian, gold medalist,
and two-time bronze medalist has dealt with self-esteem
issues!" assures Dominique.
That's
why she's committed to helping you celebrate yourself
through uniquely ME! The Girl Scout/Unilever Self-Esteem
Program. With activity booklets, Web chats with
Dominique, and hands-on activities such as mentoring,
community service, and sports, the goal of the program
is to inspire girls to develop leadership and confidence.
"Self-esteem
comes from within," says the 2002 University of
Maryland, College Park, communications grad'. "It's
how you feel about yourself. It's not about the titles,
the [number] of medals you've won, the amount of money
you have in your bank account, or the [grade] you get
on that math test you've been cramming for," she
insists. "Self-esteem is about how you feel on
the inside."
For instance, whenever Dominique had a bad day at practice,
or felt nervous before competition, she would repeat
a little saying she created when she was 12 years old,
called D3: Determination, Dedication, and Desire.
"I
would spray D3 on my mirror with shaving cream and say
it over and over again to give myself the strength,
perseverance, and belief in myself that I could tackle
any and every challenge or issue that came my way,"
she says.
With
this in mind, Dawes offers the following self-esteem
building tips from the uniquely ME! program:
Celebrate
you! Reward yourself for your accomplishments.
Surround
yourself with positive people. "Negative and
positive attitudes are contagious," says Dawes.
Challenge
yourself to try new things. Stepping outside of
your comfort zone to try new activities like a ropes
course, dancing, or speaking in front of a crowd is
a great way to grow.
Be
good to your body. Exercising, eating well, and
getting plenty of sleep will help you move toward a
healthier you -- inside and out!
Find
and express the real you. Be proud of yourself,
and be courageous enough to express your true feelings.
Have
a positive mental attitude (or PMA, as my college
friends called it). You'll feel good, and people will
want to hang out with you.
Learn
from your experiences. Take what you learn from
your actions, both good and bad, and use that knowledge
to make positive decisions in the future.
Find humor in everyday life. When you can see the
funny side of things, you'll be less stressed and more
likely to handle tough situations better.
Ultimately,
Dominique believes we're all unique in our own special
way; we just need to find out what we're about on the
inside. "You are the only you out there,
so strive to be the best you you can be!"
For
more information about uniquely ME! and Dominique Dawes,
log onto the Girl
Scouts Web site. |
