My daughter’s presence has graced the stage multiple times throughout her 24 years. Often a local radio station will interview those involved in a show. Each time Emily was asked the question, “How did you get started doing this kind of thing?” Her answer: “In first grade I went to see the play ‘Annie’, and when I looked at those kids on stage, I thought ‘why am I not doing that?’  I went home and told my mom I wanted to try out for the next play.”

I wish her reply stopped there. She could have easily let that be her answer, but she always continues with the rest of the story which includes me. The fact that she always shares how determined she was has made me realize how my actions could have negatively influenced her.

Determination

Emily has always been the opposite of me. She is loud, daring, outgoing, and loves to be in front of people. At age four, she walked by the TV and saw a child on a talk show. She said, “I will be on TV one day.” Often she came home from school saying that her teacher took her to the office to perform for the principal or another classroom to act for someone. So, I really wasn’t surprised at her request to try-out for a play.

I vividly remember the night of auditions for the upcoming play. Her dad dropped us off in front of Rome Little Theater. Emily was raring to go in. As we walked toward the door, I stopped her. Her little face looked up at me. “Emily, you don’t have to do this. We can go home. It doesn’t matter that we drove all the way to town.”  Searching my face for answers she replied, “I want to do this.”

“Emily, you will have to go on the stage and talk in front of all those people. People you don’t even know. We can just go back home.”  To which she replied, “I’m going in.” And proceeded in the door.

Success

I honestly felt sheer dread as they called her number. My heart was beating out of my chest and I felt like I was the one going on stage. She walked up on stage and they asked her to “slate”.  Emily stood silent, having no idea what that meant. I panicked more. The director said, “That means tell us your name, how old you are, and where you are from.”

Grinning from ear to ear, with a face full of expression, she boomed without a microphone, “I’m Emily Tumlin, I’m seven years old, and I’m from Rome, Georgia!”

I have always joked that she was switched at birth, and at that point I was beginning to believe it. Although she was the youngest there, she got her first part in a show. Since then she has performed in many shows, been an extra on the big screen, and accomplished what she said she would at age four by having a small speaking part on a TV episode.

Influence

The second part of her answer to the DJ is always this, “My mama is really shy and she tried to talk me out of it, but I did it anyway.” That was not a proud parent moment for me. I am a teacher, and I encourage children every day. But that day I was a discourager. I always think about the “what if.” If she had listened to me and my fear, she may have never discovered her passion. When I listened to her last week on The Ridge 95.7 and heard those words again, I cringed at my lack of support that day.

If you have a vision, don’t let others deter you from it with their negatives. If you have a goal or dream I highly recommend the book The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. God has given everyone a dream. The book encourages a person to pursue their dream even if others may stand in the way. I am sad to say that when I read it, I realized I was one of the characters trying to prevent a person from reaching their dream. Just like in the book, I thought I was doing it for all the right reasons. I believed I was protecting my child from failure, being scared, and the unknown.

Since that day I have been her biggest fan. I have sat through the same show up to six times! If you find yourself on my side of the story, be an encourager. Don’t let what you would or wouldn’t do influence someone who is reaching for a goal. If you are on Emily’s side of the story, be determined.  I am thankful she was.

–Donna