"Starting out, I thought I had to save the whole world, when in fact, I realized that with everything I do, I impact one person at a time. And then one person follows and tells another, and another until a great positive movement of self-discovery takes place." - Sarah Hamlin
That same year, a staff photographer from the newspaper came to do an article on a local adaptive skiing program and was interested in filming me and doing an interview. I agreed, but was a little annoyed when people above me on the ski lifts were pointing at me and focusing their cell phone cameras. My face was very protected by gear, and combined with the camera man, I was most likely mistaken for some well-known person. But waiting in line at the lift, I lowered my mask and two girls snapped a quick photo. Even if they were staff, they never asked. I asked my instructor if we could go somewhere further away from the ski lifts, and I was glad that we were too fast for a clear photo up above.
Around this time, I started doubting my strength. I started wondering if I was worthy of everything I was doing, and the more things I did in the media, the more I thought I needed to put on a mask and be this perfect person. As time went the opportunities presented to me grew in importance. I started doing radio interviews when I was 15. Because I now knew that people actually cared about what I had to say, I got in my head that I had to speak perfectly and sound older than I was. But th more attention that I spent trying to control silly things like that, the more insecure and nervous I got. Finally, after supermodel, Miranda Kerr reached out to me that year, I realized that authenticity is what people want and admire the most.
Kerr is one of the most famous models in the world, and as such was extremely busy. People would flock for a product just because she promoted it. It is really easy to get caught up in fame and fortune, but Kerr stayed humble and grounded. I realized that she reached out with her heart to something she cared about, and was not doing it for attention. Because of this, I broke down in joyous sobs during a radio interview. People like grounded and genuine people with emotions and indviduality. That's what set Kerr apart from most Hollywood. With this in mind, I then took a step back and was able to ask myself, "why am I doing this?"
Why were people wanting me to promote their stuff, when they could have a professional do it? Simple, because it was something I truly believed in. Because I was believable.
Even so, when I was approached with the request to be on the cover of a local magazine, I was a little shocked and a bit scared. I didn't look like some model on a runway and I had never once told myself I was pretty. But the magazine wanted me because they knew what people really wanted. I had developed a positive, role model reputation in my community, and they wanted to help fuel that. That's when I started thinking about other causes I felt were important. Having tried taking my life myself, I became very interested in related organizations. When I heard that Kid's Helpline Australia was looking for photos of all who supported Youth Suicide Prevention, I took advantage of the opportunity and sent in my photo. The result was a "Too Many Too Soon" commercial aired Australia-wide. Though I was one of thousands, the commercial zooms out to show a photomosaic of a young girl who had committed suicide. This had a profound affect on me.
I now am a public speaker. It blesses my heart when people write me and tell me that I inspire them, particularly young teens and children who are touched by what I have to say. I love it when kids come up to me and ask me questions or when the crowd I am speaking to tears up. It's a reminder to stay authentic and humble.
I recently was written to because a little girl wanted to meet me, and was also able to bless another young girl with an autographed photo. A few months ago, I was asked by someone if they could put a quote of mine on their leg braces.
In the past couple of years, I was so very blessed to have reached several other celebrity names with my cause.
All this made me think about how, starting out, I thought I had to save the whole world, when in fact, I realized that with everything I do, I impact one person at a time. And then one person follows and tells another, and another until a great positive movement of self-discovery takes place.
I think I'm making my mark for the right reasons.