How to Embrace Being Constantly Underestimated

I'm going to start this post off with a story, because.. well..

Who doesn't love a good story? 

When I was in the seventh grade, I decided I wanted to join the Science Olympiad team at school (ya girl had no life, people, forgive me). Now, mind you, I had just moved from San Antonio, TX, to Shreveport, Louisiana, so I didn't know very many people and wasn't familiar with how things go down on the plantation (*cough cough* I mean, Louisiana - my apologies). Knowing this, it probably won't be too surprising to hear that my fellow classmates at my small Catholic school thought that I wouldn't make a good fit on the team. 

"Are you suuure you want to join this, Remi?" one would ask, eyebrow raised.

There I was: 

12-years-old. 

African American. 

A face full of makeup like Bo Bo the Clown.

(*Side note*: Every morning of seventh grade, I used to scarf down breakfast just so I could run back up the stairs and play in my mom's makeup before she finished eating and came back up to finish getting ready. Even though it was obvious I did this (I literally looked like a glass doll; I had no idea what I was doing), my mom never even mentioned it. Ha! She never mentioned it OUT LOUD to me, at least..guess it amused her...) 

Of course, they weren't expecting anything from me. Even though I was the one of very few girls and the ONLY African American girl in the gifted and talented program there, everyone still doubted me...

 *sigh*
Story. Of. My. Life. 

And guess what? 

I began to doubt myself too..

I know what you're thinking... maybe that I would confront my doubters? Maybe even hit you all with some real raw gangsta shit like "I jumped on a desk, looked them in their faces, and told them all to fuck off!" 

*cues wild applause*

But nah, fam... 

Didn't happen...

This isn't Sixteen Candles. 

So, anyway, I started to underestimate myself, and even though, I gained a spot on the Amphibian/Reptile team, I barley even cracked open any of my study material. 

"Why even bother?" I thought to myself.

A couple months later, our team went to state competition. I competed in the Amphibian/Reptile portion which basically consisted of naming different animals based on photos and live displays that were arranged randomly throughout a classroom. 

After, I thought I had failed. A couple hours later, the time for awards presented itself.

Y'all.. tell me why Remi "Bad Ass" Hatten (yes, of course, that name is God-given) won first place in the competition. 

I couldn't believe it... I had won.. despite doubting myself and barely having studied. As sweet as the bliss was, I couldn't help wondering how even better I could have done if I had studied if I never would've doubted myself at all. 

From that point on, I told myself, never again - I would never forget what I was capable of. 

Did I keep that promise? Well, some things are easier said than done, I think everyone would agree; however, it is something I always try to remember and have gotten much much better at doing with age. 

  ❖

In one of my favorite books, The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, there is a quote that reads: 

“It is a deadly but common misperception to believe that by displaying and vaunting your gifts and talents, you are winning the master’s affection.”

Now, what do I take from that?

Great question. 

Thought you'd never ask.

You can take one of two roads in life:

You can either let people underestimate you, and prove them wrong

OR

you can let people underestimate you, and prove them right. 

Regardless, you can't change people's stone cold opinions of you, especially not with just words. Some people will underestimate you out of ignorance. They just don't know, ya know? They only see one side of you. They forget that people can have multiple aspects to their personalities. Embrace their ignorance! But also embrace those shocked and surprised faces when they see what you can really do. 

Other people will, quite frankly, just look down upon you, because they actually KNOW deep down that you are more and that frightens them. Let's be honest - people are incredibly selfish. Some are attention-whores. Nonetheless, you will end up crushing all of their false judgments with action (not words, remember?) and will end up producing something that they (and no one else) can deny: FACTS. 

❖

These days, things are a little more complicated than who can and cannot join the Science Olympiad team. With so many different platforms open to judgment of everything from one's face to one's bank account, things can get discouraging, especially when negativity is hitting you in every direction. Always remember how talented and special you really are and that no one can ever take that away from you no matter how hard they try. Push through the haters. Use all of that hot air as motivation towards your goals. 

Big picture:

Let them doubt you. 

And then watch them melt. 

In the words of The Game himself:

"Hate it or Love it, the underdog's on top!" 

Keep him up there, K?