Finding Your Place in FFA — Even When You Feel Like You Don't Belong | Inspiring Teens® Magazine

Left to Right: James Romero, Addison Patnode, Colby Vieth, Alli Price, Matthew Buenrostro 

Hello! My name is Addison Patnode, I am 17 and a senior in High school. I am from Wichita Falls, Texas, and I was in issue 93 of the Inspiring teens magazine and lets just start with if you told me I would have this opportunity a few years ago, I would have never believed you, but here we are after all and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

But, what I also wouldn’t have believed you on then was how joining the FFA would completely change the way I saw myself, teaching me lessons about confidence, belonging, and stepping out of the shadows, lessons I still carry with me today.  

Now, I know we can all probably agree there has been a time where life seems like it was swallowing us whole, and some of you may feel that way now. Where the waves may seem too big and like you need to go back to the shallow before you can't keep yourselves above the waves and a few years ago, that was me.

My freshman year I started a new thing, I got involved in the FFA, and to say the least, I had no idea what I was doing. We've all probably been there, being the newest addition with people above us that have been here already that know what they're doing, and it can be terrifying. The constant fear of messing up, not wanting to give your ideas, and just being the shadow in the corner of the room. We’ve all been here, and it's not until we stand up, and help each other we are able move past this, and that is exactly what I am here to do right now. 

Everyone thinks the FFA is a group of people who just show animals, and although, yes it can be that's not all it is. Don't worry at first I thought that to, and me not showing any animals in with all the ones that did, I didn’t feel like I belonged, and that may be a challenge a lot of us face, not feeling like we’re enough to be in the spot we are, or just feeling like we don't belong in general. I’m here to tell you that is not true.

During my first year, I was pushed to join the LDE teams with my FFA officer group, a group of people I didn’t feel like I belonged in. I almost said no but the sense of feeling included with them pushed me to do it, and I’m so glad I did. We all had to work together and that forced me to stop being the shadow in the corner of the room and step up, and that led me to soon realize I did belong in that group because of the fact I was different, not because I was just like them. 

Now I know not everyone does FFA, but this can also be applied to any aspect of life, we can all think back and remember how much stress times in life may have given us, or even times where we joined something and felt like we just didn’t belong, we can all agree we've had one of these moments.

While I was a part of this team, I learned something that applies far beyond the FFA. A lot of teenagers struggle with feeling unseen, unheard, or like they are not enough compared to those around them. Nowadays social media, pressure from school, or even the fear of being judged can make it harder for teens to step beyond what they're comfortable with because being unseen feels like the safer option, and I know what it feels like to stand there and feel like you don't belong, but I also know how much it can change your life when you take that bold first step forward.

Over time, I learned confidence does not come from being perfect, it comes from trying, failing, learning and continuing anyways. It also comes from all the stress, not wanting to keep going, and feeling like you're being drowned by the waves of life. Sometimes all it takes is one group of people you thought you would never fit into, to believe in you before you finally take the steps to start believing in yourself. If you ever feel like you don't belong, or like you aren’t good enough, take it from me. You are more than enough.

For me, that step was the FFA, what will that step be for you?

If you're new to the FFA, here are five things I wish someone would have told me when I was first starting out. 

1. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. 

2. It’s going to push you, that's the point. There are going to be times you're going to want to give up because fear overwhelms you, but the moments that helped me grow the most as a person through the FFA were the ones that I was the most terrified of at first. So don’t be afraid to step beyond what you're comfortable with.

3. Everyone starts somewhere.

4. Don’t look at how long others have been there before you, because doing that is what may cause you to stay in the shadows. At times it may feel like everyone else already knows what they’re doing, but every member was once new too, and nobody expects you to be perfect. 

5. It's okay to mess up. 

6. At first I was always so scared to give my ideas because of the fear of my ideas not being good, or them not working. But if it's something new, you’ll never know unless you give the idea and try it. Mistakes are a part of learning, and some of my biggest lessons came from the mistakes. When you mess up, learn from it, and use it to make something better. 

7. FFA is about more than just agriculture.

8. At first I thought it was all about the kids who showed animals, like some of you may think, but that's not the case. This organization teaches you confidence, leadership, communication, and life skills that help far beyond high and school and even after you take off that blue jacket. 

The game of life can be hard, but believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything. 

XOXO

Addison Patnode, Issue 93 of Inspiring Teens Magazine

Read Addison's full feature in Issue 93 of Inspiring Teens® Magazine HERE

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