Talented

I attended Chatom Elementary School’s annual Talent Show once again. I’ve gone in the past when the kids participated with their classes, but this year Jameson and Charlotte decided to put on an act of their own. They performed stand-up comedy under the name “The Sibling Jokesters!”

The show started with Charlotte’s kindergarten class singing a Queen song. Then my dynamic duo took the stage to entertain the audience.

I wasn’t surprised when Jameson said he wanted to do it. That kid will do anything to get a microphone in his hands. But I was surprised he talked his sister into joining him. They were hilarious—and mercifully brief. Sierra and I were definitely more nervous than the performers.

While it was fun to watch my grandkids do their thing, I couldn’t help but be profoundly moved by the courage of all the kids who took the stage that day. The students in the class performances may not have had much choice, but the others signed up and even auditioned for their spots. They had to plan, practice, and finally perform. They couldn’t just show up; they had to put in the work. And I know plenty of adults who don’t operate with that level of commitment.

Every year, I sit there with a lump in my throat and my heart full of the good kind of pride, all because of the actions of kids I don’t even know. Some of the acts and performers return year after year, and it’s fun to see how they’ve improved—or, in some cases, become a little more self-conscious due to age and raging hormones. And yet, they continue to show up and put in the work.

I didn’t expect my two hours at the elementary school talent show to be this inspirational. As I sat there feeling grateful for the experience, I realized that exposure to this kind of event could be life-changing for some people, and I don’t just mean the students in the audience.

The truth is that courage is contagious. Every child who steps onto that stage reminds the rest of us what it looks like to take a risk, face our fears, and do something anyway. We may never know the full impact those performances have on classmates, parents, grandparents, or teachers. But I know this: for two hours, a room full of children demonstrated the kind of bravery, preparation, and perseverance that can inspire people of any age. It was a privilege to witness it.