Beyond the Label: Unlocking Potential Through EmpathyFrom Labeled to Lifted

Seeing Beyond the Reputation

At 16, I was the kid teachers whispered about in the break room.

Labeled “difficult” by 15, I felt trapped—boxed in by a reputation I didn’t deserve.

No one asked why?I acted out; they just assumed the worst.

Fast forward to today, and I’m on the other side—I mentor teens who’ve been given those same labels.

I see them.

I get?them.

And I know firsthand how powerful it is when someone believes in you enough to see past the surface.

The Weight of Labels: A Walking Case File

One of the teens I mentor is in foster care. She doesn’t just carry emotional baggage—she carries an actual case file, a list of every mistake she’s ever made, accessible to every adult in her life.

It’s like a walking online journal, a constant reminder of who she used to be?rather than who she could become.

I know that weight.

Middle school was the same for me—always under scrutiny, blamed for things I didn’t do, and assumed to be trouble before I even opened my mouth.

It made my teenage years a battlefield.

I don’t want that for her.

So instead of reinforcing her past, I do something different: I look for the bright spots.

Just like Molly Howard in Chip and Dan Heath’s Switch, I focus on where she’s already succeeding and build from there.

Seeing the Struggle, Not Just the Symptoms

As a teenager, I wasn’t “defiant.” I was frustrated. I wasn’t “rebellious.” I was surviving.

But no one saw why?I acted out—they just saw a problem to fix.

Here’s what I’ve learned: behavior is communication.

For teens—especially those navigating trauma or instability—acting out is often a desperate attempt to be heard.

The same is true for my mentee in foster care. On paper, she was “unmotivated” and “lazy” because she had missed a year of school. In reality, school wasn’t built for her—a kid carrying the weight of instability, trying to make it through the day.

She didn’t need punishment. She needed?a different environment.?

I found her a school with smaller classes, supportive teachers, and a fresh start. And just like that, the “lazy” kid started showing up every single day.

This is the power of belief.

People rise to the expectations set for them. If we only see their failures, they will live up to them.

But if we find their bright spots—their strengths, their potential—and amplify them, they can rewrite their entire story.

That’s the difference between labeling someone and lifting?them.

From Doubt to Empowerment: Unlocking Hidden Potential

This same principle applies to my work with clients.

So many incredibly capable professionals struggle to prove?their worth—not because they aren’t qualified, but because they’ve internalized self-doubt.

Much like a teenager trying to shake off a bad reputation, they’ve been stuck in a cycle of trying to prove they’re not who people assume they are, instead of stepping fully into who they know?they can be.

My job? To help them rewrite their narrative, build confidence, and unlock the brilliance they already possess.

And here’s the thing:

Being laid off for over a year doesn’t make you unhirable. Struggling in your job search doesn’t mean you’re not talented. Not getting a response doesn’t mean you aren’t worth the opportunity.

The biggest shift in job searching—or any moment of reinvention—comes when you stop seeing yourself through the lens of rejection and start seeing yourself through the lens of possibility.

Challenges aren’t signs of failure. They’re just unwritten chapters in a success story waiting to unfold.

Applying the Lessons: A Call for Empathy and Understanding

This isn’t just about teenagers. It’s about all?of us.

At work. In friendships. In leadership.

How often do we judge people based on past mistakes, first impressions, or outdated assumptions? How often do we fail to give people the benefit of the doubt?

Adam Grant talks about this in Think Again—rethinking our assumptions isn’t just an intellectual exercise; it’s an act of grace.

Instead of writing people off, we can create space for them to grow.

And when we do that? We unlock potential—not just in others, but in ourselves.

From Labeled to Lifted: The Journey Forward

Looking back, my journey from “troublemaker” to mentor has been nothing short of transformative.

It’s taught me that belief is a game-changer, that labels don’t have to define us, and that everyone deserves a chance to rewrite their story.

Now, I’ll leave you with this:

?? Who in your life needs the benefit of the doubt??? How can you help someone rewrite their narrative?

Drop a ?? in the comments if you’re ready to lift others up instead of holding them back.

Let’s create more success stories together.