My parents raised me to believe my name gives me superpowers. My mom’s name is Cindy meaning light, my dad’s meaning brave and strong. When I was younger, I felt my name's meaning was boring and meaningless compared to my friends and my parents. I mean who wants their name to mean a good listener. Certainly, my parents questioned whether my superpower was actually going to live out

“Sam!” my mom yelled from the bottom of the stairs. It always took a couple of tries to get a response out of me. It’s not my fault I just always happened to be listening to great music with no worries or cares. It wasn’t until I was older that my superpower really took effect. It really showed with my mom. My “lame” superpower became quite useful as I began to understand it. Once I finally realized being a  rebel is very overrated, I really was able to connect with people on a level I never could before. 

Where normally people would fight, I would have a simple conversation and talk it out. I’ve been open to feedback for the longest time. I learn best when I am sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher teach. When I took more challenging classes I would record the teacher's lectures and relisten to them to study. I’ve always been an eavesdropper since I was little. I found a way to find out information I’m probably not supposed to know. 

I may not have wanted to accept my superpower initially, but I was truly blessed with one of the best superpowers. My mom and I would sit and talk forever and just listen to each other and I learned so much from just listening. I learned so much about my friends by just listening. I became the person to go to when someone had a problem. I would listen and solve the problem.

If you would’ve asked me when I was five if I agreed with my superpower, I would have said, “no way, I wanna be a princess.” Now I agree with my superpower. I couldn’t choose it. It kind of came with the luck of the draw, but I use my superpower in ways I couldn’t have dreamed of when I was a little five-year-old. My superpower was gifted at birth. Written in between each letter of my name. We all have one, but have I really used it?