Oh, the jo

ys of those w

ho do not

follo

w the advic

e of the w

icked,

or stand around w

ith sin

ners,

or jo

in in

w

ith m

ockers.

But they delig

ht in

the la

w of the Lord,

m

editatin

g on it day and nig

ht.

They are lik

e trees pla

nted alo

ng the riv

erbank,

bearin

g fruit each season.

Their le

aves never w

ither,

and they prosper in

all

they do.

PSA

LM

1

1Thrive Foundation for Youth • www.stepitup2thrive.orgCreative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 U.S. LicenseLast Updated: 1/24/12

Step-It-Up-2-Thrive

These quotes are from the movie Akeelah and the

Bee. As we read the poem out loud as a class, circle

words you think are interesting or you don’t know.

Scene between Akeelah and her mentor/coach Dr. Larabee Akeelah: [quoting Marianne Williamson] Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Dr. Larabee: Does that mean anything to you?

Akeelah: I don't know.

Dr. Larabee: It's written in plain English. What does it mean?

Akeelah: That I'm not supposed to be afraid?

Dr. Larabee: Afraid of what?

What do you think the poem is saying?

How do you see this play out in school, in the community, in family?

What does Dr. Larabe mean when he says: “if you want to win this, you can’t be a shrinking violet”?

Our Deepest Fear