Using My Voice by Christian

Using My Voice by Christian - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

I used to struggle with using my voice even when I knew my thoughts were worth sharing. I would sit in rooms full of people with similar ideas and opinions as me, but allow fear to quiet me. Fear that my ideas would be judged, misunderstood, or not taken seriously. I convinced myself that remaining silent and listening was better than being vulnerable and speaking out. Silence may have protected me from feeling uncomfortable, but it also held me back from stepping into all I could be.

In a few instances, however, I was able to move past my fear. One of these memories in particular resonates with me. I was at a Kappa League board meeting, as I was a board member for the organization. I was expected to give input, share ideas, and help to lead the direction of our decisions. Having that responsibility, however, was also nerve-wracking. I was new to this type of leadership, and I wasn’t confident in my ability to express myself articulately.

At one meeting, we were discussing ideas and strategies to boost youth involvement. I had an idea prepared beforehand that I had written out. It was an idea from personal experience, of a young person like me who needed the structure of a more direct mentorship. As more and more people started to speak up, I grew more and more hesitant. I began to doubt my own contribution. My heart beat faster, my hands clenched, and I started asking myself all sorts of questions. “What if my idea isn’t good enough?” “What if I speak nervously and stutter over my words?” I sat for what seemed like ages, upset with myself for not speaking out when I knew I should have.

Eventually, I realized that remaining silent was doing more harm to me than my fear ever could. I told myself that I was in that room for a reason. I didn’t stumble into it by accident, but instead was put there by those who understood the value of my voice and my experiences. After taking a deep breath, I spoke. My voice wasn’t perfect, but it was authentic. I spoke clearly and was surprised to find that my idea wasn’t shut down. In fact, the opposite occurred. The people in the room acknowledged my idea, expanded on it, and validated my contribution. That moment changed me. I felt lighter, more confident, and prouder than I had in that room before. For the first time, I began to understand that confidence does not come before speaking, it comes from speaking.

That experience helped to shape my mindset about communication and leadership. I have learned that having a voice is not about being the most vocal person in a room. It’s about having the courage to speak with intention and with authenticity. Involvement in school, church, and school activities have continued to help me to grow in effective communication. Working on the church technology team and getting involved in leadership roles helped me to learn to see communication as key to teamwork and holding each other accountable. With each experience in front of a crowd, behind the scenes, or with my peers, I grew more confident in using my voice.

I now see my voice as a tool for impact. In the future, I plan to use it to advocate for students from underserved communities, and especially for those who may not feel seen or heard. I aspire to have a career in technology and education, where I can use my passion for computers to teach and build skills in coding and computer literacy to young people who otherwise do not have access to those resources. I hope that by using my voice to share my knowledge and advocate for equal opportunity, I can empower others to have faith in themselves the way I was able to learn to have faith in me.

Throughout my journey of finding my voice, I have learned that growth starts where fear ends. I now know that when I choose to speak even when my voice is trembling, I am creating space for not only myself but for others to find their own courage as well.