The world said,
“Be invisible.”
But she heard, “Be invincible.”
—Amy Trowbridge-Yates

Young girls carry a rich legacy rooted in the hands of several progressive women across generations. A great way to honour this legacy is to own our voice and make it count.

Here are 5 simple ways to own your voice:
1. Don’t wait to be asked: If you’re in a group brainstorming, share your thoughts confidently. Seizing the opportunity can boost how you feel about your abilities.
2. Share your discomfort: When someone crosses your boundary, voice it out. This needs practice with setting boundaries first. Next, in navigating power dynamics - handling an adult, a senior in school, or a teacher who crosses your boundary can be more difficult than a classmate. Start practising with your classmates, family and friends.
3. Speak up for yourself: If a situation seems unfair, express why you find it so. Speaking up helps assert your thoughts and identity and also makes co-existence easier.
4. Instropect: Belief systems are those formed with thoughts passed down from others. Ask yourself how much you agree or disagree with those. Adapt to new thoughts & create new beliefs wherever needed.
5. Be humble in apologizing: Admitting our mistakes is another powerful way of owning our voice because it shows our capacity to evolve.

Our voice signifies whether we see ourselves as confident, assertive girls and women. Own your voice!