Finding My Voice
giving a speech about the death penalty during a debate program at school “Be a voice, not an echo.” — Albert Einstein There is an ancient Japanese proverb that says, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” This wisdom teaches us that when someone dares to be different, to stand out in a crowd, they risk drawing criticism, judgment, and even punishment from their community and the institutions that govern it. This certainly resonates with my experiences growing up in a predominantly Catholic country where traditional values and beliefs are prevalent. As a girl, there were a lot of expectations that were presented early in my childhood. Sitting up straight, dressing modestly, being modest, not being too loud, not eating too much, etc. These expectations were like a tight corset, constraining my spirit. They silently urged me to bite my tongue and silence my thoughts. The idea of being the ideal, subservient girl seemed to be the unquestioned norm. Yet, as I entered my teenag...
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