Olivia Finds Her Voice

Olivia* was a learner who didn’t speak much.

Actually, when camp began, she didn't speak at all. She sat silently and observed the first five days of GLOW. She followed what the other learners did, but never talked, laughed or smiled much. While others pushed forward, she always seemed to hold back.

On Leadership Day—a day that, as its name suggests, focused on leadership skills and qualities—learners were asked to practice public speaking. Olivia's team members laughed and talked, but she just sat quietly. It took some prodding on the part of her facilitators, but after some jokes and some silliness, Olivia began to make a little noise, too.

Other learners practiced speaking with each other, but Olivia practiced with the Facilitators. “I want you to talk loud enough that the person in the very back of the room can hear you!” one person told her. And after several attempts, she was actually doing it.

Olivia waited as her teammates went around the table, standing up, taking turns and talking about their topics. When her name was called, Olivia stood up. And for the first time, she did not hold back. Instead, Olivia spoke in a loud and clear voice and made eye contact with every person at the table.

This tiny, shy, and quiet girl had found her incredible voice. A voice that she used to tell her team about her aspirations and her dreams. And a voice that, three days later, she used on stage as a lead actress in a Camp GLOW play.

After five days of silence Olivia was finally comfortable enough with the group--and herself--to speak.

With the help of facilitators, she broke out of her shell and she finally found her voice.



*name has been changed