Emerging Voices: Young Women and the Power of Words
Guest article by Chanel F., Emerging Voices Ambassador
The Emerging Voices Summer Vibes Pilot Program served as an introduction. The first week was all about the blank page: who am I, and what does it mean to express my truth? That question became an anchor to the unwritten.
In week two, we had turned a wheel of emotions, putting names to the currents some choose to ignore. By the third week, we found confidence, a willingness to pick up the pen when our voice feels unsteady. We worked with sentence starters and character swaps, conveying courage in our expressions.
The final week called for endurance. We set deadlines, marked progress on workflow schedules, and considered what it means to take writing from draft to submission. Students began to see their voices as something they could shape, revise, and prepare for an audience.
In workshop after workshop, we watched hesitation give rise to voices that carried weight. A strength unencumbered by technical polish, but shared with honesty, a willingness to be heard, and written without apology.
It’s that journey you’ll hear in Chanel’s poem—identity, emotion, and process. Her progress over perfection reveals how much ground can be covered in four weeks. She does not disguise the doubt or erase the struggle. Nothing is hidden in the margins; we see the full arc of her growth in lines that expand with confidence.
As a Youth Writers’ Guild Ambassador, Chanel’s poem will be the ceremonial feature at the 2025 Emerging Voices Showcase & Reunion, commencing a new phase for writers as they begin to trust their voice and creative potential.
To Prosperous Journeys,
Jenny Cline
Leveraging 20 years of experience, Jenny Cline is the Program Director of Emerging Voices. She creates inclusive spaces for young writers, amplifying underrepresented voices through storytelling, workshops, and mentorship.
The Emergence of Voice
I came in with silent hands,
Not sure if my voice had muscle memory to bear a story.
I wrote in margins.
Hesitated over the period.
I feared my truth would be too little
Or too much.
Then someone read my words.
Not just the lines, the meaning.
We practiced sentence starters like open doors:
“I noticed…” “What if…” “This made me feel…”
And suddenly, I wasn’t writing alone
With a guide to lead the way.
I found rhythm in revision.
The Emotion Wheel spun truths I hadn’t named.
The Speak with Confidence chart reminded me that
Fear and courage can sit in the same stanza.
She saw talent I didn’t even know I had.
She said to me, “Your voice is rising.”
And I got credit.
We tracked our process:
Workflow Schedule, check.
Publication Funnel, in progress.
I stopped erasing lines so carefully.
I let them breathe.
In snippets and slides, heroes shifted
And so did I.
From draft to submission, I discovered
This is what real writing is… Messy. Fearless. Intentional.
Now, I don’t write simply because I must.
I write because I love to.
Because reflection became a story
And criticism served as fuel.
Because someone read what I wrote
And said to me, “Continue.”
And I will.
Like the very first poem, I didn’t apologize for.
~Chanel F.~
Chanel F. is an eighth-grade student studying abroad in Italy. She thrives in multicultural classrooms, developing skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability. An avid reader and aspiring writer, she enjoys exploring history and literature.
Chanel strengthens her communication skills through journaling and creative projects as an Emerging Voices ambassador for transformational activism with the Arbor of the Vine multi-media hub. She has a strong interest in music and art, and regularly contributes to group activities with a collaborative, positive approach.
Living overseas has helped her develop resilience and cultural awareness, which she applies to both academic work and personal goals. Chanel is committed to honesty, compassion, and continuous learning, and she looks forward to pursuing new extracurricular opportunities in high school.
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