My Song
My Voice, My Journey
Empowering Young Women
Speech given 11/18/2004
Good morning everybody. Welcome to “My Voice, My Journey.” My name is Amy Jacob, and I’m a social worker that works with young people. Usually I work with teenagers who are having different kinds of problems, either with their families or at school or with mental health or substance abuse.
When I was asked to participate in this conference, I thought about two things. First, I thought a lot about the young women I know and work with every day. In my career I’ve had the privilege knowing a lot of young women, many who have had really hard lives. Some of them have been abused physically or sexually. Some have run away from home or have been in trouble and locked up in the juvenile detention center. Some lost someone close to them - in fact I know three girls who lost their mothers last year. Some of the girls I know are just really depressed and they don’t know why. Sometimes there’s no reason – it’s just life that gets you down. I’ve known lots of young women with lots of problems. Every kind of problem you can think of, I’ve probably met someone who has it.
But when I was thinking about the young women I’ve known, it wasn’t their problems that I was thinking of. It was their strength and their courage. You see- the young women I know – no matter how bad things seem to get, they just keep trying. They get up and face what they have to face, learn what they need to learn, and do what they have to do. And in that way, they’re all just like all of you – you all have different problems and different lives, but you all have the same strength and courage. I see it in you every time I have the pleasure of meeting you and hearing your story. And that always gives me a lot of hope.
The other thing I thought a lot about was being a young woman myself. I do get amazed when I think about how different things are for me now than they were when I was your age. Let me tell you – it’s much better than I expected it would be. So in thinking about this conference, I thought a lot about my own personal journey and my own voice and how much it’s changed since then – and how much I am still the same.
When I started thinking about my own life and my own journey, I realized I didn’t want to come here today as a social worker and give a presentation. I do a lot of that – presenting and speaking to groups and sharing what I know about kids and the different problems they face, and I really like to do that too. I like to share what I know. But today, for a change, I thought I’d come here and just share who I really am.
So while I think I was asked to be a part of the program today as a social worker, instead, I decided to show up as a musician. Of course, I’m not anybody famous or anyone you’ve ever heard of. I’m just a woman who loves music. I’ve done a lot of different things in my career before becoming a social worker, and I might do a lot more. I might be a writer or go work for the government or go back to school and do something totally different. I still don’t know. But I do know, no matter what else I do in my life, I’ll never stop being a musician.
That’s because when I play music for people, I show them what I feel. And when you can find a way to tell others what you really feel in your heart, well, that’s the most powerful thing any of us can do. And that’s what using your voice is all about.
And I’ll tell you something else. It’s not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes we forget how important it is. Months ago, I hadn’t played any music for a long time, because I became so busy with my career. All I ever do sometimes is work. But all in the same week, three different girls I work with asked me to show them how to play guitar. So I started playing guitar with them, and all of a sudden, I realized even though I thought I was doing something to help them, playing music was making me a lot happier. Without even knowing it, these girls helped me remember that I have this other very important part of myself – another way that I like to use my voice.
When I started playing music with them and using this other voice of mine with them, well, they started using their voices in a whole new way as well. And the things they had to say were totally inspiring. The depths they could reach were amazing. They taught me how important it is for us for each of us to find all the different ways we have to use our voices and to nurture it. And it’s not always that easy – sometimes, you know, we need to be reminded to do that.
So I’m reminding you right now – young women and the rest of us women - let’s think for a minute about our voices.
(VOLUNTEERS – PASS OUT NAME TAGS)
One of the easiest ways I can think of to use my voice to express myself is to just sing. I’m not going to make you all sing this morning – but I am going to ask you to think about your song. Think of it as the song you’ve been writing your whole life.
Maybe it’s a song someone else has written. Maybe it’s a song you will write someday. Maybe it’s a phrase from a song or a line from a poem or a story. You can either make up a song title or you can use someone elses.
I’d like for you to write down that song title on this nametag and wear it today or stick it on your packet so the rest of us can know something about you and your voice.
(CUE LYRICS)
This is My Song. It’s a song I wrote when I was 19 years old. I’ll sing it for you, but first I want to explain it a little bit so you can know something about who I am. I wrote this song about that feeling you get when everything would be just perfect but you still feel like something is holding you back. It’s a song about trying to shake off the fear and inhibitions that keep us from really being in the moment. Since I’m about to sing this for you right now, you’ll either see that I’m able to shake the feelings off or not depending on how it comes across.
(PLAY SONG)
All that is to say, the voice inside of me, and the voice I use to connect with the rest of the world is what gets me through every day, in everything I do. Your voice, like my voice, is the most powerful thing you have. Today, I hope you find new ways to put it to use to help you tell your story in a way that is meaningful to you.
Thanks for listening – Have a great morning.
This speech is dedicated to Alex, Ashley, Ayla, Ayse, Bunny, Christina, Crystal, Danielle, Denise, Elaine, Gita, Josephina, Kim, Lauren, Marty, Noreen, Tami, Tracy and every other young woman I’ve had the pleasure of knowing over the years.
Empowering Young Women
Speech given 11/18/2004
Good morning everybody. Welcome to “My Voice, My Journey.” My name is Amy Jacob, and I’m a social worker that works with young people. Usually I work with teenagers who are having different kinds of problems, either with their families or at school or with mental health or substance abuse.
When I was asked to participate in this conference, I thought about two things. First, I thought a lot about the young women I know and work with every day. In my career I’ve had the privilege knowing a lot of young women, many who have had really hard lives. Some of them have been abused physically or sexually. Some have run away from home or have been in trouble and locked up in the juvenile detention center. Some lost someone close to them - in fact I know three girls who lost their mothers last year. Some of the girls I know are just really depressed and they don’t know why. Sometimes there’s no reason – it’s just life that gets you down. I’ve known lots of young women with lots of problems. Every kind of problem you can think of, I’ve probably met someone who has it.
But when I was thinking about the young women I’ve known, it wasn’t their problems that I was thinking of. It was their strength and their courage. You see- the young women I know – no matter how bad things seem to get, they just keep trying. They get up and face what they have to face, learn what they need to learn, and do what they have to do. And in that way, they’re all just like all of you – you all have different problems and different lives, but you all have the same strength and courage. I see it in you every time I have the pleasure of meeting you and hearing your story. And that always gives me a lot of hope.
The other thing I thought a lot about was being a young woman myself. I do get amazed when I think about how different things are for me now than they were when I was your age. Let me tell you – it’s much better than I expected it would be. So in thinking about this conference, I thought a lot about my own personal journey and my own voice and how much it’s changed since then – and how much I am still the same.
When I started thinking about my own life and my own journey, I realized I didn’t want to come here today as a social worker and give a presentation. I do a lot of that – presenting and speaking to groups and sharing what I know about kids and the different problems they face, and I really like to do that too. I like to share what I know. But today, for a change, I thought I’d come here and just share who I really am.
So while I think I was asked to be a part of the program today as a social worker, instead, I decided to show up as a musician. Of course, I’m not anybody famous or anyone you’ve ever heard of. I’m just a woman who loves music. I’ve done a lot of different things in my career before becoming a social worker, and I might do a lot more. I might be a writer or go work for the government or go back to school and do something totally different. I still don’t know. But I do know, no matter what else I do in my life, I’ll never stop being a musician.
That’s because when I play music for people, I show them what I feel. And when you can find a way to tell others what you really feel in your heart, well, that’s the most powerful thing any of us can do. And that’s what using your voice is all about.
And I’ll tell you something else. It’s not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes we forget how important it is. Months ago, I hadn’t played any music for a long time, because I became so busy with my career. All I ever do sometimes is work. But all in the same week, three different girls I work with asked me to show them how to play guitar. So I started playing guitar with them, and all of a sudden, I realized even though I thought I was doing something to help them, playing music was making me a lot happier. Without even knowing it, these girls helped me remember that I have this other very important part of myself – another way that I like to use my voice.
When I started playing music with them and using this other voice of mine with them, well, they started using their voices in a whole new way as well. And the things they had to say were totally inspiring. The depths they could reach were amazing. They taught me how important it is for us for each of us to find all the different ways we have to use our voices and to nurture it. And it’s not always that easy – sometimes, you know, we need to be reminded to do that.
So I’m reminding you right now – young women and the rest of us women - let’s think for a minute about our voices.
(VOLUNTEERS – PASS OUT NAME TAGS)
One of the easiest ways I can think of to use my voice to express myself is to just sing. I’m not going to make you all sing this morning – but I am going to ask you to think about your song. Think of it as the song you’ve been writing your whole life.
Maybe it’s a song someone else has written. Maybe it’s a song you will write someday. Maybe it’s a phrase from a song or a line from a poem or a story. You can either make up a song title or you can use someone elses.
I’d like for you to write down that song title on this nametag and wear it today or stick it on your packet so the rest of us can know something about you and your voice.
(CUE LYRICS)
This is My Song. It’s a song I wrote when I was 19 years old. I’ll sing it for you, but first I want to explain it a little bit so you can know something about who I am. I wrote this song about that feeling you get when everything would be just perfect but you still feel like something is holding you back. It’s a song about trying to shake off the fear and inhibitions that keep us from really being in the moment. Since I’m about to sing this for you right now, you’ll either see that I’m able to shake the feelings off or not depending on how it comes across.
(PLAY SONG)
All that is to say, the voice inside of me, and the voice I use to connect with the rest of the world is what gets me through every day, in everything I do. Your voice, like my voice, is the most powerful thing you have. Today, I hope you find new ways to put it to use to help you tell your story in a way that is meaningful to you.
Thanks for listening – Have a great morning.
This speech is dedicated to Alex, Ashley, Ayla, Ayse, Bunny, Christina, Crystal, Danielle, Denise, Elaine, Gita, Josephina, Kim, Lauren, Marty, Noreen, Tami, Tracy and every other young woman I’ve had the pleasure of knowing over the years.
