I think we can all agree that one of the first lessons we are taught is to tell the truth; that the truth is good no matter what. We are taught to use our voices and speak our minds. We are taught that our opinions should be voiced and we should never hold back. However, we are taught that if we have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. I believe that our voices are one of the most powerful weapons we have. Once we fire our opinion, we can not take it back. Once released, it hits the mind of others and remains there forever. I agree that if you have nothing nice to say you probably shouldn't say it.

However, if you are standing up for something you believe in you should say exactly what is on your mind no matter how harsh it comes out. There are so many times when we are faced with situations that we have many thoughts on but will not share because of the fear we all have: rejection. The truth is no matter what you say or how you say it, someone will get offended. Someone will have something negative to say and someone will try to tear it down the second they get the chance to. There are people who will listen just to listen, but not to understand. So, what do you do to resolve this problem? Keep speaking. For as many people who are sitting there ready to pick apart everything you just said, there are just as many people who are taking in every word and ready to join you. You can’t live your life in fear, nor should you. Have you ever wondered what hurts more: Doing something and wishing you hadn’t? Or not doing something and wishing you have? Saying something you had not, or saying nothing and wishing you had? You can speak the truth and you can speak your mind; either way people are going to have something to say wether it be good or bad. That’s life. We all have voices and opinions that are meant to be shared.

Most people open their mouths before they open their minds, and that is when a conversation has failed. So what if someone doesn't agree with what you are saying? So what that person thinks its stupid and irrelevant. It is not stupid and irrelevant to you, which makes it meaningful and important. The moment you decide something is important and worth speaking about, it becomes just that. They teach us that the truth is good, but once we say the truth, somebody gets hurt or offended. We are taught to fight for what we believe in and what we care about. So my advice? Speak. Speak up for anything you care about and speak against anything that burns in your mind. Speak boldly. Demand respect, don’t wait for it.

Don’t ever silence yourself for someone else’s comfort. Stop making yourself small. We all have the privilege of having a voice, because we all entitled to use it. Whenever your faced with a situation what causes you to think, to want to make a change, whatever you decide to do, just speak.

“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” -Maggie Kuhn.