Use Your Voice

Hey everybody, I’m CReynolds. In high school, you’ve spent years learning facts, solving problems, and studying the world around you. But in between all that, you’ve also learned something even more powerful: the power of your voice.

As we enter this world, we enter a world that needs our voices. We live in a world today where change isn’t merely something we desire—it’s something we require. Climate change, social justice, healthcare, education—these are the challenges we are facing today, and they can at times be daunting. But here’s the truth: the future is not made by those who keep quiet. It’s made by those who make their voices heard, who speak out, and who insist that something be different.

Take a look back for a second and consider when you’ve utilized your voice throughout your time in high school. Perhaps it was when you raised your hand in class to ask a challenging question, or when you spoke out when you noticed someone being unjustly treated. Perhaps it was gathering support for an issue, whether on social media or in real life, because you knew that something needed to shift. Each of those moments, big or small, was one towards using the power of your voice.

But now, the world waits for you to take that power and make it heard.

Your voice is unique. No one else can speak like you, tell stories like you, or challenge the world with the same perspective you have. The world needs that voice. While it may be true that we aren’t special, our voices and the way we use them are. 

In a world where sometimes it may appear easier to simply remain quiet or passive, be aware that all of the great changes in history started with someone who refused to sit back. Think of the movements that changed the world: the Civil Rights Movement, the fight for women’s suffrage, and even the technological revolution that has connected us all in ways we never imagined. These movements were not initiated by those who remained on the sidelines. They were initiated by those who felt that they could bring about change, and more specifically, those who felt the power of words.

It’s not entirely about epic movements or monumental moments in history, though. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do with your voice is in the mundane moments. It’s being a voice for a friend who feels alone. It’s standing up for what you care about, even when it’s difficult. It’s sharing on your social media to share facts, challenge viewpoints, and challenge others. These tiny acts can ripple waves of change and spread out if you do them regularly.

Therefore, as you move on to the next phase of your lives, I wish to leave with you this: Your voice matters. It matters in class, in the workplace, in your community, and the world. It’s not what you say—it’s what you do with what you say to make the world a better place.

I’m not asking that you know everything. None of us does. What I am asking is that you be brave enough to ask the questions. To use your voice to stand up for what is right. To challenge the status quo and hold on to what you know to be true. Because when you speak from where you’re standing, with intention and purpose, you have the power to inspire others to do the same.

Your voice, and the voices of all those others out there, can change the world in ways we have no idea. But we’ll never find out unless we choose to use it.

Class of 2025, congratulations on entering the world. Step up, be heard, and be the change you wish to see. You’ve already demonstrated you can do great things. Now go out and make your mark in the world.

Congratulations, and thank you.

“Speak up, make your voice heard” by HowardLake is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.