Finding My Voice: From Silence to Speaking Boldly

Have you ever been afraid to speak? I mean, genuinely afraid that if you open your mouth, people will judge you or misunderstand you? I spent most of my elementary and middle school years in silence—not because I was shy, but because I was afraid to speak. Afraid of what people would think. Afraid of how my heavy Haitian accent would sound to American ears. Afraid that my words would only bring more teasing, more stares, more whispers behind my back.

I was born in Haiti and came to the United States when I was seven years old. My siblings and I were the first ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students at our elementary school. And by “first,” I mean there was no program at all when we arrived. We didn’t speak English, and no one at the school spoke Creole—not a single teacher, not a single classmate. So, for most of my first-grade year, I did two things: sleep or sit in my sister’s kindergarten class. That was my education. While the other kids were learning to read and write, I was just trying to survive in a world that felt completely foreign.

By the second year, an ESOL program was finally put in place, and we began learning English. But by then, I had already learned something else: silence was safe. Silence meant no one could mock my accent. Silence meant no one could remind me that in the early ’90s, it wasn’t “cool” to be Haitian. Silence meant I could avoid the bullying that so many Haitian kids experienced back then including myself.

And so, I stayed silent.

Teachers and classmates assumed I was just extremely shy, but the truth was, I was just afraid of my own voice. Afraid that opening my mouth would give away my Haitian roots, afraid that my accent would be another reason for kids to laugh at me. So, for years, I barely spoke. I went through middle school feeling unseen and unknown, trapped inside my own mind with so much to say but no courage to say it.

As the years went on, this fear didn’t go away. I was so afraid of being different that I stopped speaking altogether. I convinced myself that my accent made me unworthy of being heard, so I didn’t speak unless I absolutely had too. I felt like my voice wasn’t valuable, that I wasn’t important enough to be listened to. This fear became a prison I built around myself. And little did I know, the enemy was using that fear to attack my self-esteem.

How the Enemy Attacks Our Identity

The Bible tells us that God created us with purpose—He gave us a voice to speak and to declare His goodness. But the enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, uses fear to keep us silent and small. The more I feared my accent and being “different,” the more I was convinced that I didn’t have anything valuable to say.

In those quiet years, I believed the lies that I wasn’t worthy to be heard. I let those lies steal my confidence and self-esteem. I believed that my accent, my heritage, my very identity, was something to be ashamed of. But it wasn’t. God didn’t make a mistake when He made me the way I am. And He doesn’t make mistakes with you either.

2 Timothy 1:7 says,

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

This verse speaks directly to the lies I believed as a child. Fear was never meant to rule over us. Fear was never meant to define me or you. It’s a tool the enemy uses to keep us quiet and stuck, but God gave us the power to break free.

Finding My Voice

As I reflect on those years of silence, I’m reminded of how God has used my voice in ways I never could have imagined. Over the years, I’ve learned that my accent doesn’t define me. My voice—my authentic voice, shaped by my experiences and culture—is a gift from God. He gave me this voice not to hide, but to declare His goodness, to encourage others, and to speak life into those who need it.

It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t happen overnight. But through prayer, courage, and God’s love, I began to find my voice. And now, through blogging and sharing my story, I’m able to use what was once a source of shame to encourage and uplift others.

Overcoming Fear and Speaking Boldly

Then, one day when I was 18 years old, I ran into an old classmate from elementary school. Their reaction? “Oh my God! You can talk?! I didn’t know you could talk!”

I laughed, but deep down, that moment stuck with me. I realized just how much I had allowed fear to silence me for so many years.

Now, as I sit here writing this blog, I see how God has turned that silence into purpose. The girl who once refused to speak now writes to encourage others to use their voice. I now understand that my voice—my story—has power.

You may have a heavy accent, a stutter, or fear of judgement but remember this: God doesn't make mistakes. He gave you a voice, and he wants you to use it.

And to the younger me, the one who kept quiet for so long: Speak up, girl. The world needs to hear you.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever felt afraid to speak—afraid of being judged or misunderstood—know this: your voice matters. You were created with purpose, and God wants to use you to speak His truth and love into the world.

Don’t let fear define you. Don’t let the enemy use your insecurities to silence you. God has equipped you with everything you need to stand bold in His truth.

Call to Action:

What fears have held you back from speaking? How can you overcome them and find your voice today? Leave a comment below—let’s encourage each other to speak with courage and confidence!