I've always had an infatuation with animals, particularly dogs and horses. When I was nine years old I saw a free trial offer in a magazine for another magazine about horses. Because a kid jumps on every opportunity of "free," I sent in a form. After receiving my three free issues, I assumed it would just end and I would move on. But that was not so. The magazine company began to send bills to my house, demanding that I continue to pay for the subscription. I was outraged. At the time, I had no idea that this was a common business practice, so I thought it highly unfair that they promised "free" just to demand payment. My mom suggested I write a letter to the company, explaining why I thought their demand of payment was unfair and why I wasn't going to pay. I assiduously wrote it and sent it in. I still remember the last line: "I'm not giving up without a fight". The bills stopped, and I never heard from that magazine company again.

I still surprise myself at the audacity at which I demanded justice. Throughout middle school I maintained that same fight, standing up for myself and others, speaking out against every unfairness I witnessed or experienced myself. I was a force to be reckoned with.

But as I grew older, that tenacity slowly dimmed. I let other people rob my mouth of the words my heart so longed to speak, and eventually, that thought process became second nature to me. No one wants to hear what you have to say, I would think to myself whenever I wanted to contribute to a conversation. When I was lied to, ridiculed or bullied, I would think to myself, just ignore it. You're not able to properly defend yourself anyway. So I let myself be scared into silence and be walked all over.

What changed? Surely as a child you are taken less seriously when you stick up for yourself than as an adult, right? While I'm not sure of the answer, I do realize what changed. As much as I deny it, I stopped believing in myself. I let the words of others change my internal dialogue to the point where I shot myself down from an opportunity even if I hadn't been officially told no yet.

One of the people who understands this habit of mine and was able to help me the most with my self-doubt was my dad. Something that he always tells me is this: "Don't tell yourself no. Let them tell you no." "Them" meaning from whomever I am asking something. A college admissions board, a future employer, a person I would like to pursue a relationship with. I know how easy it is to be scarred from more than my fair share of "no"s, but you cannot let that stop you from continuing to try to get what you need/want. Your chance of success is zero percent if you never try, so try. Instead of just submitting to that magazine company and forcing my parents to pay for something I mistakenly thought would be free and over with, I stood up for what I wanted and what I felt was right. And it worked.

So, to those out there reading who have let people take away your voice, who feel that they don't have anything important to say, speak. Your words have worth, and your voice is a beautiful instrument not only meant to be gentle and kind, but strong and powerful. But powerful does not mean you have to be rude or obnoxious to get what you want. But be assertive. Life is a struggle, I know. But let life know that you aren't giving up without a fight.