As college students, our journey is about finding out who we are, what we want, and why we want it. It’s four years (more or less) of exploration.

College is the first place where I met people who told me that my story is important. As people, someone can tell us something a million times, but it isn’t until we realize it that it sticks. But I only had to be told that my story matters a little less than a million times for me to realize it.

Oprah gave one of the best speeches I’ve heard at the Golden Globes recently and she said something that has stuck with me: “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.” And she’s right.

Speaking our truth is the whole point of black lives matters, #metoo, Times Up, the civil rights movement, and any other agency of change. These movements allow for the oppressed to share their truth and receive the recognition they deserve. Oprah did something very powerful with her speech: she revealed the people who came before her to pave the way for her story to be told because theirs was not.

Now for Oprah, being the first black woman to receive the Cecil B DeMill award is a part of her story (even though a woman and a minority should have won it way before this). Oprah is paving the way for woman younger than her to be recognized for their voice and truth.

I know I’m no Oprah Winfrey, but I want you to know that your story and truth is worth sharing. Personally, I believe that God created us with different stories, and we, unfortunately, all have stories with suffering. But your suffering should NEVER be silenced.

Even if you only have an ounce of courage, realize that “speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have- and maybe one day we will see that sharing our truth not only helped ourselves, but also helped others.