Finding your voice is an important part of growing into who you are. It’s about learning to trust your thoughts, values, and beliefs, and having the confidence to express them authentically.
For many of us — especially young people still navigating identity and belonging — this journey can be challenging. Yet finding your voice opens the door to greater confidence, authenticity, and stronger and effective communication skills. It reminds us that our perspectives have value, and that each of us deserves to be heard. You matter, you belong, and your voice is important.
Our fourth session began with Ann Paton reminding us that self regulation = self care. Ann showed us the Stress Barometer and what happens at each stage: from where we feel safe and comfortable to being triggered, and what the signs are that we are becoming overwhelmed and experiencing extreme discomfort. She expertly guided us in some practices to help bring ourselves down out of dysregulated spaces into a deeper sense of calm and security – the breath being the master tool for all of us to navigate the stresses and triggers of life.
Then Nic Paton offered us a taste of his masterclass titled “Finding My Voice” – using singing as a powerful model to explore the principles of self-expression and discover where we might meet resistance, self-sabotage, insecurity, doubt, fear; things which often find us tripping over our tongue or not saying what we really mean or what we truly feel.
A wonderful teaching Nic also offered was ‘finding one’s voice’ reflected in the Wisdom teachings of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Taoism. We were able to see that in all traditions, this is an important principle that must be explored, encouraged and pursued.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives.”
Gospel of Luke 4:18 Jesus/Yeshua announces his ministry from the Isaiah scroll
“Read: In the name of your Lord who created man from a clinging clot. Read!”
Quran Sura 96 – Muhammed commanded to recite
“And what is right speech? Abstaining from false speech, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from harsh speech, abstaining from idle chatter: this is called right speech.”
Gautama Buddha, Magga-vibhanga Sutta
Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.
Lao Tzu, Daodejing 56
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind”.
Proverbs 8
We began and finished with the learners actively finding their voice – establishing whether they were bass, tenor, alto or soprano and then occupying that space with confidence and assurance, fitting into the flow, harmony and support of each group. Our song of choice was Enjoy Life, inspired and created by the 2026 matric class of Springfield Convent at their Peacemaking Workshop earlier this year.
After singing, Nic had us reflect with honesty on the following questions:
- How wholeheartedly did I take part in the singing?
- Do I think I was good at it or not?
- Could I hear and sing at the same time?
- Would I have liked to take a solo part or do I prefer to be one part of the whole?
Then, as we closed, each of the Grade 11s fed back on what had landed with them and what they wanted to take away from the session. Here are some gems of what they shared:
- be more positive in what you are doing
- myths that you tell yourself can be broken
- be more open to yourself
- don’t be intimidated by others
- be aware of self-sabotaging
- remember your roots
- reach for your potential
- don’t hide from yourself
- giving up is not the best option
- meditative practices are essential for your personal toolbox
- heal yourself and cultivate a sense of who you are without looking externally
- consider the good things about yourself to overcome the negative bias that we all have
- recognise that our thoughts can often be limiting
- I am enough and capable of much more than I know
- don’t assume anything about others – be mindful of what they may be going through
- consciously understand what our differences are and have compassion for them
This time of reflection was an inspiring embodiment of our song Enjoy Life:
“Remember your Creator in the days of your Youth,
saying “YES!” to life and living it in truth”.
