A Found Voice by London

A Found Voice by London - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

When most people introduce themselves, their names are only identifiers. My name defined me. Growing up with a speech impediment, the letters ‘S’ and ‘R’ were my fiercest enemies, twisting my tongue and turning every sentence into a battle I feared to fight. By sixth grade, my identity had been rebranded by my peers based on my struggle. While much of the teasing was not born of malice, the constant imitation of my speech caused my confidence to shrink. I felt trapped by my limitations, and every time I was called upon to read aloud in class, I felt my world darken. That label defined me, no matter how hard I tried, until I realized my voice was not a weakness to be hidden, but a tool for change that was waiting to be sharpened
My journey toward self-discovery began in speech therapy. What started as a grueling exercise in articulation turned into a lesson in perseverance. As I gained control over my voice, I realized that speaking was not just about the pronunciation, but rather it was about the conviction behind the words. Through my continuous efforts, I regained confidence in my voice. Each lesson marked meaningful progress towards speaking up with conviction. However, in ninth grade, a bullying incident sought to silence the very voice I had begun to cultivate. While at school and online, my friend and I experienced daily mistreatment by people who we thought were our closest friends. Seeing it as a joke, they mocked our identity, culture, and isolated us. Yet, what surprised me the most was how, despite the pain I felt, I turned that hurtful experience into an unexpected lesson about my identity and resilience.
In the past, I might have retreated into silence. Instead, the resilience I built in speech therapy gave me the tools to stand firm. I found the courage to speak up for our dignity, reporting the harassment to the school administration and ensuring that justice was served. By advocating for myself, I inspired my friend to find his voice as well. This was the moment I realized my voice had a purpose far broader than just personal communication, as it was a tool to confront injustice.
This realization propelled me into leadership roles where my voice could carry weight. Whether in Student Council, the Diversity Club, or Model UN, where I honed not only my public speaking but also my understanding of how to enact change. Engaging in these spaces allowed me to realize how the principles I believe in, such as equity, representation, and justice, intersect with the political systems that shape society. Consequently, my drive for advocacy evolved into a deep interest in politics, not as a distant concept, but from understanding that my values are intertwined with politics. Thus, transforming politics from a topic to study into a way I uphold the ideals I believe in and channel my voice towards everlasting positive change.
Ultimately, I have reclaimed my identity and moved beyond the labels of my youth to become a leader who understands that a voice is not measured by the perfection of its articulation but by the weight of its message. This discovery that my greatest perceived weakness was actually the forge for my greatest strength now drives my commitment to advocacy. My journey has proven that even a voice once lost can become a powerful catalyst for change.