We asked the teens in the program to tell us a little bit about how the workshop helped them and what they're up to now. Here's what they had to say:
Elsa
Looking back at my experience in Find Your Voice, what's most amazing to me is how differently I felt then compared to how I feel now. Through the training, I learned that you have to keep on trying new things and pushing yourself to the limit, because you can't box yourself away from things you think might embarrass you. And it's liberating to feel the want and the courage to go out and challenge yourself. After high school, I want to travel with an organization to try and get a broader sense of world issues that are important to me. If I get into a college of my choice, I will go next year. But if not, I hope to try to get a better sense of what I want to do by volunteering and traveling.
Danielle
I was always the shy girl, nervous to talk in class. I had so much to say but was afraid to open up. The Find Your Voice training helped me be that outgoing person. Through writing our own plays and performing in each other's, I learned so much. It was the push and the demand to accomplish this goal that helped me become the person I am today. I just want to say thanks to Gail (the coach) for giving me an opportunity to express myself in a new way. My future plan is to attend John Jay College and study forensic psychology. Modeling is something I am interested in as well.
Lisa
As I went through the Find Your Voice process, I realized that I had a tough time handling and incorporating constructive criticism into my creative writing. After weeks of coaching, I slowly began to overcome some of my self-consciousness and finally completed my work. Hopefully, writing college essays and developing hospitality management projects won't be so scary now!
Bahati
Being part of a Find Your Voice Training is indescribable. I learned to express myself in ways I could never have imagined. At first I was shy: I conquered that fear and learned to reveal my real self -- both on stage and off. Currently I am ending my freshman year at the College of Staten Island. I am undecided with my major, but I plan to decide in the next couple of months.
Jia Bin ("JB")
I learned to write a play and act in a play, but the most important part that I discovered in the training was that air is one of the essential elements for everything in life (Workshop participants learned that breath makes the vocal chords vibrate and that vibration creates the voice). I also learned that editing in writing is like shaping Michelangelo's David and as someone said "I just take off all the small pieces that covered the masterpiece." I liked the incorporation of exercise to make the group regain stamina, too. (Stretching exercises were done before each workshop session to open the body for communication.) I am currently in Brooklyn College. I have not declared my major but I will later. I want to finish college as soon as possible, so I can study for my master's and do my Ph.D. Perhaps, I can write a good book and be published.
Michael
What did I get out of this training? I got that even though we were a really diverse group from lots of different races, we all had one thing in common-- fear! I learned that everyone is scared of the public eye on them. Everyone is uncomfortable with others. Now...even when I'm rapping...I'm not afraid anymore. I'm comfortable with myself now 'cause I saw that we were all scared, but we all got through it. I'm still trying to find my way, but I passed my GED. After I make a little more money, I'm thinking about college.
Garvin
Find Your Voice helped me to develop my artistic ability. It gave me an opportunity to meet students from diverse backgrounds and introduced me to a new field of study I would not have sought out on my own. The program provided an environment for teamwork, collaborative script writing, public speaking and acting and gave me the chance to give and receive constructive criticism on writing and acting skills. It helped me become less shy and more assertive. In the future I plan to get my bachelor's in business and eventually get my master's in science. Find Your Voice has sky rocketed my confidence and I am determined to do anything I put my mind to.
Natasha
After the first couple of weeks in Find Your Voice, I learned to be free about talking and not to be so shy. Studying acting and watching the struggles that all the other kids had too; I started to feel much more confident. Now I feel that I can do anything, and I don't put myself down all the time. I didn't used to want to go to college, but I'm taking the GED exam this summer, and then I want to go to college to become a nurse.
Nande
First, great thanks to my English teacher Mrs. Obermeier for having high
expectations of me and recommending me to the workshop. My experience had a great impact upon my life. It brought new light that I will always cherish. I interacted with different people from different high schools -- all complete strangers. We came together, shared ideas, found hidden talents, and all made a successful finish. Although we will be going our separate ways, I'm assured we will always remember our time with Gail (the coach) and the gang. One of the many things I learned is that you can take something simple and turn it into something spectacular.
*Esteban returned to his family in Mexico shortly after the training.
