Who am I? I am an awkward, shy, pre-teen afraid to raise her hand in class despite being one of the top students in my grade. Oh, wait, that was me many years ago. But, I can still feel that shyness and anxiety, and with my age came some wisdom of how that impacted my life choices. I can’t go back in time, but I can reach out to those young women who are facing their fears during their adolescent and early adult journeys.
Somehow that shy girl ended up with a lengthy career in public relations which included several media appearances, presentations for large crowds and coaching C-Level executives in communications and media appearances. From someone who was terrified to speak in front of classmates, I transformed into a person capable of being thrust in front of a camera being asked hostile questions and confidently standing my ground.
When I found myself reviewing my niece’s personal statement for grad school and saw that she wasn’t expressing her skills and experiences with confidence, a spark was ignited in my mind. I realized that many young, intelligent women are still not taught to speak and write about themselves confidently. After many years I have gained those skills and am now dedicated to sharing them with the girls and young women who can put them to use while still in school, seeking their first job, vying for a spot in their college of choice, or in their everyday life. A Spark in Her Voice is my passion and with each young person I work with, I become more inspired.