Today’s Be the Voice of Girls session was a powerful reminder that no one—not a teacher, not a mentor, not even a world-famous songwriter—can speak the words inside of you. Only you can give voice to your own thoughts, dreams, and stories.
This theme took center stage as we explored Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield, a song about embracing possibility and stepping boldly into our own narratives. As the chorus rang out—“No one else, no one else / Can speak the words on your lips”—we reflected on what it truly means to own our voices.
Opening the Window to Possibility
Our mainstays when it comes to music, Heather and Ece, led the girls through a warm-up on storytelling and figurative language. We unpacked the song’s imagery—the “blank page” representing untapped potential and the “dirty window” symbolizing the fears, doubts, and external pressures that cloud our vision.
In small groups, participants identified their own “dirty windows”—barriers that make it difficult to fully express themselves. One girl shared how physics had always felt impossible, a subject she couldn’t seem to overcome. Another described how fear of judgment kept her from speaking up in class. But as we discussed these struggles, a clear message emerged: these barriers don’t define us. We can open the window. We can clear away the fog of doubt.
Drench Yourself in Words Unspoken
We then turned our focus to the line, “Drench yourself in words unspoken.” What does it mean to be drenched in something that hasn’t been said?
One participant offered a compelling take: we don’t just hold back words—we stew in them. Like steam building in a sealed pot, unspoken thoughts don’t disappear. They press against us, demanding to be released. The longer we keep them bottled up, the more energy it takes to contain them. Eventually, we’re left drenched—not in the words themselves, but in the strain of keeping them inside.
Unwritten reminds us that our thoughts and ideas belong to us alone. If we don’t share them, no one else will.
And that, at its core, is what Be the Voice of Girls is all about. These girls don’t need to be given a voice—they already have one. What they need, and what this space provides, is the encouragement and confidence to open the lid, release the pressure, and speak their truths.
Sing It Loud, Sing It Proud
To close out the session, we embraced the full energy of the song. Singing together—whether virtually or in person—is always a unifying moment for our girls. Even those who hesitated at first joined in by the end, their voices rising in unison:
“Today is where your book begins / The rest is still unwritten.”
We ended the session reflecting on the words of our Co-Founder: I, as a middle-aged white man, am certainly not the voice of girls. Only you can be that.
And they are.
With every session, every discussion, every song, and every shared experience, these girls are writing their own stories. The rest is still unwritten—but we have no doubt they will fill the pages beautifully.
