#WorldSkillDay - 'Confidence followed me into every part of my life.'

Growing up, I always felt a deep pull toward advocacy and making a difference, but I faced a silent, heavy barrier: I was terrified of my own voice.

Before I stepped into leadership and community spaces, I was the girl who sat at the back of the room. I held brilliant, burning ideas in my mind, but whenever the opportunity arose to share them, self-doubt would take over.

That was me every single week.

I had so much passion inside me, but whenever I joined our She'sTheFirst (Girl Rising) council meetings with girls from all over the world, I froze. Even writing a simple professional email felt like a mountain. Speaking up to disagree with what everyone else saw as "normal" felt impossible. So, I hid. I would type my thoughts furiously into the chat box, keeping my microphone firmly on mute. Silence just felt safer.

But you can’t keep a fire hidden forever.

One day, during a meeting, another girl did something that changed everything. She looked at the chat, took a breath, and read my typed words out loud to the whole room.

Hearing my thoughts given weight by someone else was a massive wake-up call. For the first time, I realised my voice mattered. Soon after, we started working in a small, tight group on our emotional well-being guide. Because that space felt safe, I finally found the courage to turn on my microphone and speak for myself.

Once I found my voice, I began building skills that would shape my future. What once felt intimidating became an opportunity to grow: writing professional emails helped me communicate my ideas clearly and confidently, collaborating with girls from different countries in the Council strengthened my teamwork and leadership skills, speaking up during meetings helped me become a stronger advocate, not only for myself but for other girls as well.

That confidence didn't stay within the council; it followed me into every part of my life. The girl who once stayed on mute went on to lead sessions at regional summits, organise school campaigns, and be a part of conversations in global spaces.

A few years ago, I was just a young girl with a quiet fire, hiding behind a chat box. Today, because of this sisterhood and the agency I gained, I am the catalyst.