Find Your Inner Voice
When Connection Prefect and Languages Captain, Naomi, needs the most grit, her inner voice can help form her pearl.
Each week, our student leaders share their insights with their peers in Assembly.
I have an important thing that I need to get off my chest today.
All of you have already accomplished so much, and the year has barely begun. Now, I want you all to take a moment, close your eyes and think about everything you have achieved so far. It could be something as simple as getting up for school every morning or as daring as – oh, I don’t know – going parasailing. Which, by the way, I did, not exactly willingly, but that’s beside the point.
Now, think about what – or who – helped you accomplish those things. More often than not, the answer is you – your inner voice.
Having cheerleaders in our lives is important – whether that’s our friends, family or teachers. But just as important, if not more so, is being your own cheerleader – listening to your inner voice to push yourself towards your goals. Because what happens when you’re alone and in need of motivation but no one’s there to give it? Or when you’re at a swimming competition and you can’t hear the cheering because you’re literally underwater?
At the end of the day, your inner voice isn’t just there for when you’re alone – It’s one of the most powerful tools you have, no matter the situation.
For people who haven’t found their inner voice yet, here are a few ways I’ve come to find mine. For me, running helps. There’s something about pushing past my limits, pushing through the exhaustion, that brings out my inner voice. And sometimes – almost miraculously – it shows up just a few days before a big exam I’ve been stressing over, reminding me to trust myself and what I know.
Here’s something interesting I recently learned – once a pearl has been formed from grit, the natural oils from oyster shells create a soft, gentle polish that keeps a pearl’s surface smooth and intact, all without compromising its natural integrity.
It sounds strange but I’ve realised my inner voice tends to show up when I need the most grit. Without my inner voice, I would struggle to achieve my goals because it’s the force that pushes me forward when doubt creeps in. It reminds me why I started something, keeps me focused when distractions arise, and gives me the courage to keep going even when things feel impossible. It’s not just a voice – it’s my drive, determination, and the belief that I am capable of more than I realise.
I know – it’s easier said than done. But if you start today, maybe by tomorrow or next week it will become second nature. You won’t have to remind yourself to lift yourself up – it will just happen, as naturally as the oil from an oyster shell protecting the pearl’s inner beauty.
So, the next time you feel trapped by your own negative thoughts – or someone else’s – dare to follow your own heart and intuition. Remind yourself, “I am enough,” or “I’m doing the best I can right now,” whatever words resonate.
It’s a simple but powerful way to turn your day around – to bring in a little more self-love and self-confidence.Your inner voice is there to support you, and only you, so don’t use it against yourself. And if you ever doubt that you even have one, remember these words from Mahatma Gandhi: “Everyone who wills can hear the inner voice. It is within everyone.”
This is an edited version of Naomi's Assembly speech.