I have been thinking a lot lately about voice. Where do our voices come from? How do we find a voice? At what point is it a good idea to muffle our own voices? To what end does having a voice provide us with identity, or a lack there of?
I can recall sitting at the kitchen table with the grown ups. My mother always had a rule for us to sit there and if it wasn't followed the privilege was revoked. Her rule--If you sit with the grown ups, then you are a listener only. Grown ups need to have their time to talk. I learned a great deal about conversations, conservation etiquette, and conversation appropriate public versus private topics. This was also where I started to find my voice.
To read this probably begs the question as to finding voice in silence. I know it sounds weird or contradictory. It is a paradox of sorts--to find a voice in silence. However, my voice rose out of observation and listening. I have always been an observer. I often get busted at the mall for sitting and watching others interact. They look at me weirdly and expect my gaze to quickly find a new location. But to me, a great deal can be learned through observing. I watch how facial expressions mask emotion, how body language fidgets or twitches tell us when the heart and mind do not agree, how eyes tell us what people really think when they try to cover up disgust, worry, sadness or fear.
My voice has changed because of this. I learned that to speak to my mother required a different approach than to speak to my students. I learned that my vocabulary switches dependent on the company I am in. I learned that there are some places where silence is stronger than response. Additionally, I learned that sometimes my voice gets lost and will only truly come out through writing poetry or stories.
I want you to think about your voice. How did you find it? What have you learned from it? Who do you change your voice for and why?
68 comments:
I found my voice through observing and listening to others around me. I have always been the quiet one or classified as shy to some. This is normally because I like listening. I like listening to all the different people around me, and observing the ways they speak. I learned that some do not care for manners, and just say anything that's on their mind, appropriate or not. I also learned that there are other people who never say what is true. I observed people who do not speak their mind at all, afraid of what others would say or think about them. Watching all these people, I come to find myself somewhere in between everyone. I never say anything inappropriate or rude, I have seen the consequences. I've learned that using manners helps you get more respect from others. I have also learned that people around my age don't take you seriously if you speak and don't know what you're talking about, or have a very dull vocabulary, although they won't take you seriously if your vocabulary or the way you speak is superior either. I don't ever try to change myself for anyone else. Seeing all these behaviors around me has just stuck to me, and this is where I found my voice, and where it comes from. It's like I'm unintentionally trying to follow the invisible rules, even if I don't want to. My voice changes when writing. I try to sound mature, and put my vocabulary skills to work. When I'm just around at school or with friends, it seems my voice dumbs down a little. My voice out loud does not seem as smart as the voice inside of me.
Liz M - 2
I think that I had found my voice from my father. He yells at me and my brother a lot, and we think he just does it to be mean or just because he can. Yet, he really does this to get his point across to me and my brother, so that we dont make the same mistakes as we did in the past. When I need to get my point across, I speak in a loud tone, and I attempt to not talk the same way my father does. I fear him, and I do not want people to fear me because we speak the same way. I have learned from having this loud voice, that it is sometimes not a good thing to have. For example, durring most of my time on the swim team, or in the class room, I will usually say something in a loud tone of voice, where the reaction of those around me is to say that I yelled at them. However, to me, it may not seem that way, but to the people, it does. I would change my voice for myself, and for others around me. I do not want to be the guy who has to yell all the time in a loud, angry, annoyed manner. That sends the message that people need to avoid me and stay away from me. This is why I want to change my voice, and where it came from.
I find my voice by listening and understanding.I love to watch and listen to others thoughts rather that voicing my own. I find that my views can change by listening to what others have to say. I voice my own opinions when I feel strongly about something, otherwise I am content with listening. Ever since I was little, I loved sitting around with the adults in my family and listening to what they had to say. My view on the "world" that I lived in started to form by observations. I don't always agree with them, but I found ways to look at both sides of a topic for when my time came to speak my voice. I found that I was very opinionated and that my voice and ideas were usually not the same as others'. I don't always have the same 'voice' around others. Around my friends I love to speak my mind and be heard. I am comfortable with saying that I think. Around adults I am conservative and tend to be a listener to show respect. Around strangers and people that I don't know very well, I tend to say the minimum, not really exposing who I really am. They don't really know me and until we become closer, I do not say as much or speak the same was as I would to a best friend or family member. Sometimes I find it easier to find my voice around familiar company and those who will understand where I am coming from. Without My voice, though, I would not be that same
I have found by voice by really good people who had helped me how to talk.I've been listening to the people and observing all the people around me.I talk a lot so I have learned that I have a lot of words in my mouth.Must of the time at school I change my voice to a babys sounds voice I don't really know why, but I think is because I have to babysitt and they are little kids. Every time I talked to them they talk to my me like little baby just to get away from something and I think that I got that baby sound stock in my head and now I'm talking exactly like them. This is what how I have found my voice,what I've learned from it and what do I change it for.
i found my voice through my family. i grew up with my grandparents, and throughout my childhood my grandmother would talk about proper etiquette and manners. this eventually leading to talking when i got to the age to comprehend my rights from wrongs. i naturally learned to talk a certain amount, what to say, what not to say, what was necessary and what really wasn't necessary. i keep in mind certain values and expectation that my family believes in and i continuously remind myself that if i want respect from others i need to show respect. it all starts by what one says. my voice changes depending where i find myself at. at school, i am in an educational zone where i try to focus and speak thoroughly to teachers, using my manners. i think that being rude and disrespectul, to someone who is there everyday to help you in school, opening their teaching skills and trying to apply them to hundreds of students of course, just shouldn't be considered. i find it unacceptable because i find that one changes their character and eventally the teacher keeps in mind the type of person you really are. the atmosphere is quite different when i am with my friends. i let myself relax and i dont necessarily have to be so proper because my friends dont expect me to act like that.they wouldnt act like that around me either, i think it also has a lot to do with the fact that when we are together we are in our comfort zone, free to say whatever we want because we've known eachother for so long that we start to understand eachothers voices.
I have found my voice thinking on what to say and exspress it properly i remeber in the book by joun steinbeck "east of eden" that the main chacter travelled for several year's and in that time he spoke and learned dialect's from those around him and became welcome in most places. thay that the people around you affecthow you speak and that is how you talk for the rest of your life i follow a belief that puting a name to a quality you have lead's to narcissism/self-esteem problem there for never talk about your self, so you would have to tell me.
I found my voice by observing and listening to others. Yeah, im often said to be quiet but its only when I dont really have anyone to communicate with, or someone would define me as quiet because they don't really know me and didn't really take the time to actually talk. I do like listening to what the world around me is talking about. I listen when adults talk and don't really interupt unless my curiousiy is erupting and i cannot hold it any longer. I don't like talking in mean or angry vioce because then people get the bad image of you, thinking yeah that girl is a brat, you dont wanna talk to her. Yeah everyone gets frusterated and i have my moments too. Buut I love love love talking and i get along with everybody. I Learned to always help people whenever possible or whenever needed. I've learned that giving respect, brings respect. That is what my parents have taught me for the last 15 years of my life. If you cannot talk with respect to the person, than don't talk to them at all. I change my voice probably when im emotional. It is hard for me to hold in my tears. I get hurt pretty easily so after that my voice is just shaking or just really soft and slow. And my voice also changes when im actaully really focused on something, because it makes me feel like i can accomplish anything if i try and that excites me! Or when im in a really good mood, because i just feel happy and i could talk for hours and hours, and my voice can be loud, if im angry ill most likely be yelling at everything an d when im happy ill be singing and just talking and talking.
i lost my voice unfairly token over lost in fear and silenced by corruptive thinking. this taought me to look for my voice search for it so i could tell them what happened it took mounths but soon enough there it was it was waiting. waiting for me to let it out set it free once i did i wasint happy but that voice got bigger louder to the point they all understood and i felt better. to release the pain botteld inside me was hard and i honestly thought i couldint do it but i did i, found it i, found my voice.
Like Mrs. Perrin, I am an observer, a listener. If I was left in the middle of the mall, with nothing to do except watch people go about their day, I would...and I would never get bored. I like to see how different people's lives are; the way they talk, the way they act, or even the way they look. Most of all, I like to see how people interact with the world around them. It's not that I'm bored in my own life and I just like to creepily stare at people, I just find it interesting to see how others are living their lives, and whether or not they show how they really think or feel. Voice changes with surroundings, age, and of course, people. Whether or not you are comfortable in your surroundings will probably greatly affect what you say and how you act. I say voice changes with age for many reasons. I'm the oldest of four. I have a brother that's eleven and two sisters that are seven and four. I obviously can't speak the same way to my four year old sister the same way I speak to a ninth grader While the relationships are equal, my voice changes for my peers and my siblings. Also, my voice cannot be the same for when I talk to my grandma, for the simple fact that she would have a heart attack out of worry about me just living my life as a teenager. Again, this shows that age affects voice. People of course are the biggest factor of voice in the world. Over the years, I have found that so many...too many...are judgemental, disrespectful, and downright cruel. I think that's why so many don't want to actually speak their minds. Voice changes for different people. But at the same time, voice can stay the same. For instance, the way I talk to my best friends is exactly the same way I talk to my mom. I'm not afraid to be honest with any of them, whether they want to hear it or not. For me, my voice usually comes out when I'm with the people that I'm closest to; my family, my best friends, etc. They know my voice probably better than I do. They know my mood, what to say, and when not to say anything at all. I think I found my voice through my family. My mom is the loudest person I know. I have never met somebody more honest and opinionated than her. She is never ever afraid to speak her mind. My dad on the other hand is the complete opposite. He knows what he wants, and he knows what he believes in, but he also knows when to just stop talking. I think I'm somewhere right in the middle of the two. I have my opinions, some stronger than others, but out of respect, I know when they are only mine. I believe that some things really are better left unsaid. Voice is different for everyone, I'm just glad that there are people that know mine, even when I don't say anything, which is why sometimes, silence is the loudest voice of all.
I have found my voice through my family and those around me. My family has always been respectful towards anyone who has crossed our path; they always listen to what they have to say without being judgmental. I believe that I am developing this language skill. I have learned that certain attributes can lead you into different situations and places in life. I have been in circumstances where respect gives me the edge. I change my voice for my friends. I do this because our relationship is different, casual and in-formal. I speak very differentially with adults. I give them more eye contact, more time to explain their point of view and show body language that tells them I am interested and listening to what they have to say. Sometimes no language is better. In the right situation a hug takes the place of 1,000 words.
My voice has certainly changed over the course of my life. When I was young, I spoke in a way that included slang and mismatched sentences. Although over time, my obsession with ancient Egypt actually seemed beneficial to me, because after learning about the ancient scholar PtahHotep, I started taking his advice to heart. He advised, "Hear! If You want to endure in the ear of the listeners,speak only after You have mastered the craft!" According to PtahHotep, the craft of the tongue could only be mastered if you learned from your elders to speak in a respectable manner and to present your opinions in the most mannerly of ways. I started taking his advice on listening, and I learned from my elders that I would never earn respect unless I learned how to gather the power that my voice held and to project it through my words. So, I simply took the time to learn.
I learned ways to respectably present myself and built from there, and alone that has gotten me far in life. I should be thankful for my change, because I changed specifically for my future self; the person that I have come to be now. I find it odd that we are talking about voice, because I just recently conversed with one of my friends about how many different voices I possess. When I write, the most fluent of words can find themselves flowing from my pen, because I write faster than my mind can process words for me to speak. And perhaps I would even sound a little bizarre if I spoke in the way that my mind constructs my sentences. Another voice is the one I use in my interviews or when addressing someone I hold in great respect.
Each 'voice' also comes with its own set of vocabulary. I have yet to figure out why my mind establishes a set voice with its own vocabulary, but for now I simply think of it as something that comes with youth but will fade with experience. Maybe it won't, though. Perhaps my voice will be the one thing that will continually grow and change throughout my life, or maybe it will only grow silenced over time. Yet, only time can tell such a thing.
i find my voice by listening to what my friends say. i also find my voice when i am happy, mad, or hurt. i learned that what comes out of my voice may not be what i am really wanting to say. i have also learned that my voice may be loud or have anger in it if i am mad when i speak. i would change my voice for something i did not do that i get blamed on so that i dont look like the bad person. i would change my voice if someone was talking bad about one of my friends. i also might change my voice for something i dont agree on.
I found my voice from watching my parents and sisters. I think most of us find our voice from watching the people around us and learning from the things they do and how they speak. Sometimes i just sit there and listen to peoples conversations and end up staring and feeling apart of the conversation without realizing it. I like to see what other people are talking about, how they are acting and i find it interesting how people interact with eachother. When i see two teens talking, their voice changes. You have realized that what is appropiate to say to a friend and what is appropiate to say to an adult or a family member. I have noticed that sometimes speaking your thoughts can have a negative outcome and cause a loss of repsect. I think most people know the limits of what they would say to a person. There are people who will always speak the truth and they should still get respect for vocing their opinions. I change my voice depending on who i am speaking too and i think that everyone has to do that. When i am babysitting, my vocabulary goes down to a level more understandable to little kids so they can relate to me easier and know what i am talking about. When I am talking to an adult i make sure to act nice, have eye contact and use good body language. I do this because adults can be more judgemental and most kids want to make a good impression on adults. I believe that under certain circumstances saying nothing is more powerful than saying something. I think that silence can be a lot more powerful than your voice.
I found my voice by listening to the people near me, at all times. I never really talk unless it is with people which I am extreamly comfterable with. I have learned that there is an appropriate time for a certain type of voice. For example, screaming at the top of your lungs is not appropriate at school, but shouting across a crowded concert can be appropriate. I've learned when to keep my mouth shut and when to speak up. I change my voice for my teachers, in which it is respectful and nice. I change my voice for my mom, which is respectful, yet often aggitated. I lastly change my voice for different friends, because certain friends would be fine with a loud obnoxious voice, while others would prefer a quiet voice.
-Leah Fagan, 9.
My voice is something that my parents have taught me to understand. They have taught me that there are times to speak what is on my mind and times to let silence speak for itself. But my parents are not always there to give that "silence or leave" look. I have learned from my expieriences, good and bad, and observing to understand when to use my voice. When I do use it I am honest and am not afraid to say what is on my mind. I have learned, though, to change my voice only for respect of those whose deserve respect.
sorry i forgot to put my name in the last post. it was Hallie Benson
i found my voice by, my parents and teachers helped me find it when i was growing up. I have learned that i can have a loud mouth and talk without thinking sometimes. i alos learned that you need to listen twice as much as you talk. I change my voice for friends, teachers, my parents, and most adults. i change it because certain people deserve more respect than others like I will talk to my friends without paying attention to what i say but when i talk to an adult i try to be as polite as possibe and try to be respectful.
patty a is patrick arthur sorry
i found my voice from listening to my family speak around me, especially my father. He speaks with purpose, with a sense of wisdom. I have learned how to speak in different situations, and how to speak eloquently in cases where needed. What I have not learned though is, to use the term, "how to keep my big mouth shut". I sometimes say things that are not appropriate, or that aren't the nicest words to say. I say what I'm thinking a majority of the time, and there is a rare occasion when I'll bite my tongue and hide how I really feel. I change my voice for my elders, such as teachers/parents/my band director, switching from how I speak to my friends. I switch my voice because I respect them, rather than speaking in slang or speaking in a loud tone of voice like I would in front of my friends. In front of the adult's I speak quietly and politely.
I found my voice when I first entered middle school and learned how to talk to all my new friends I made. I was always a talkative person until I got older and than I realized I annoyed myself. Also I have seen my friends voices change by who they hangout with I think your voice changes depending on who you hang out with
I'm not too sure where my own voice came from, but I have begun to suspect that I watched too much of the history channel when I was a kid, and that all the books I read have impacted the way I communicate. Sometimes I will say something wrong, or I won't know how to frame something correctly, which becomes very frustrating to me because it makes me feel very dumb. I have noticed that when I am writing I usually come out sounding much more mature and much smarter than I really am. One of my worst and most premonitory nightmares are that I am trying to say something to someone, but no sound will come out of my mouth at all. I don't remember what I'm saying or who I'm saying it to, but what first started out as an insignificant comment suddenly becomes imperative in that I must say it. It’s not necessarily what I have to say that’s important, but the ability to say it. I think many people feel that they have the right to say whatever they want, no matter what it is they’re actually saying, and that the loss of this right causes them to feel like they are losing significant control. Just like in my dream, when I try harder and harder to say something, anything, and I will get louder and louder until I wake myself up with my shouting. I think this is important as well, because many people feel like they are not being heard, and even though they are screaming they still fear that they are being silenced and this fear consumes them. I think the voice comes from a need to be heard and understood and that everyone has a distinct voice. I also think it’s ironic that a voice comes from a desire to be understood, but that people won’t say what is really on their mind. When I am with different people, what I say and how I say it will change, and I often wonder if people ever say, or can say, what is truly on their mind. Many times I find myself unable to put into words what I feel or experience. I think that sometimes there are no words. It may seem cliché, but oftentimes I think that you can understand what is being said, but still be unable to grasp the full meaning. Sometimes understanding goes beyond words, and you just have to get it, and an infinite number of words would be insufficient to relay a deeper meaning. This is why I think that many people, like artists, will try to communicate without using words. They are still expressing themselves and still have a voice, but just like silence, it is a form of voice without words. I think that people will use whatever form of communication that they think is most effective and most clearly represents what they are trying to say. This is why I think that people do not fully express themselves until they write or paint and I also think that people will muffle their own voices because they are afraid of being shunned, or worse. I think that a person’s voice ties in very deeply with their identity, but that the voice people keep hidden is far more important than the surface voice they use every day.
I used to not say anything other than "pass the bread" at dinner. Unfortunately, this earned me the cruel nickname "breadus breathis" from my older siblings. Since then I have matured, no longer accepting my brother's hypocrisy and judging attitude, nor my sister's sassy nature. While they are at college, my mother polices most of our dinner conservation with rants about Bach and baroque historical performance, leaving me no room to share my own. Even though this was both frustrating and grueling at first, I soon found it beneficial to my character, granting me wisdom and thus maturity. In language arts class, I find myself wanting to share my thoughts but instead first listening to others (or at least I try to). Because of this, I would like to believe that I am more confident in both voice and posture, leaving no trace of doubt in my words when I address my peers or elders. On a subject I have thought about, I am outspoken to both audiences. However, if I have not delved in deep thought, I am silent among elders and thoughtful among peers. My "voice" came to me from words of wisdom. Words of text from the wise and syllables from the young, and sometimes combinations of the two.
I found my voice in writing. I let the pen do the talking rather than the mouth. My paper vocabulary is much more expansive than my verbal one, and when I write, I can communicate my message more clearly than when I speak. I learned from my voice, or words, that speech may convey emotion, but if you know how to write you can make your biggest problems pale in comparison to the cosmos. I also learned that my writing is understood by more people than my voice. At times I may use language that is unsavory, but when I write I can think of synonyms for words that are better and can show power, authority and confidence even when I am not. I change my voice for no one. My words are my own the individual may react to this however they want. You can have your own opinion and that is very dandy, please do not try to censor my words. I do not like to change my voice because when writing is changed, the original message of the speaker is lost.
-Adam H 2
I found my voice in writing. I let the pen do the talking rather than the mouth. My paper vocabulary is much more expansive than my verbal one, and when I write, I can communicate my message more clearly than when I speak. I learned from my voice, or words, that speech may convey emotion, but if you know how to write you can make your biggest problems pale in comparison to the cosmos. I also learned that my writing is understood by more people than my voice. At times I may use language that is unsavory, but when I write I can think of synonyms for words that are better and can show power, authority and confidence even when I am not. I change my voice for no one. My words are my own the individual may react to this however they want. You can have your own opinion and that is very dandy, please do not try to censor my words. I do not like to change my voice because when writing is changed, the original message of the speaker is lost.
-Adam Hribar
I found my voice through questions, and observations. When I was little my parents never talked to me like I was a child. They never dumbed down their vocabulary. I often found myself asking what words ment, and then commiting them to memory. That was probably the reason, that in fourth grade i was reffered to as the walking dictionary by my peers. If I ever found somthing interesting, I always asked a lot of questions about it. I would get peoples opinions, and then I would look up facts, and form my own conclusions about things. That of course happened when I was much older. I will admit, I am a strongly opinionated person, and I often have trouble keeping my mouth shut. When I'm having a conversation with someone, I usually say exactly what I'm thinking at that moment. I don't edit whatsoever, which has gotten me in some interesting situations over the years. I definatley cannot be described as a quiet person, if i disagree with someone it's immediatley evident. Not just in my words, but people say they know what I am thinking just by the look on my face. I think it would be better if everyone communicated like that. Then there would be no guessing about where people stand on certain things. Communication would be so much easier if everyone said what they ment, and what they felt. It's better then telling someone what they want to hear, because then your voice gets lost. I also find writing to be a great tool to get your voice heard. No one sounds as eloquent when they speak as the do when they write. Writing allows time for you to carefully word your sentences, so your meaning doesnt get interpreted the wrong way. You can truely say what you mean.
~Sarah C~
I found my voice by listing to the people around me. I don't really no what to say to people when they are need of my advice so I just listen. If I need to say something then I will speak up. I think you find a different type of voice when you meet new people. You learn on what they say and how they do things so then you change your voice to fit what their voice is like. I change my voice for friend and family and people that I just meet.
I am never quiet. My voice comes through strongly. I always had my strong voice. I found my voice...through my voice. By saying the things that were on my mind, especially at a younger age, I learned what was the right thing to say at the moment. I still haven't completely learned though. As I observe the scenery around me, I say whatever I am thinking of.
There was never a point in my life where I found my voice. I was born with my voice and I am not afraid to use it. I have a habit of saying things before I think about them. When this happens, I will remember that moment for the rest of my life. My voice has slowly but surely taught me think of what I say before I say it. If I don't have respect or use my manners I have consequences.
I try not to change my voice for anyone. I want everyone to see the real me. I'm not going to hide. When I am talking to someone who is older and more experienced than me, I will speak out my opinion no matter what anyone thinks. We are all made equal and my voice isn't going to go away just because i'm intimidated by my elders.
I found my voice though a deacon I met at Life Teen back in October. There is a song by Kutless that describes what he tells me. It is called What Faith Can Do. Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1JBSQMkQEo
This deacon has helped me choose the right thing to do, and I have learned the true meaning of friendship and love from him, and how the word of God can be the words from my mouth. Actions are the voice that people most often hear the loudest, and it makes sense. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. I've learned that it is good to have some one on your side that will help you. The voice that cries out to me the most is when Deacon Chris is beside me and when I fall, I am not on the ground too long because he helps me up.
Ana P.
belle2014 said...
I learned about my voice from staying silent too long. When I was really little I would go to my mom and no one else. This changed alot as I grew up and learned about people and how sometimes they aren't who they claim to be. This is hhow I learned that my voice is a key tool in understanding people. I change my voice when I talk to different people. Some people have my respect so I talk to them accordingly but others have lost it and they don't get my respectful tone. I change my voice to show my mood. Most people say I wear my emotions on my face and that I show it in my voice. That is how they can tell if I am happy or sad or upset. By listening to my voice they can tell many things about me and that is how most people get to know me. By listening.
~Rebecca H~
I found my voice when my parents were getting their divorce. They were always asking me what I wanted so I told them the truth.I have learned that saying what I want to say can get me into trouble. I change my voice so i don't seem like a disrespectful, bratty teenager. I will give my opinion only if asked for infront of new people and adults.
I found my voice by hearing what others say. Mostly my family when i was young but i still am using new phrases that i hear today. Ive learned that you sound stupid while using "slang" in certain situations. For example using slang at a holiday dinner with your family most people wont get it especially older people. So at formal events like that is when i change my voice. So people can understand me and so i don't sound stupid. This is how I have found my voice,what I've learned from it and what do I change it for.
-Mitch Slyman
I found my voice by listening to my friends and family. I was shy and quiet when I was in middle school. I listened to everything and normally did everything I was told to do. By doing this I learned how cruel and mean people can be. Watching other people like me was when I found my voice. I found that if I spoke up for him, I would gain respect. If I spoke up for her, I was looked at highly. And if I spoke my ideas I was taken serious. I never have tried to change myself, nor will I ever. My voice will always be the same. I am loud with the ones I love and I am quiet with others. This is who I am. I act mature and try to be an adult but when Im with my friends all of that goes out the window. My voice can be the most powerful thing I have.
I found my voice through my family. I listen to my family, and here what they have to say. In my old house my voice was considered stupid or childish. When i tried to voice my opinion it was taking as a child was saying it. Now my voice is accepted as a useful comment to the conversation. I am finding that i am not as stupid as i thought and that i can speak and write better than i thought.
-Mitch Andzelik-
My voice is one that is constantly changing based not on my company, but on experiances during my life, that year, day, or even that hour.
I found my voice at a young age, not from listening or engaging in conversations, but from me being naturally inquisitive. My parents constantly tell me about how my most used words were who, what where, and most importantly: Why?
Over time, my voice changed from being just questioning to stating and accepting opinions. Now the Whys weren't important, but the Hows took center stage.
Eventually, I began to learn not form my vioce, but from the opinions of others and how they differed from mine. I wasn't content to know just my opinion, but I had to confront others to find the right one.
I find my voice doesn't really change based on company.I don't feel it is suppossed to, rather, the voice should remain constant.
It's hard to think about the subject. I rarely use my voice with other people, I'm not a talkative fellow. My voice, I guess, was created and shaped by the combination of all my life experiences. I have learned that my voice needs to change depending on where I am, which is common sense. I change my voice for my family, friends, and the internet. I change my voice for my family because family members need to support each other regardless of what they really think. When I'm with friends, I change my voice to match their mood. For the internet, my voice matches my mood.
-Christopher Fassih
I found my voice by listening to other people. I have always been quiet. I think I do not talk much because I like listening to people's stories and hearing what they have to say. Some people speak properly and without any grammar mistakes while others use slang every other word. I find it interesting how the way those people speak reflects on how they act. The people who speak with more proper grammar often are more polite. Ever since I was a little girl I was taught that you always use your manners. I was taught be my teachers to use proper grammar. My voice is also based on the way people have taught me to speak. I change my voice depending on who I am talking to I do not talk to my friends, parents, and teachers the same way. I am more silly and funny with my friends. I am silly with my parents to, but I know there are times to be serious with them too. When I talk to my teachers I am comppletly serious. In a way my voice describes who I am.
~Kaitlyn 2nd period
i found my voice from listening to my friends, especially my mother. I have learned when to and when not to talk. I also learned that some people may not appreciate my voice, and tend to dislike it. I change my voice when i am around my grandma so she doesnt think less of me. I also change my voice around certain teachers, but not all of them.
I found my voice by first listening, and then thinking about what I want to say. By taking in the voices of those around me, I have formed my own voice almost by taking parts from my parents, my family, and my friends. I have learned when to talk, when to be silent, and what is appropriate to say at the time. My voice has also taught me not to be afraid to use it. I am sometimes too quiet, for fear of saying something unintelligent or unfitting for the conversation. However, I have learned enough to be more confident in my voice and to know that it will not fail me. Depending upon who I am around, my voice can change. For example, when I am around my friends who I am most comfortable with, I am often loud and opinionated, whereas around adults I am a little more quiet and respectful. Still, no matter who I am around, the voice that comes out is mine, and always will be.
Morgan 2
I wouldn't say I have found my life long voice yet, I'm still learning, listening, observing and forming my own opinions beliefs and values. Whatever those may be, they are very strong. So far, I have learned my voice from my mom and grandma. I'm nosy, I like to know what people are talking about and I always have. Luckily for me my fa,ily has never shyed away from a topic because I was in the room. They invited me to sit and listen. I would tell them my thoughts on the situations, but my mom always made sure that I knew someone should only voice their opinions and thoughts if they can back it up. Ranting, raving, and complaining isn't conversation. My mom wants me to be independent and intelligent, so she always tells me not to let someone tell me I'm wrong and accept it right away. She says to fight for what I believe but always have an open mind and be open to new thoughts and ideas. That is very important to me. Through my voice and other people's voices I have learned that there are always different thoughts and views on different situations. Being respectful and maintaining manners is the best way to talk to someone. That doesn't mean conversation and voices have to be boring though. My voice varies based on who I'm talking to. If I'm talking to my friends I'm louder and I voice my opinion more. I know my friends will fight for what they believe so it's always fun to get into heated debates. When I'm with my family I go into deeper thinking and I try to be more mature so I'm understood properly. When I'm talking to teachers and my publoc superiors I only say what I'm absolutely sure of and I try to give them the utmost respect because they have power over me and they can affect my life in a very good or bad way. But overall I like to be in heated conversations where no one is yelling but voicing their thoughts and opinions and trying to get others to see what they see. I like to see whose thoughts prevail and are the most accepted.
Abbi R. 1st period
I think i found my voice by listening to my parents talk and forming my own opinions on things. Sometimes when talking to adults I am expected to believe what they say, even if I do not agree with it. In these instances I only nod my head and pretend to agree with thier words. It is only when I goet to know a person that I truly open up and show people who I really am. In my family, I am expected to keep my mouth shut and not have opinions that differ from what everyone else is saying. I gues this makes my voice a silent voice. I never like to share my opinions becouse my beleifs are some times differant from others. WHen this happens it is sometimes taken as a personal offence. to disagree with someone in my family is taken offensively by the other person. because of this I have learned to stay out of these situations and not say anything. I change my voice for my friends and family. I talk the each differantly because the response is differant.
I found my voice from my Friends and Family. I've grown up with family that is close but distant. my family is very spread out across the country but we all still keep contact and are very close. I always use the words or talk with my hands like my friends do. Its weird because I dont mean to do it but it now comes naturally. I've learned that I try to keep people close to me and i try to work things out with the people I have issues with. I change my voice from when im talking to my friends to when im talking to my family or teachers. I want to be differnt and loud with my friends but with my Teachers I want them to repect me. My family knows who i am and know's that I am who I am and If I am loud then they except that.
I find my voice in silence, silence punctuated with thoughts. I find that in silence, I gather information from others in waiting to prove my point.
I have learned that if I'm quiet when I don't know what I am talking about, and only speak when I know, I am taken more seriously because my answers are more accurate. This is because I am listening and gathering information to argue my point while I am quiet and don't know what anyone is talking about. This information forms my voice, myself.
My voice doesn't need to change for anyone, and so it doesn't. I do not swear in front of my mother, and so I won't swear in front of my friends. I'm not afraid to speak my mind in front of different people.
I found my voice by listening to my family and friends. I say the same things as them because I listen to what they have to say. I have learned from the use of voice that some people just don't know how to use it. They can talk and say stuff, but when they do its never the right thing to say. I have learned that sometimes anyone can use their voice wrong. And I've learned when you use it right, good things can happen. I sometimes change my voice when around important people. These people include teachers, people I don't know and of course adults. You have to be very careful what you say around adults because they are your elders. Plus they take into consideration of everything that you say. This is how I choose to use my voice.
I think i found my voice from growing up from my family. my grandma used to babysit me everyday when i was young and she has very proper language. she always taught me right from wrong she would teach me many ways to correct my grammer. my grandpa would also teach me ways to correct my grammar. whenever i would say something wrong when speaking with my mom she would correct me. i usually talk all the time so my mom would constantlly be fixing my sentences. my voice will change depending on who im around, if im with my family i use proper sentance structure if im with my friends i will talk how i want so i think your voice comes from who your around.
I found my voice from listening to what other people say. I learned that my voice is now what i make it be. i have not really ever changed my voice for any one. I have not because it should not matter what my voice is for who ever it is mine.
I found my voice through my peers and role models, probably around middle school up until now. I learned how to speak up for myself and others, and ow to properly assert myself at the right times. I learned to do so from many of my outspoken peers who were very outgoing also. I try no to change my voice so much, i like to stay true to my personality, but when i talked to an adult versus a friend, I do chose my words more carefully, as in i think more before i speak.
I do not specifically remember how I found my voice, but it is most likely that I found it through years of interaction with many people with different speaking styles and languages. I have learned from my voice how much of an impact using specific words can have, despite, or maybe because, they are just synonyms of words others would use. I change my voice when I talk to my family and friends, my teachers and superiors, and strangers I meet in order to properly express closeness, respect, or politeness.
I'm not quite sure where I first found my voice honestly. Maybe it's from the times when I was little and defended myself in the fights against my sister :) or when I listened in on the grown-ups have their conversations downstairs when they all thought that I was asleep. From the arguments with my sister, I found out how to use my voice. From listening to the 'grown-up' conversations, I found out how other voices were used.
What I learned from my voice is that it gives me the power to speak everything that is on my mind, which is a lot. I also learned that my voice is hard to control. Sometimes things that shouldn't be said end up being said by me, creating an awkward silence in the room.... Sometimes I can't fins the right words either. The thoughts in my mind cannot always be expressed through my voice. I learned from my voice that I have a lot to say, I guess that I just have trouble saying it.
I change my voice depending on my audience. I usually refer to people as "dude". Of course, my mom has never really appreciated being called dude by her daughter :) The way I speak depends on who I speak to. I believe that the way a person speaks to me reflects back on how I speak to them. If everyone gives to me a different voice, my voice comes out in a response to that.
I believe that the personality and difference in everyone's voice tells us something about who they are. I believe that our voice is a window into our minds.
~aPerkins~
OH YEAH!!! 50th comment...AGAIN!
(its the little things in life worth celebrating) :D
~aPerkins~
Claudia, I just love reading your posts. You really do have a defined voice. Like going to the park with Lennie XD
...makes me smile
~aPerkins~
I have found my voice through listening to the people around me. By listening to others, I have found what to say around different people. I have also learned when it is appropriate to talk and what is appropriate to say. Another way I found my voice is talking and listening to the people closest to me. I listen more than I talk because when I talk a lot, I always feel like I am being too self-centered. Also, I would rather help someone else than help myself.
I have learned that most people do not like when others talk too much or make rude comments. I have also learned that some people just do not care what other have to say. On the other hand, I have learned that many people value others' opinions. From my voice, I have learned that I have to stick up for my opinion or I will regret it.
I change my voice depending on who I am with. When I am at school talking to teachers, my voice tends to be more high pitched and timid. My vocabulary is more sofisticated when I talk to adults rather than people my own age. When I am with people I do not know well, I have a tendency to be quiet, on the border of silent, and when I do talk, it is in a subdued tone. On the other hand, when I am with people I am comfortable around, I am louder and more talkative. I do not have to worry about what to say when I am with my friends and family, it just comes naturally. I still do a lot of listening, even when I am completely comfortable with a person.
I discover/ed my actual voice whenever I'm around people I look up to. I know it sounds pathetic to copy somebody's voice, but it's what truly describes me. My voice helps me learn to be more mature around not just adults, but people my age and below as well. My voice helps others understand when enough is enough and I myself learned that it can help me show respect to higher authorities. My voice also reflects the vocabulary of my role models, but like Mrs. Perrin, I too was told to keep quiet on special occasions. I change my voice around people that I first meet. I'm a somewhat timid person and I'm not very deliberate unless I have to. The way I talk sometimes makes me feel like a know-it-all, so when I meet new people I tend to "dumb it down".
-Pete
I found my voice from my attendance at Croation weddings. These events were so loud and obnoxious that sitting around listening was usually not an option. Everyone contributed to a conversation no matter what the age or knowledge of a person was. I learned that I am a loud and annoying girl to most people, but in my heritage, that is considered normal and that's where I belong. My opinion can sometimes be better if kept to myself. For example, in class music came on and it was hard rock srceamo type. I exclaimed that I did not like this music and that the singer could not even hit the notes. I meant only my friends to hear who also agreed but because of my loudness, everyone heard including the kid who had written and sang the music with his band. I felt terrible after saying those things.
The only time that I change my voice is when I am talking to an adult. I purposefully enhance my vocabulary choices and control and create facial expressions that will suit the audience. Besides these times, I simply go with however I am feeling. If I am cranky, my words show that. If I am happy, sad, angered, joyful, etc., my words express the same patterns. Overall, my voice is something that I am proud of because it shows the rest of the world that I am there and should not be passed along. Although it should be silenced at some points, my voice expresses who I am and my opinions which I want to be heard.
I found my voice from listening to others and how they talk. From my voice, i have learned many things. I have learned to tell people to stop what they doing if they are annoying the crap out of me or to compliment them if they are doing something cool or amusing. I have also learned that changing the pitch of my voice can stop bad situations which can help a lot. I change my voice for my parents so they think that i respect them. It helps a lot.
------matt saxon (amazing kid)
I've always been one to look at situations,
see things how they really are, or at least try to.
I've observed adult interactions as well, and adults in general. I believe it helps to have a better understanding of the things that aren't said.
I've found my voice simply just by being a listener first.
Nobody wants to listen to you if you don't do your part and listen to them too.
I think I have found my voice by listening to my parents, other important adults in my life, and my best friend. They taught me new phrases, actually how to speak when I was growing up, and to let my words represent exactly what I am thinking. If I don't make my words connect to what is going through my mind, people may get the wrong idea about me and think something that are not be true. That is exactly what I have learned from my voice; it can convey what I'm thinking, depending on the tone that I use. It lets people see a little into my brain and let them know where I stand on certain topics. I think I change my voice around people who seem more sophisticated or "higher up" than I am. I want them to think of me as a mature and smart individual, so I try to speak as intelligent as possible. I also change my voice around my best friend and my parents. I kind of have one voice with my best friend because I can be myself and weird around him, but with my parents I try to sound as normal as possible. Though, sometimes they catch me at my awkward moments and I just change my voice back to how it usually is; silly and goofy!
The comment with the username alyssa is from Alyssa Emery in 9th period.
I found my voice from my friends that are around me that inspire me to always do the right thing and stick to the right track on whats good instead of wrong. What I have learned from my voice is to stick up for myslef when I believe is right and speak what is on my mind whether it might be the right thing to say or wrong thing to say. Also, to not be afriad of my intentions that I may have on a certain topic or subject. I change my voice for my best friend because I want to make her proud of me to know that I can be the one that she can count on when she needs me or to be the one that she can come to for advice. Knowing I wont let her down and to just be a good influence on her when she sees me being pressured into something that is not right.
I believe I found my vocie from the many grown-ups in my life. Through watching the adults that I admire and respect I have observed their speaking styles and etiquette when they talk to others. I have learned that listening is just as important as talking. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so I was raised that I should listen to others more and talk less, for the most part. I usually talk the same to everyone in my life. I try to be respectful, open to peoples differences and caring. But, I am more loud and talkative with my true friends than with adults I am not familiar with. I also change my voice at work, because working at a day care I'm usually more serious with my boss and talking baby-talk with the toddlers.
When I find my voice, I normally am looking at my surroundings and watching how the others around me are acting. Listening to the voices in my head can teach me many things about people and life. One thing that I have learned is that I should not always act based on instinct. Many times I will watch other people act upon instinct and bad things happen. My voice has told me to think things through. I also have learned from my voice that the inner strength I have is very strong. The people I change my voice for are my parents and myself. I change it for my parents so I don't get in trouble. I change it for myself to keep moving on and preserving towards my goal. Sometimes I channel my inner voice outward into poems and songs. This reminds me a song called Voices by Chris Young.
Kevin 1st
when I was younger I loved Music.I was in church and school choirs.Music expressed happiness, sadness, love, friendship and ect. Music helped me find my voice.I could listen to my friends and know what they are feeling just from their word choices and their tone of voice, because in music and in daily conversations both the words we use and the tone we say them in portray our emotion.
From my listening have learned a lot about people. I have also leaned when to listen and when not to.In music not every single lyric is important. The important part is the overall message. I notice that when I talk to people I miss the little things.
My voice changes when I'm with my. friends I am more alert and talk a lot with my friends with a lack of the usual listening. I think i change my voice with them because they are close to me and I know they are listening to me.
To explain how I found my voice would mean first telling the story of my childhood growing up. I've always been shy, simply by nature. Making myself heard has always been an issue. Talking to new people is a scary thing.
It wasn't until I met a very loud, outgoing and obnoxious girl that I started to "come out of my shell." She taught me in a way that not many others would, that what others think doesn't really matter. She taught me to be myself and have fun. Thats when I found my voice.
My voice changes for different people; I have yet to find the confidence to keep it the same. Around my very closest friends, I can talk about school and most thoughts that may pop into my head, without fear of being judged. In my family my voice changes slightly. What i say becomes more filtered, and different kinds of conversations are had. Family matters can be discussed and things that my friends may not understand can be said. With new people, my voice changes the most. When I talk to someone for the first time, I tend to become overly polite and I find it hard to be one hundred percent me. I become afraid that i'll come on too strong and they'll think I'm just weird- they won't understand. As time continues, I hope my voice will strengthen so I can be me all the time, instead of just most of the time.
_Nicole L. 9
I found my voice by always being around adults. Growing up, I didn't have many friends my own age. I hung out with adults most of the time so I developed an adult tone. From a very early age I was talking in complete sentences. Since I could talk I was not sure when to not stop talking. I've learned that sometimes I need to be quiet. Some thoughts are better left unsaid. I became shy because of that. Not knowing when to speak, not knowing if my comments were needed, not knowing many social skills. Now I do not see myself as shy. I'm more outgoing and I learned the social skills I needed. I change my voice when I talk to different people. When I talk to adults I try to be proper, attentive, and smart. When I talk with my friends I'm loud, crazy, and a little Blonde at times because I feel more comfortable with my friends.
I found my voice through watching my family dicuss at the dinner table. My great grandma and her sisters and cousins always have interesting conversations. I never chime in unless I feel the absolute need to. My older cousin even said "Now its your turn." I also found my voice through my grandpa who is a wise person. He is always quoting something or someone, and my friends tell me all the time how im a walking book of quotes. Family, friends and envimorment all have an impact on your voice, but its up to you wether to speak it up or keep it down. I find it upsetting when people really want to say something but the have always been told to keep it quiet. My family always encourages me to speak up and stick up for myself. Its my voice, my right.
I found my voice through listening and repeting what I heard from other people. Ussualy people say I'm loud but i think it's because I say whats on my mind alot and I dont really think before I talk. so my voice is me.
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