This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at F and M chapter.
Tonight I attended the 2nd Annual Tribute Dinner. The Tribute Dinner honors F&M’s highest donors. While it was fun to network and chat with alumni, it was impressive the words that the key note speakers shared. Layla Thomas, founder of F&M Options, spoke of “learning what you love” and President Porterfield followed up her speech by talking about our “voices.” After the dinner, Bendjhi Villiers recited his spoken word poem about rain, where Matthew Enyon, Vice President for College Advancement, closed with the “doors” donor open for our students. It was fitting that the decor was doors around campus.
From listening to these speeches, I thought it was important that as a student body we reflect on our “voice.” How do we translate our voice into what Layla did? She took her voice and did what she loved, creating a lasting club and brand with F&M Options. In her case, she opened one of many doors of opportunity F&M has to offer. Then there was Bendjhi, who said “what if rain drops on car windows were shooting stars?” He found his voice through spoken word and metaphors.
As I reflect on my own “voice,” while it might not always be the loudest, I think tonight taught me that a quiet voice is not always a bad voice. Some times our deeds are our voice. Just as the room was filled with many donors who’s voices maybe were not the loudest, their deeds certainly are loud and present.