When a Voice Finds Its Place

At the beginning of the program, Lisbeth almost went unnoticed.

I remember that first day clearly. Her shyness was evident: she would partially hide her face behind her hair, avoiding attention, and when asked a question, she would first look to her peers before daring to respond. Her voice was barely a whisper. At times, it was difficult to hear her at all.

During the first few days, her participation was minimal. She observed, she listened—but rarely spoke. It seemed as though she needed constant reassurance before stepping forward.

And yet, something began to shift.

After one of the program’s key moments—a session focused on public speaking—her presence started to transform. Little by little, she stopped hiding behind her hair. She began to lift her gaze. Her voice, once so quiet, grew stronger. And with it, her ideas began to emerge.

I witnessed it up close.

It wasn’t a subtle change. It was a clear transformation. From silent observation to active participation. From seeking validation to expressing her thoughts with confidence. From speaking in whispers to speaking with clarity.

But beyond what we could see, what matters most is how she describes her own experience:

“At the beginning of the program, I arrived with a lot of curiosity about what we were going to learn and how it would be taught.
By the end, we left inspired to apply what we learned—within ourselves and at school—especially the importance of active listening and promoting actions like recycling.”

Among her most meaningful moments, she highlights a group activity that encouraged her to open herself to new possibilities and work collaboratively, as well as the public speaking session that—just as we observed—marked a turning point.

“This program has been a transformative experience that motivates me to apply what I learned to create a positive impact in my environment and to continue developing as a leader and facilitator.”

Her story is not only about overcoming shyness.

It is about finding her voice.

Today, Lisbeth does more than participate—she expresses herself, shares her ideas, and looks ahead. She has even taken a step further, showing interest in continuing her journey by applying to other programs to keep growing.

At SERES, we understand that leadership does not always begin with a strong voice. Sometimes, it begins in silence—in observation, in hesitation.

But when the right spaces are created, that voice finds its place.

And when it does, change is not only seen—it is heard.