Aimee Mack

Transcript

Raise your hand if you've ever silenced a dream. As a child, I went from having a loud, wild, extraordinary voice to becoming so shy and reserved that I would pinch my leg during school presentations just to distract myself from the tears welling up in my eyes. Over the years, I continued to keep everything inside until my body could not hold it anymore and my silence turned into sickness. Keeping quiet was literally killing me. One morning, not too long ago, after the usual chaos of braiding hair, packing lunches, and racing out the door for three different school drop offs, it was the kind of morning where someone was yelling, someone was crying, someone couldn't find a shoe, and yes, all three of those someone's were me.

I raced back home, hung my key on the hook, and leaned over the kitchen counter to catch my breath. The gentle hum of the fridge buzzed beside me. The cool breeze drifted through the front window as I peeked through the shutters to watch the world go by. Neighbors walking their dogs, leaves blowing across the driveway. And then suddenly, it was like my own soul interrupted me with a whisper so clear it sounded like a scream. I'm done. Tears streamed down my cheeks and into my hands.

My knees dropped to the ground and echoed through the entire house. I wasn't just exhausted. I was empty. I was navigating divorce while raising children, building businesses while running a household, taking care of severely ill parents, while battling my own health issues of being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and cancer. On the outside, I looked like a resilient powerhouse, managing it all, but on the inside, I was crushing hard. So, as I sat there on my kitchen floor with my messy bun, my stained t-shirt, and my eyes fixed on the missing shoe I was looking for earlier.

I decided right then and there that I was going to end it all. with sweaty palms and my heart beating so hard that I could feel it in my ears. I said, "This is it." With shoulders back and head high, I walked over to my mirror and for the first time in years, I didn't just see that tired, empty reflection. I saw her. the woman who knew that the most important person to lead before anyone else was herself. And in that moment, I realized that leadership does not have to be everywhere, but it does have to be rooted.

So why am I here today? I'm here to make use of the voice that I once silenced. And I don't know if you have noticed, but I am not even pinching my leg. I'm speaking on this stage to support, to inspire, and to be a mirror. I'm speaking on this stage for those of you who raised your hand earlier and for those of you who didn't. And I'm speaking for her. The girl with the loud, wild, extraordinary voice. She dreamed big.

She believed undoubtedly. And she led boldly. And it was always me. So if you ever notice yourself shrinking, silencing or settling, call out your inner voice and choose to stand rooted because leadership doesn't just change your own life. It ripples into relationships, communities, and generations. So the next time you think about silencing a dream, remember that leader within you because guess what? It was always you. Thank you.

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.