The Singing Scoutmaster: Speaking Up

The meeting is almost over and you still have a question, but you're nervous about speaking up. Someone is being treated unfairly, but you're scared to say something. You have an idea that might help, but what if people think it's stupid?

Speaking up takes courage because it makes you visible and vulnerable. When you stay silent, you're safe from judgment. But when you speak up, you risk being wrong, being criticized, or being ignored. Yet staying silent also has a cost - unanswered questions, unaddressed injustice, unheard ideas.

A Scout is brave enough to use their voice. When you speak up despite your nervousness, you often discover two things: first, your contribution was more valuable than you thought. And second, other people were thinking the same thing but were too scared to say it. Your bravery in speaking up gives others courage too.