(2024 Nellie Wong Magic of Movies Essay Contest)
Imperfect. Ugly. Idiot. Lame. All of these are words used to discriminate, bully, and hurt women. Overused. Loser. Pick me. Stupid. These are all words used to harm me by the people I trusted. While it has been months since I was hurt, I will not forget. How could someone I thought of as a best friend hurt me? Adults expect children and teens to see the best in everyone, give second chances, and be respectful to those around them. How am I supposed to be all those things when others aren’t? How can I be those things when the same adults who tell people to be those things side with the bullies? Broken. Bruised. Unwanted. Worthless. These words are equally as horrible. They signify the way many girls feel after being bullied. Bullies crumble at girls’ self-worth leaving them with a fragment of what they had in the past. Girls with their heads hung low walking around school environments. These are supposed to be “safe spaces” so why aren’t they safe?
She Creates Change. The empowering film is full of stories of girls overcoming challenges caused by their community. Naifat is a girl in Tanzania who takes action in her community through music. Like me, she believes that music has the powerful capability to bring people together in times of need, celebration, and heartbreak. I write music to empower people of any gender, race, or sexuality. Last year was one of the hardest for me socially. I decided to write music about my experience. Music about the experience of being put down by those you trust. The feeling of running back to people that hurt you to “preserve a friendship”. The feeling of not being able to set boundaries and say “no”. I presented my song titled “Falling” at my school talent show. It was the first time I felt safe enough to share my art with my community. The possibility that my music would not be appreciated by my peers and community was present. But the response was perfect. My friends encourage me to be as creative as I can get. To embrace my differences, and what makes me special. To not block out, but help those who bully become better people. They encourage me to create change.
Song Lyrics
Watch the Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3yQmE_U2YQ
V1
G Am
Broken silence words compiling
F
Why can’t we fight back
G Am
If you know you need to stand up
F
Why do they attack
Pre chorus:
C
Why don’t we just come together
Em
We can make this whole world better
Dm
Why don’t we just rejoice
C
Summer, fall in warmer weather
Em
Is lt that hard to realize
Dm
We all cry tears of glitter
Chorus:
G F
It’s hard sometimes,
But that’s alright
G F
Because we. will. Rise
And stand to fight
Am
Bro, ken silence
G
Its not fine
Am G
Because you know that we all cry
G
We all cry
Am
we all cry
F
we all cry
Tears of glitter
V2
G Am
Bruises scars and friendships broken
F
Risking everything
G Am
You know you can’t stay outspoken
F
Not for another day
Pre chorus:
C
Why don’t we just come together
Em
We can make this whole world better
Dm
Why don’t we just rejoice
C
Summer, fall in warmer weather
Em
Is lt that hard to realize
Dm
We all cry tears of glitter
Chorus:
G F
It’s hard sometimes,
But that’s alright
G F
Because we. will. Rise
And stand to fight
Am
Bro, ken silence
G
Its not fine
Am G
Because you know that we all cry
G
We all cry
Am
we all cry
F
we all cry
Tears of glitter
Outro
C
So speak out
F
Speak now
C F
Over everything wrong
C
Speak out
F
Speak loud
C Em F
And you will create change
C Em C
And you will create change