Whitney Waddell: Empowerment Through Words
Reported by: Benny Schorie
Photographed by: Yolanda Diaz
On Sept. 10, George Fox University (GFU) hosted the Rise Conference in Canyon Commons. The event aimed to empower the women on campus as they build their careers and understand their strengths. As part of the event, GFU student Whitney Waddell performed a spoken word piece to share “inspiration more than [her] own self but inspired by a larger group of people.”
Before the Rise conference, Waddell began exploring spoken word from her experience with songwriting. “Writing is a way to take more time to speak more articulately,” said Waddell, and has also helped her communicate despite shyness. “It’s therapeutic for me as a way to think about problems in the world,” said Waddell. “When I write, it lets me realize how I feel about the world, and I can share with others who also have those feelings.”
Waddell’s piece spoke to experiencing womanhood in male-dominated spaces. “Women have to fight for our spots and titles every day, even in the classroom. We have to speak over [men] just to be understood and taken seriously,” said Waddell. Her piece expressed the challenges of wanting to be viewed in a multi-faceted way and becoming the source of her power.
Her experiences heavily inform her womanhood as a black woman. “We are underrepresented at school and in society as a whole with white men at the top and black women at the bottom. It is a ladder we have to climb even to get the chance to have the same opportunities. I decided to be that voice that is unspoken,” said Waddell.
Poetry and writing provide a space for being a voice for the voiceless and connecting with people that could not be found otherwise. Waddell’s piece accomplishes this in a beautiful, profound way. Still, there is a melancholy underbelly to this reality: women, especially minority women, struggle daily to empower themselves and have a place in the world. For those who did identify with Waddell’s poem, it is vital to remember a few things. “When you meet with people of a higher power, meet them at that level,” said Waddell. “Take those losses as motivation and try again for something higher. Be known. Make yourself known, and don’t shy away from the spotlight. Be a voice for those that are quiet and don’t have the ability to articulate. Be that leader.”
Writing spoken word is “bringing me back to music and giving me that drive to start writing music again,” said Waddell. The freedom to express herself through a different medium has reminded her how important it is to release the emotions tied to challenging experiences. Waddell is an example of the importance of words and channeling inspiration into something powerful that is beyond oneself. It is a unique vehicle of communication and connection.