I am the first of many siblings, and as such, I'd lost my voice as a child. In those formative years it was one of my teachers in grade school that discovered I had the gift of writing.  She encouraged me in doing so through the writing of poetry. I was about twelve years old at the time. Quickly, not only had writing became a medium for self expression, it became a way of escape, release, and most of all it empowered me by becoming a tool. One that is shared by others  that when used correctly, will serve a greater good.