Sherrikka Myers is the founder of Every 1 Voice Matters and The Lil Herbie Series. Growing up, Sherrikka didn’t like to talk to people and always hated the sound of her voice. “I grew up with my siblings either finishing my sentences for me or doing all the talking”, stated Sherrikka. As a result of being teased, due to her speech impediment, Myers had very low self-esteem and a lack of self confidence.
Reading Out Loud Cured Myers Stuttering
Due to an embarrassing event, Myers decided to take matters into her own hands. As a school assignment, Sherrikka was required to read the morning announcements. Although this assignment was required of all students as well as a huge part of her grade, Myers had managed to fly under the radar. Until one day, either Myers was not paying attention or the teach knew her scheme; which consisted of skipping school on her day to read, Myers time was up.
“I knew if I read the announcements, the entire school would then find out how bad I stuttered”, stated Myers.
Myers reluctantly arrived at the office, prepared for the worst and terrified. Overcome with fear, it took Myers five minutes to say her name. Sadly, Myers was unable to complete the assignment. As a result, Myers spent the rest of the day embarrassed. Arriving home , Myers did the only thing that she could do, she read.
“That day, I went home feeling down and I picked up the only thing that was available to me and was free, which was a book. Nobody knew what I was doing, but everyday I would read slowly out loud until I was able to speak at a normal pace”, stated Myers.
A Grandson Who Stutters Motivates Myers
Myers states she is motivated by her grandson, as well as other children who stutter. Sharrikka stated she remembered growing up wishing that none of her children would have to suffer with stuttering, as she did. Her wish came true for her children, but one of her grandsons developed a stutter.
“Neither one of my kids stuttered, but my first grandchild, Lil Herbert, did. When he started to talk, I noticed that he stuttered and I noticed he was doing the same things I use to do with the hand movements, blinking eyes and other body movements, I was hurt, stated Myers.
“It was at that very moment, I knew that I wasn’t totally over my own issues dealing with stuttering, because all through my life, even though I felt like I had dealt with it, I still went through life doing the bare minimum because of my stutter. I realized to myself, how can I help my grandson and other kids deal with low self esteem and being able to love themselves and I didn’t. I went back to school, got my degree and formed Every 1 Voice Matters. I don’t want kids to wait until they get in their thirties like I did, to start loving themselves”, stated Myers.
Self-Love Helped Myers Over the Mountain
“Some of the methods I used to motivate myself growing up was reading aloud, being determined, never giving up and developing thick skin, whenever someone said something about my stuttering. I had to develop a great passion, because my passion is my energy, my passion became my strength and with that strength and prayer, I knew all things are possible and it motivated me and made me stronger”, stated Sherrikka Myers.
The Fuel For Myers Passion
“I am a believer in things happening for a reason. I wouldn’t change anything I went through in life, because it built me into the person I am today. I remember wondering why out of five kids, why I had to be the one that stuttered. I remember being upset when I couldn’t express how I felt and listening and watching how it was so easy for everybody else to express how they felt and I couldn’t say one word. I didn’t ever vision having a grandson that stuttered, but I do and I now know my reason and its my grandson and all those other kids out there who deal with life issues and feel like there voice doesn’t matter , when it does”, stated Myers.
Obstacles Won’t Hinder Her Mission
Myes faced many obstacles while trying to get her non-profit off of the ground. One that stood out the most, well it was getting people that did not stutter to have compassion and understanding.
“Stuttering truly affects people both socially and mentally. People didn’t really understand what stuttering was and how kids develop low self-esteem and lack self-confidence”, stated Myers.
Sherrikka Myers
“I had to help people understand why kids become mute because of their stutter, because it happened to me. I had to help people see that stuttering can stop a child from believing in themselves and becoming great”, stated Myers.
The Reason Every ONE Voice Matters
Every 1 Voice Matters is a non-profit that is designed to help and provide community outreach, education, and support to individuals and families of children who stutter to build proper speech techniques, self-esteem, self-confidence, deal with bullying and improve their quality of life. We want kids to be able to love themselves, despite the challenges, they may go through in life. E1VM helps kids break down communicative and social barriers through several programs, that we offer.
