Erynne
Youth Assembly Member
My name is Erynne. I’m 14 years old and I’m from County Londonderry/ Derry. On 24 January, I had the amazing opportunity to represent my peers, let my voice be heard, and learn valuable skills as part of our first ever plenary in the Assembly Chamber.
Walking into the Assembly Chamber for my first ever plenary debate washed an immediate sense of belonging over me. As if this was where I was meant to be in that very moment. Although the nerves were racked as I sat down, I also knew I was prepared to speak up for what I believe in.
From morning until lunch, we had the privilege of taking part in a public speaking workshop led by the Founder and CEO of People Playbook, Tony McGaharan. Through interactive activities such as Slido and Connection Bingo, Tony was able to better his understanding of us as individuals and as a group. He asked thought-provoking questions such as “What makes a good public speaker?” As one of the most focus-centred tips I took from this training was that being a good public speaker isn’t just about being confident, it’s also about having the ability to connect with your audience so that your message can be truly heard. One activity that particularly stood out to me was the ‘LEGO Serious Play’. Using creative prompts, we built models that represented the points we wanted to raise later during the plenary debate. This helped me boost creativity in how to set my ideas apart from others in the chamber.
During the debate, the issue that mattered most to me personally was health -both mental and physical. I strongly believe that mental health is still not taken seriously enough, especially for young people. Too many young people still don’t feel comfortable enough to open up about their personal struggles, and the numbers are continuing to rise. Long waiting times for treatment can be extremely concerning, particularly for those with more serious conditions who are left waiting for help they urgently need. This is something I am passionate about changing.
Debating these issues and casting my vote was empowering. It felt meaningful knowing that I was using my voice, not just for myself, but on behalf of young people all across Northern Ireland. Knowing that our discussions and votes could help shape committees over the next two years made the experience even more impactful.
Overall, taking part in public speaking training and in a plenary debate has helped me grow in confidence and understand the power of my own voice (and other people’s voices too). This is an experience I’ll never forget and one that has inspired me to continue speaking up about the issues that matter most to me. I end this blog with the greatest hope that there will be many more opportunities for experiences like this to come!
