Esteem program teaches self worth to young girls
These days Sarah Williams is about as successful and poised as they come. She has no problem talking to business leaders or addressing a crowd. But there was a point in her life when that wasn't really the case.
"I realized when I was in my early 20s, maybe late teens, that I was struggling with my self worth at that time," Williams said.
Williams is the mother of a young child and a professional counselor who has a passion for helping young people who may be feeling like she once did.
That's why she founded Esteem (Empowering Self to Educate and Elevate Mankind). It's a series of classes for girls ages 10-15 to teach lessons you don't really learn in school.
"It's really setting out to change the way young ladies see themselves," she said.
Esteem offers a faith-based and non-faith-based path, meeting on Saturdays for six weeks at HQ Gateway in Raleigh. The girls are taught different lessons each week ranging from how to pick your friends to how to deal with rejection.
"We hear so much about bullying and what other people think of us and what we are supposed to be like, but I think learning about your self worth is really incredible," said Nicole Speer, who has two daughters in the program.
"The biggest challenge is being concerned about what other people think about them. (We are) helping them to figure out what their own voice is," Williams said.
"It's really awesome to be able to relate to these girls and grow together as a group," said 12-year-old Emma Speer.
Williams is now offering the curriculum nationwide and is hoping the message spreads to more young girls who can use the boost.
