Rayna’s Girl Talk Story

As a child, my parents lovingly referred to me as “peppy bean.” I was a petite powerhouse, always thinking and acting fast, full of rowdy energy. I’d spend hours with my nose buried in books. Characters like Hermione, Edward Tulane, and Serafina became my friends, each story a new world to explore. Reading fueled my relentless curiosity, leading to zinger questions like, “What’s more important, the heart or the lungs?” My inquisitiveness earned me the coveted “Bold Award” from my fifth-grade teachers. Confidence flowed naturally then because I didn’t overthink. 

Then middle school hit, bringing a diagnosis I wasn’t ready for: Turner Syndrome. One absent X chromosome which felt like a missing puzzle piece. I remember sitting in my endocrinologist’s office, watching my parents try to hide their tears. They were devastated, but true to my nature, my curiosity kicked into overdrive. I researched everything I could about my condition. Luckily, I dodged all major medical complications from Turners, but I started to contemplate all my quirky ways and wondered if my missing X played a role. Weirdly enough, I thought it was cool to have a genetic footprint unlike any other girl I knew.

At home, I was still the feisty girl full of random questions and ideas. But at school, a different me started to emerge. The spunky kid was slowly replaced by a shy introvert. The fear of social interactions as a genetic outlier was all too real. I avoided after-school sports and dreaded group projects. However, there was a silver lining! My aunt gifted me the Netter Atlas, the gold standard in human anatomy which I devoured. I was becoming more “sciencey” as I learned about medicine and genetics.

Girl Talk came at a perfect time as I was trying to figure out who I was and where I want to go in life. Being at Girl Talk Camp as a Camp Counselor allowed me to heal the inner child who felt like an outsider. Having fun with the Camp dances, doing impact sessions and seeing the girls’ confidence grow was the most rewarding way I could have spent my summer. I know that the Girl Talk Ambassador program revamp and the new connection with Dove will allow for Girl Talk to thrive and impact girls who are just like me. The beauty of Girl Talk to me is that every girl is included in their work and they celebrate diversity. Getting ready to graduate high school, I know that I have the Girl Talk community to turn to for a strong foundation of confidence and support. 

Girl Talk has been inspiring girls like Rayna to be confident leaders for over two decades, and in partnership with Dove and Sam’s Club, we will be doubling our reach nationwide. Join us in empowering thousands of more girls to build confidence and self-esteem through our peer-to-peer programs.

Learn more by visiting: https://samsclub.com/DoveSelfEsteem