My fall semester has gotten off to a positive start. I teach public speaking as well as writing courses, but in all courses I uncover voices - student voices. Through assigned readings, classroom discussions and activities, students' essay drafts and revisions, speeches, and presentations most students will learn the value of their own unique perspective and voice. They discover that they do have something important to say amid our culture's chorus of conformity. One of my goals as a facilitator of learning is for students to discern what THEY think about an issue outside their comfort zone of family, friends, and place of worship. Heady stuff.