The power of creative courage: How one song transformed a classroom

A few years ago, my intuition nudged me to assign my class the task of writing a song. Out of the group, only three students had any musical ability, so I created an alternate assignment for the others. Of those three, just one young woman—Carmel Bracken, a workshop leader and educator from Ireland—felt inspired to give it a try. She had never written a song before, yet what she created still moves me to tears. Her song, Dream This Dream With Me, is a testament to the power of creative courage. You can listen to it here:

I share this story as a reminder not to dismiss that quiet, whispering inner voice, even when what it’s urging you to do doesn’t make sense or seems too bold—or when only one person might embrace it. Creative expression, in any form, simply needs an opening. Once that door is cracked, the rest takes care of itself.

If you are a teacher, trainer, coach, parent, mentor, or group facilitator, you have the ability to provide those openings for others. All it takes is creating the space for it to unfold. The results might just surprise you—and move you deeply.