For young women of colour, the world’s gaze can feel both unyielding and harsh, a spotlight that illuminates every perceived difference, every moment of vulnerability. Yet, it is in these very moments, the struggles with self-image, family instability, racism, and the relentless pressure to conform, that the seeds of resilience are sown. This is the story of Soule and Sade Small, two remarkable sisters whose journeys speak to the unbreakable spirit that lies within so many young women of colour.
Early challenges: Battlegrounds of self-worth
Soule and Sade were born to parents of Jamaican and Barbadian heritage, their childhood marked by the cultural richness of the Caribbean, but also by the turbulence of a marriage that took many sharp turns. For Soule, the path was never smooth. She entered school as a quiet, shy girl, her complexion and weight making her a target for bullying. “Once I entered public school, I was teased for either my complexion, weight or my odd shyness,” Soule recalls. “Always pointed out for being different.”
The academic system didn’t make things easier. Soule struggled within an IEP (Individualized Education Program) that, instead of uplifting her, seemed to box her in. “Her parents were told that she would never excel outside of IEP and that trade schools were her best option moving forward,” the story goes, but Soule’s tenacity refused to let these external voices dictate her future.
For Sade, the challenges were different, but just as daunting. She excelled academically, was encouraged to pursue science, or medicine, and always had friends by her side. A mysterious medical condition during middle school, the loss of her best friend, and the isolating impact of the pandemic sent her into a spiral of self-doubt and depression. “I guess I felt powerless because I knew there were things I desired and things I wanted in my life, but I just didn’t know how to achieve them,” Sade shares.
Finding strength: The power of self-reflection
Soule’s resilience is rooted in her ability to quiet the outside noise and listen to her own voice. When asked when she realized she had to stop listening to others and start following her heart, she says, “Throughout my life, I’ve known that being of a different culture frees me to have many possible ideas of the person I could be. One quote that spoke out to me was, ‘the only person that’s standing in your way is yourself.’ I kept that one close. Even closer is the quote tattooed on my hand, ‘Everything happens for a reason.”
Soule’s journey to self-love was not linear. She recounts periods of insecurity, particularly after college when she regained weight she had lost. Yet even then, she reminded herself, “I just reassured myself again now knowing that I had once been in that positive space before, so I know I’m able to get to that space again.”
For Sade, self-reflection came through confronting the darker parts of herself. She speaks candidly of her struggles with mental health and low self-esteem, “When my mental health was the lowest, I was projecting a lot of insecurities I had towards myself onto other people. That’s how I viewed myself. I had very low self-esteem. I didn’t have much confidence, I didn’t know who I was, so that made me look at myself with a very low value and I thought everyone else was looking at me in the same way.”
Sade’s turning point came with the realization that self-reflection is only meaningful if paired with action. “Self-reflection means nothing if you don’t do anything about it—if you don’t work on your self-confidence, if you don’t analyze who you are, your patterns, your behaviors. If you’re not doing that, then you’re not going to see any improvements.”
Rising above: Achievements forged in adversity
Despite being told what she couldn’t achieve, Soule forged ahead. She left the IEP program, graduated with regular college courses, and went on to earn a business diploma. She worked as a Resident Assistant while living on campus and eventually found her wings—literally—as a flight attendant, traveling across North America. “I didn’t give up until I was able to acquire my first document of independence, a driver’s license. Much like my peers in high school, I can see that I have grown, and I know I can grow more.”
Her perseverance is echoed in her words about change: “It’s just the fear of change, but once that happens, I have been able to adjust. It will just take one or two days and then I’m in that position of the change I wanted.”
Sade, meanwhile, discovered healing through art. The same hands that once curled in anxiety now create vibrant works of self-expression. Her pieces gained attention on social media, she received a scholarship from Warner Bros. to attend CMU in Toronto, and she has already contributed to creative projects while still studying. “Now knowing myself and on a self-journey today, I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person. I feel like I’ve improved with my mental health a lot and my relationships with the people around me. It is because of that; I look back and I’m proud of myself because of how many moments I’ve had and how many times I felt like I was at my lowest.”
Sade’s wisdom resounds, “It means taking any obstacle in your life and treating it as a lesson. Anytime you feel like you hit rock bottom, or anytime you feel your lowest, knowing that you can only go up from there and knowing that you can grow from it, learn from it, and it helps you become stronger as a human being.”
Lessons for young women of colour
Soule and Sade’s stories shine with the promise of hope and self-acceptance. In a world that tries to define young women of colour by their obstacles, these sisters remind us: “You are not defined by your obstacles, but by your ability to rise in spite of them.”
The journey of Soule and Sade Small is one of transformation, a testament to the strength found in adversity and the beauty that emerges from the most difficult trials. Their stories are a rallying cry for all young women of colour, “That which doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” Every hardship conquered, every lesson learned, becomes a steppingstone across the unbreakable bridge to new futures.
Let their journey inspire you to embrace your own story, to cherish your growth, and to know that you, too, are lighting the way for those who will rise after you.
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