I am a transgender woman who was lucky enough to stumble upon the voice training program at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, which Ms. Mendes runs. The training I received was absolutely phenomenal – not only do I love my new voice, but I feel like I finally sound like the person I was always meant to be. In addition to that, both her and her students are incredibly welcoming, nurturing and accepting. When I started my voice training I was only out to a few very close friends, and having a place that I could be myself, and been seen for who I was, was such a big step in giving me the courage to come out publicly when I did. I really cannot stress how much this program helped me in so many facets, from my voice, to accepting myself, even my mental health, and I will be eternally grateful that I was lucky enough to find it.
