Laura Schuerwegen

A couple of years ago, a dear friend told me I should step into the limelight.
“You are doing all of these things,” he said, “why are you hiding? If you keep doing it this way, you’ll go down as the unknown soldier. Yet all of what you do carries your essence — so show up for it.”

For him, it was even a condition to partner with the festival I was leading. And so, I began stepping into the light: TV, radio, panels, public talks. I learned that nobody tells the story as well as the one who lived it.

But visibility isn’t always easy. Many of us grow up with the wound of invisibility. As children, we longed to be seen for who we truly were — yet our caregivers or communities couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see us. That longing follows us into adulthood. And when the chance to be visible finally arrives, it feels risky. Being seen for who we really are comes with accountability, self-honesty, and authenticity. Sometimes it even means breaking away from false narratives that have defined us, which can feel like betrayal to those around us.

And then there’s the cultural story that fame or recognition is somehow dirty. Chasing validation for its own sake can indeed be hollow. But being known for your authentic voice, your talent, your ideas — that is something else entirely. That is a gift to society.

The truth is: we need more people willing to show up authentically. Visibility, when rooted in truth, doesn’t just transform the individual — it ripples outward and inspires others to do the same.

So, to be seen is not vanity. To be seen is to offer your essence to the world.