I'm thankful for the platform that I have and I know how many

Coco Gauff once declared with clarity and humility: “I’m thankful for the platform that I have and I know how many people that it reaches. I’m aware of that. So I try to make sure I use it to speak out about issues that can maybe slightly change some things.” These words, though born from the lips of a young athlete, echo with the wisdom of the ancients. For they remind us that power, whether of voice, of influence, or of position, is not given to serve the self alone, but to uplift, to guide, and to ignite change in the lives of others.

The ancients revered the voice of the orator as one of the highest gifts bestowed upon humankind. In Athens, the assembly would gather to listen to those whose words could sway the destiny of the city. But the wise always warned: the tongue is a double-edged sword—it may heal or it may wound, it may build or it may destroy. Gauff’s recognition of her platform carries this same eternal understanding: influence is sacred, and to wield it requires vigilance, courage, and responsibility.

Consider the story of Frederick Douglass, born into the chains of slavery, who rose through unimaginable struggle to become one of the greatest voices of freedom. When he finally gained the platform to speak, he did not use it for vanity, but to awaken the conscience of a nation. His words shook the pillars of injustice and brought light to countless souls living in darkness. Like Gauff, he understood that to be given an audience is to be entrusted with a mission—that words can carry the seed of transformation.

The meaning of Gauff’s words is also deeply tied to thankfulness. She does not boast of her reach, nor claim it as her right. Instead, she bows to it with humility, acknowledging both the gift and the burden. This humility is the mark of wisdom, for many who rise to influence forget that their voices ripple across unseen waters. To be thankful is to remain grounded, to remember that platforms are fleeting, and that their true worth lies in what good they bring forth.

Her resolve to speak out about issues is also a lesson in courage. For to use one’s influence not only for applause but for truth is to invite resistance. The world often urges silence in the face of injustice, but the brave choose otherwise. History remembers not those who remained neutral in times of crisis, but those who risked comfort to kindle change. Gauff’s words remind us that even small changes—“slight” as she says—can ripple outward like waves, touching shores unseen.

The lesson for us is clear: every soul, though not all hold vast platforms, possesses a sphere of influence. A word spoken at the table, an act of kindness in the street, a stand taken in the workplace—these too are platforms, and they too reach farther than we imagine. To live wisely is to recognize our own reach, however small, and to use it with intention, love, and courage.

Practical counsel may be drawn. Be mindful of your words, for they are seeds sown into the hearts of others. Be thankful for whatever influence you hold, whether over many or few. Do not waste it on vanity, but direct it toward truth, justice, and compassion. And when fear urges silence, remember that even a whisper of truth is stronger than a shout of falsehood.

Thus, Gauff’s words shine as a modern torch of ancient wisdom: “I’m thankful for the platform that I have… I use it to speak out about issues.” Let us, too, honor the platforms we hold, however great or small, and wield them not for pride, but for the lifting of others. For in doing so, we partake in the eternal work of shaping the world—one voice, one act, one truth at a time.