Video: Local Teen Uses Singing Talents to Overcome Bullies

[syndicaster id=’5543266′]

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Just a few years ago, a North Mississippi student spent her days in tears at the hands of bullies. But her singing talents and a shot at “The Voice” national television show has provided the inspiration she needs to get and keep her life on track.

Tori Baucom began singing at a local church when she was around 7 or 8 years old. Her first solo experience inspired her to keep pursuing her passion. And eventually, it gave her much-needed solace to face some tough challenges.

“Probably about 8, finally got my first solo, got to be the ‘big star’ there, so from then on, I had my karaoke machine singing,” said 17-year-old,  Tori Baucom.

It hasn’t been an easy road for the Hatley High senior.

In middle school, Tori dealt with the pain of bullies almost daily.

“The pushing, shoving, name calling, everything. I’m the type of girl, whatever, I’ll ignore it, won’t say anything back to you at school, but I came home and cried everyday,” said Baucom.

The pain lead Tori to attempt suicide. She even transferred schools. But her singing gave her strength and eventually led to the national singing competition. In February, an audition tape led to a shot at the second round with hundreds of others in Nashville. It also sent a message to her and to others.

“Everyone knew that I had sent in the tape… all I heard was ‘you can’t do it, you’re not even that good,’ on and on, ‘you can’t, I don’t know why you’re going,’ all this and then, that’s why I got my foot in the door and that’s where karma is biting people in the butt because all I hear was you can’t and I did,” said Baucom.

After her second round of auditions, judges said she had an amazing voice and urged her to give it another shot. The experience also has given her a big dose of encouragement.

“I am worth something and I can do things…I did make it, not as far as I wanted, but it’s showing me that I am good and I can do it, so I’m going to keep on going after it,” said Baucom.

A few weeks ago, Tori received an email inviting her to Atlanta for auditions next month.