JSA: Be The People

I joined The Junior Statesman of America (JSA) my freshman year of high school for ALL the wrong reasons, but I luckily fell into a great decision. In all honesty, I joined because I had a gigantic crush on one of the junior boys in JSA....BUT actually ended up learning so much from it.

If you haven't heard of it, JSA aims to teach high school students about democracy and our government in order to encourage involvement and leadership for life! Students involved in JSA learn with and from each other through debates and simulations on critical political and social issues. 

via: http://shsjsa.weebly.com/uploads/6/1/0/9/6109080/9424601.png

via: http://jsa.org/wp-content/uploads/JSA_Congress_header1-1024x474.jpg

JSA Fast Facts:

1. About 10,000 members across the country

2. Over the course of the year there are overnight conventions where you get to meet and work with students from other chapters--one of them each year is a massive Congress simulation. There are also awesome summer programs at Georgetown, Princeton, UVA, Stanford and one in Beijing!

3. Female students were more likely to say JSA programs drastically improved their overall knowledge and skills. Over 65% of female students said that JSA seriously improved their confidence to speak up in class.

JSA had a big impact on my life and maybe it could have one on yours too (and help you get into college)! If there isn't a chapter at your school yet, you should found your own!! Click here to learn more.

Women Who Make America

I was browsing the internet (read: procrastinating) and came across this awesome website called Makers: Women Who Make America. The project aims to compile the stories of trailblazing women from across the country through tons of video interviews. Makers looks to document the paths of women in all kinds of different fields, especially in those usually dominated by men like business, technology, sports and politics. It is a great, empowering way to put off writing my essay. 

Anyways, one of my favorite interviews is with Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House. As the first female Speaker, she had no choice but to learn how to make her voice heard in a room filled with men. This is one of my favorite videos of her...

                   

This quote especially resonated with me: "It's in everybody's interest, Democrats and Republicans, to have many more women in all parties represented in Congress, and in government, and in business, and across the board.  I know that nothing has been more wholesome for our political system, for our government than the increased participation of women"

It's so powerful to hear from someone on the inside of politics just how far we as women have come  and how much more we can do. It really makes me want to go out and get involved. Like right now...

Watch some of the other interviews on Makers and let me know which are your favorites!

College Spotlight: Wellsely

To be quite honest, some of my favorite memories have been at all women's colleges. Even though I am a guy, some of my best friends have attended Wellesley College. The Harvard of women's college, the education there cannot be beat! 

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My friends are able to take classes at nearby Harvard and MIT all while coming back home to a cozy college with all of their girls. When you visit this college, you can feel the knowledge and confidence radiating off these women. The best part though….are the buffet style food courts located in many of the dorms :D!

I have seen so many amazing opportunities that my girlfriends have recieved by attending this college. Foreign study programs, amazing art programs, and unrivaled tradition to boot!

Quick shout out though…Hillary Clinton went to school here,….if that gives you an idea of what a woman can achieve at this school!

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Another "First" Woman Leader

via: http://www.jis.gov.jm/ja50/v2/pm-profiles/portia-simpson-miller/

Jamaica elected its FIRST female Prime Minister back into office for a second consecutive term.  Portia Simpson Miller is Jamaica’s seventh Prime Minister.  Prior to being elected, she served as a Cabinet Minister for 17 years with experience in Labour and Social Security, Tourism, Local Government, Community Development and Sport.  Miller is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, which is an international network of both current and former women presidents and prime ministers.  This council’s mission is to mobilize its members in order to take action on women’s issues. Portia Simpson Miller was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s World Women and Sport Trophy for her notable dedication to women’s sports in Jamaica.

via: http://www.jis.gov.jm/ja50/v2/feature/drumming/

references:

http://www.jis.gov.jm/ja50/v2/pm-profiles/portia-simpson-miller/

http://womenintheworld.org/solutions/entry/council-of-women-world-leaders

You're a leader!

I just got off the phone with my mom. She's in Switzerland at this really cool conference called Davos. It's held every year and world leaders come together for the World Economic Forum where they discuss all sorts of political and economic issues. This year's conference was titled "The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business". I am so incredibly proud that my mom gets invited to this conference - she's such an amazing role model and inspires me to make a difference every day.

However, while looking up Davos I came across a really interesting article in the Huffington Post that had some very sobering facts. Only 15% of attendees were women. The Forum selects 50 of its own Global Shapers of which 50% are women but for the rest - there is such inequality! Women everywhere need to be a part of the discussions that are shaping our world and moving our society forward.

We need to reshape what it means to be a female leader and that starts with you! I want to challenge you this week to put yourself out there. Apply for a position in school, volunteer to lead a project in class, go that extra mile with your homework, audition for the school play and it could lead somewhere. You may discover a new passion! Become involved in the society you are a part of - you will gain valuable experience and it will give you the confidence to develop those leadership skills (and it doesn't hurt on college applications either!).