Last Words

Hello lovely readers,

This is going to be my last note to you. The snow is starting to melt in New England (I finally saw some mud yesterday!) and our motley group of bloggers is moving on to other pastures. As everyone else has already said, we hope that you've learned something from this exercise; we have definitely learned a lot from this experience. 

Personally, I've learned that blogging is hard work. Thinking up something creative, interesting and relatable to write about at least once a week isn't a cakewalk; there were definitely days when I just sat in front of my laptop, waiting for inspiration to strike because I didn't have something to pull out of my hat.

More importantly, I've gained a greater appreciation for the myriad pressures — and, as some of our posts have demonstrated, inspiration — that young women today find in the media. I'm not much older than some of you, but I have to say, back in my day we didn't have 24/7 access to social media... and it's been really interesting to see how the ubiquity of media today has changed the teenage and preteen experience.

I'm going to sign off with one of my favorite quotes, which my middle school teachers put in every student's yearbook the year that I finished the eighth grade. It is truly advice to live by:

"This above all: to thine own self be true."

 -Polonius to Laertes, Hamlet

The End

Hey guys,

I just wanted to say that writing for this blog has been fun, different, and inspiring. Thinking about new topics to write about every week or really just having a place to post fun thoughts is a great way to relieve stress but also discover new things about yourself. Here a couple of the things I have learnt along the way:

1. Look to those around you for inspiration! My friends, my family, my professors - these real people in my life are all I need to learn. I have learnt so much from those around me. They make me stronger and allow me to realize my own potential. Whether it was sharing an empowering message from my best friend or looking to my mother as leadership role model - I have loved writing blog posts about the important people in my life and how they empower me every day.

2. Look to the future! College is a scary, scary concept. But I can promise that if you put yourself out there when you get here - you won't regret it. Try new things, don't let other people hold you back, and - most importantly - hold on when you discover what you are passionate about.

3. Being a women in today's world is not going to be easy. We still have a long way to go. Every now and then google "women and politics" and see what comes up. It may not be as boring as you think. There are some pretty inspiring women out there.

Thank you for reading and continue reaching for the stars.

With love,
Steph

Fin

So if you haven't figured out yet, our group has been blogging to inspire you all to reach higher and dream bigger.

It's time to go!

Just kidding! I still have more to write!

I've learned so much from this exercise, and wanted to share a last few words of wisdom to you all.

• Like a lot of my friends said…blogging is hard. It's difficult writing about something you are passionate about but keeping it short enough for the attention spans of readers…if you think about it…this may be too long!
• You really can do anything….when thinking about schools to write about, I listened to the stories of a lot of my friends at different universities and found no single way to a top tier institution. As long as you put your nose to the grindstone, anything is possible. I would recommend reading up on a few colleges, and then applying to the ones you can see yourself! College is amazing. Do not do anything less!
• Againn keep reaching for the stars! College is not the end, and you have the rest of your life to do great things. Find a few role models. There are plenty inspiring people in politics, teaching at your schools, and in your own family! Look at their paths to success, emulate them and surpass them

Hope you enjoyed our posts! But now it is time to log out! Good luck with everything

-Francis

In need of inspiration?

Via

This list of women is a fabulous one to check out!
Forbes has named women from Michelle Obama to Beyonce as the most powerful women in today's world.

Check out the list here:
The 100 Most Powerful Women

Famous Last Words

Writing this blog has been fun and frustrating, but overall, it's been fascinating. Here are just a few things I learned while writing for you each week:

Follow your passions, and encourage others to do the same! None of the women we featured on this blog would have reached their goals if they weren't excited about their work.

Blogging is hard work! Figuring out what will interest readers while keeping posts informative and short is a skill I've (hopefully) developed.

Women have, and continue to reach success in political and leadership roles; from Nancy Pelosi to Angela Merkel, women  are taking a place at the table. While we are far from gender equality, women have assumed an important role in organizations and governments across the world.

There's no one answer to increase political interest among girls. Maybe we should encourage political organizations to reach out to teenagers, or require schools to teach more courses on American politics. Whatever the solutions may be, showing girls that politics is an exciting, accessible and important interest is key.

If there's one thing you take away from this blog, let it be this: 

via

It's one of the most impactful pieces of advice I've ever received, so now I'm passing it to you.
- Susanna

My last post!

Hey everyone! I’m writing today to reflect a bit on my (brief) blogging career. Here are some of my main takeaways from the experience, and what I hope you learned by following along!

1.     Women can and should be leaders! Even if a certain career or college major isn’t particularly common or stereotyped as “feminine,” don’t let yourself be deterred! Pursue a career that you’re truly passionate about, regardless of what society or the media says. Don’t be afraid to dream big!

2.     Try new things! One of the best things about college is that you can try as many new things as you want with little associated risk. Think you’re interested in chemistry? Try an intro class! If you don’t like it, there’s no pressure to pursue it any further.

3.     Blogging is fun! Writing in a more casual setting can be a nice break from the pressure of formal academic writing. I’ve also learned that consistency is key! It’s important to post often in order to maintain the attention of your readers.

And that’s it! I hope this blog has helped you to feel empowered and inspired as a woman, regardless of what your dreams and goals are. Until next time!

Marie

And That's All She Wrote

Well, it's time for my blogging career to come to a close...at least for now. I've been reflecting a bit on what I learned through this exercise; here are three of my key takeaways:

1. I learned (and hopefully you did too) that there are an infinite number of positive role models for young teen women. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely a lot of not-so-great people to look up to, but in the grand scheme of things, there are so many incredible, inspiring women across the globe and the role model effect can really empower young women.

2. It isn't easy to get young girls interested in and reading about politics. This type of change requires continued focus to create a cultural shift. We really need to figure out how to make it cool to be interested in politics. 

3. Blogging is tough!! It's hard to make posts conversational and personal, while still being concise. I would like to think I improved at this over the course of the project as I learned what worked and what didn't quite work.

I guess that's all for now. It's been wonderful to have this as a sounding board. Thanks for listening. I'll leave you with the following food for thought:

via: http://ct.politicomments.com/ol/pc/sw/i59/2/2/6/pc_b658cf2c63b814f5453468f3fb3f3605.jpg

You can be whoever or whatever you want to be--don't ever let anybody tell you different. Until next time....

xx, Julia 

My Last Hurrah

HELLO my GORGEOUS viewers! 

This is my last blog post for this project and I am so thankful for all of you who have been reading my words. From this project I have learned…

1.    The importance of early encouragement

Young ladies need support and encouragement. If no one invests his or her time in the youth of our country then we cannot progress.  Look to the leaders on television and your own life in order to remind yourself that your goals are obtainable.  If they can do it, then you can too.

2.    Women CAN BE and ARE leaders

There are women in every sphere paving ways for us to be leaders in the future.  People like Condoleezza Rice and Michelle Obama are great role models for young women.  Going to a top school or making the grade at other notable colleges and universities, philanthropy and community service, giving back to the world with your talents in art and science, etc., these are the things that will make you a leader.

3.    It all begins with YOU

If we don’t plant the seeds for success today, we can only expect things to be the same tomorrow. Strive, work and be prosperous.

I hope my group's posts have made you feel supported, loved and empowered and that you will come away feeling more inspired and motivated to pursue your dreams in the future.

Let’s ALL work together to make a better tomorrow.

Farewell,

Shani B.

How do you view yourself?

I came across this beautiful video and it brightened my day just a little bit.

It's All About Perspective

Earlier this month, the famous child actress turned Ambassador Shirley Temple died. I have to admit that I did not know much about this famous public figure, apart from her child star days and of course the delicious pink drink. Little did I know that this woman was a powerful force of nature who didn't give up when her dream seemed to fade. She challenged life to the fullest and lived what can only be described as miraculously. 

"I don't like to do negatives. There are always pluses to things."
          ~ Shirley Temple Black

Shirley Temple grew up famous.  In 1935 - at the age of 7, she received a special Juvenile Academic Award for her contribution. At the age of 17 however, she got divorced and realized that she was no longer wanted as an actress now that she had grown up. Transition to adulthood was difficult to say the least. As it is for all of us. 

Shirley had three things that kept her going: her cheerful optimism, her incredible work ethic, and her winning personality. And boy did she come back to life with a bang. Her second marriage was an incredible partnership that lasted 55 years. But - more importantly - she became an Ambassador to Ghana and, later on, to Czechoslovakia. 

via

She is the most inspiring role model one could hope for. Whether you are 12 and unsure about the teenage years to come, 14 and starting to think about college, or - like me - freaking out about the fact that you are turning 21. With her unwavering optimism, Shirley Temple contributed to the world in so many positive ways. Shirley Tmeple was a true leader, and true leaders never let that hope die. She made her obstacles into into opportunities. 

Leadership Through Sisterhood and Service: Spotlight on the Divine Nine Sororities Pt4

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc

Founding Date: November 12, 1922 at Butler University

Mission: To enhance the quality of life within the community

Motto: Greater Service, Greater Progress

Colors: Royal Blue and Gold

Famous Members: Victoria Rowell, Kelly Price (Honorary)

Victoria Rowell

 via: https://twitter.com/victoriarowell 

Victoria Rowell is best known for her role as Drucilla Barber on the soap opera, The Young and the Restless.  For her performance as Drucilla, she won 11 NAACP Image Awards between 1994 and 2006. She was born on May 10, 1959 in Portland, Maine to her biological mother, Dorothy, who suffered from schizophrenia.  At the age of 16, Victoria Rowell and her two sisters were abandoned by their mother and were surrendered to child services.  Throughout her career, Rowell has made appearances on shows such as The Cosby Show, Diagnosis: Murder and Dr. Phil and films like Eve’s Bayou and Dumb & Dumber.

Leadership Through Sisterhood and Service: Spotlight on the Divine Nine Sororities Pt3

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc

Founding Date: January 16, 1920 at Howard University

Mission: To foster the ideas of service, charity, scholarship, civil and cultural endeavors, sisterhood and finer womanhood.

Founding Principles: Scholarship, Sisterly Love, Service, Finer Womanhood

Colors: Royal Blue and White

Famous Members: Dionne Warwick, Julia Carson

Julia Carson

Julia Carson was a member of the United States House of Representatives for Indiana’s 7^th congressional district. Carson was born on July 8, 1938. She was elected for Indiana Senate in 1972 and served 14 years.  Later, she held a seat in the house for 10 years, until her death in 2007.  She is recognized today as the first woman and first African American to represent the 7^th district and the second African American woman elected to Congress from Indiana.

via: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Carson

Leadership Through Sisterhood and Service: Spotlight on the Divine Nine Sororities Pt2

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc

Founding Date: January 13, 1913 at Howard University

Mission: Public Service

Motto: Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom

Colors: Crimson and Cream

Famous Members: Keisha Knight Pulliam, Kym Whitley, Betty Shabazz, Melissa Harris-Perry

Melissa Harris-Perry

Melissa Harris-Perry was born on October 2, 1973 in Seattle, Washington.  She is the professor, television host and political commentator who penned Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in American.  She is a professor of political science at Tulane University and she has previously taught at both Princeton University and the University of Chicago. Harris-Perry is regularly featured on The Rachel Maddow Show and is the founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Project on Gender, Race, and Politics in the South. She received her bachelor’s degree in English at Wake Forest University and earned her PhD in political science from Duke University. Today, Melissa Harris-Perry hosts her self-titled weekend news and opinion television show on MSNBC.

via: http://www.louisianaweekly.com/harris-perry-adjusts-to-new-orleans-tulane-spotlight/