At my all-girls catholic school, it's traditional for the graduates to wear white dresses instead of the commonly worn cap and gowns. Students this year expressed their concern for the dresses and requested suits as an option. They were denied the opportunity constantly by the admin. A group of students and I started a movement to allow the option. We reached out to students, parents, and alumni. As one of the faces of this event, I risked senior opportunities and possible suspension/expulsion. We did not give up though and after months of hard work, we got the option for suits.

The most admirable women in my life today are those in my family. My mother, her sister, and my own older sister. My mother and her sister had very tough lives from a young age. They were immigrants from Mexico who came speaking no English and with no money. Their mother was not very close to them and they both grew up away from her. The one thing they did always have was each other. They tell me how they raised their younger siblings and apart from them telling me, I remember it. My mother has taken in every single one of her siblings at one point or another, as has my aunt. I remember going to school with my youngest uncle, my second youngest aunt chasing me around the house to eat enchiladas, and watching movies with my other uncle while we waited for my mom to come home. They both value family so much because when they were growing up, they didn't have one that fully supported them. The strength they both have is very evident in the way they carry themselves and how they get what they need to be done on their own. From immigrants with nothing, my mother has been able to take care of four kids and is working on sending us all to school. My aunt is one of the most generous people I know. She takes care of us almost like we are her own and goes out of her way to help us when we need it. They're both probably too generous sometimes, but their hearts have no limits on who to help and when. My older sister is almost just like them. I would say she has a bit more of a limit on who to help, but when it's someone she truly cares for, she'll move mountains to see to it they are taken care of. She has been taking me to eat, school, pick up materials for projects, hang out with friends, and get my nails done or buy something I really wanted more times than I can count. There's this joke in my house that sometimes she acts like she's our mother. She steps up to the plate when she needs to and is always there for my siblings and me. She isn't super affectionate, but it's through her actions that you can tell how much she loves you. She's strong and bold and she does not let anyone ever walk all over her. They have each taught me to speak up, be confident, and to do what I need for myself. They've also taught me to be kind, and understanding, and when it comes to the people you love, go that extra mile. As a future educator, these are the exact attributes I hope I can display for other young women and girls. I do not plan on letting other people stop me from reaching my goal and being successful, but I will help others go where they want and always lend a hand when it is needed. I want to be as confident and encouraging as they have been and portray such a wonderful idea of what a woman is just like I have seen them do.