The Inspiration Issue art culture essays
Spring 2018 //
Learn. grow. be.
// issue 01
2
From the Editor:
Book making + Amelia Earhart + Magazine Fangirl = Six-year-old Erin would sit at the dining room table drawing pictures for her very own storybooks. Seven-year-old Erin loved Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and made it her mission to share the bold pilot’s story. Newly minted teenager Erin, who loved all things fashion and beauty, would take in as much information as she possibly could while reading Seventeen magazine in the waiting room before her orthodontist appointments. These seemingly random circumstances serve as the foundation of this project. I want to create a publication for young adults that highlights and shares the inspiring and powerful stories of individuals who are making a positive impact in this world, having them serve as role models for teens. I want to do so in a way that is entertaining to physically read and look at. I have a mission to inspire and empower my readers through the use of storytelling and design. Through my exploration of the subject of teen magazines, I was excited and encouraged to learn that their creation was founded with the motive to give young women a voice in an educational and entertaining format. At the end of World War II, the first issue of Seventeen Magazine was published by Helen Valentine, a hardworking mother and grandmother. Her mission was to create a publication that promoted education, edification, and empowerment for young women. In her very first editorial letter, she calls upon her readers, saying, “You’re going to have to run this show—so the sooner you start thinking about it, the better.”
So, what happened? Commercialization and a major shift in content are what happened. Advertiser’s realized the potential of teen magazines, and overtook the publications with advertisements for acne products, clothing, and beauty items, while simultaneously setting the standards of beauty and self-image. This affected the content. Over the years, headline variations of “Get OMG Hair while you sleep,” “Fun & Flirty Cutest Outfits Ever,” and “The Couch Workout: Get Strong While you Stream,” have become the norm. This content is not inspiring and empowering young women to stand up for their beliefs, follow their passions, and make a difference in society. These fluffy titles impact how young women feel they need to look and think based on what society is setting as the standards, and it does not capture the true power and potential that they have. My first challenge to you is to be bold, be kind, and be smart. The following pages are filled with great essays, profiles, and artwork that exemplify these values. In the process of creating this publication, I met, worked with, and interviewed many incredible people, and I am excited to share their insight and stories with you. My second challenge is that you take these values and use them to create your own equation to make a difference, however that may look to you. Take what you are passionate about and share it with the world.
What you are currently holding. empowher – 3
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ISSUE 01 // Spring 2018
34
Empowher is a new-age magazine for teen girls, ages 11-18, with a mission to inspire and empower readers by providing them with educational, entertaining, and thoughtful content, as well as giving them a platform to speak their voices. This publication was created, designed, art directed, and organized by Erin Keeffer as her Senior Thesis Project.
Creator / Art Director / Editor-in-Chief Erin Keeffer
Contributing Writers Elyse Keeffer, Kaylee Shields, Michelle Ludwig, Stephanie McCoy, Sofia Sanchez, Julia Starr, Kirby Goodman, Hannah Birkholz, Abigail F., Elisah VandenBussche, Carolina Ignacia Villarroel MuĂąoz, Siena Iwasaki Milbauer, Karine Bihova Zohoun, Elisabeth Bockleman, Emma Saks, Lisi Ludwig
Art + Illustration Hannah Birkholz, Jaime Anderson, Julie Van Grol, Clarice Vrambout, Mazzi Childers, Lucas Young, JunFen Freihammer, Grace Wirkkala
Organizations Girls Are Powerful, Green Garden Bakery, Ann Bancroft Foundation
Printed By Carlisle Ryan Printing Services
Read Online issuu.com/empowhermagazine
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Be
Learn Social Media: Breaking the Addiction
8
Student Artwork
60
Millie Bobby Brown Honors Parkland Victims
10
A Season Abroad in America
66
Black Panther Movie Review
12
Proud to Be an Imperfect Feminist
68
Girl Power Playlist
13
Citizen of the World
70
A Wonder(ful) Woman Role Model
14
Road tripping: Explore a Little
71
I’m 10. And I Want Girls to Raise Their Hands.
16
Embracing Multiracial Identity
72
Kelly Marie Tran
17
Senior Reflection
74
17 Ways to Make a Difference
18
Advice to Younger Self
76
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
20
Summertime Dresses
22
Grow A Love Letter to Your Period
28
Developing a Positive Perspective
30
Embracing Growth as Your True Self
32
40
Girls Are Powerful 34 Green Garden Bakery
40
Ann Bancroft Foundation
44
Rose Noble 46 Hannah Birkholz 48
58
100 Days of Badass Babes
52
Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field
54
Music & Engineering
56
empowher – 5
6 - learn
ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK
Learn
“
Live out loud, and understand that what’s in your brain is really useful. Do not hide it. Do not dumb it down. Do not apologize for it. Just put in on the table and let people deal with it. Michelle Obama
empowher – 7
pop culture
Social Media: Breaking the Addiction As a fifteen-year-old girl, social media is a pretty important part of my life. It’s how I keep up to date on current world news, catch up with my friends, and burn free time. I enjoy using apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest. Of course, there are other social media sources such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Although I like social media, I recently found that it seemed more like a burden instead of a source of entertainment. To put it simply, social media was taking over my life. It fueled my procrastination and almost seemed like an obligation because “teenagers are always on their phones”. I was tired of not getting anything done and feeling like I had to constantly be on social media because everyone around me was constantly on it instead of interacting with one another face to face. I decided to break free from social media by limiting myself to using it for only fifteen minutes a day, and I experienced some very interesting results.
You may be wondering why I didn’t cut out social media from my life completely. The truth is that I didn’t want to go completely cold turkey. Snapchat is pretty much the only way that I talk to some of my friends outside of school, and, although I wanted to break free from social media, I didn’t want to cut my friends out of my life. However, I did limit my Snapchat use by not watching Stories and by only sending a few Snaps a day (gotta keep the streaks). Also, I found that even though fifteen minutes sounds like plenty of time to send a few selfies to friends, it actually takes a surprisingly long time to get the right angle, lighting, pose, and caption. This caused me to cheat a bit, and resisting the urge to take a picture or video of something spontaneously was also incredibly hard. In fact,
8 - learn
I found myself going to Snapchat almost automatically the second that my phone was unlocked, which is a habit that I am still trying to break. Besides limited Snapchat use, all other social media apps were completely cut out: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, and every source in between. Immediately, I began to notice just how much time the people around me were spending on social media. I sat at a silent lunch table surrounded by faces illuminated by phone screens. Students were on their phones during classes, on the bus, in the halls, at sporting events, and even when they were sitting right next to their friends. Also, I noticed that many adults were also
ILLUSTRATION BY VECTEEZY
Written by Elyse Keeffer
in on the social media addiction. At times I noticed that my grandparents monitored their Facebook accounts like hawks, my dad binge watched YouTube videos, and my mom browsed Pinterest to find inspiration in the depths of recipes, diy projects, and motivational quotes. Who’s always on their phone now, adults? Although teenagers do spend a lot of time on their phones, they aren’t the only ones.
reach out into a more personal form of communication with them. If I really cared about what they did over the weekend or how their soccer game went, I could ask them in person when I saw them, not through a screen. Also, not knowing what the people around me were doing at every second allowed me to focus on my own life instead of lots other peoples’ lives that I really had nothing to do with.
Another thing that I noticed was that FOMO is absolutely a real thing. I almost found myself checking my phone more often because I felt lost without the constant stream of information coming from all directions of social media. Also, it was so hard to give up checking in on what my favorite celebrities were doing (I’m looking at you, Tom Holland) and to communicate less with the people that I couldn’t talk to in ways other than through social media. I eventually tried to turn my notifications off, but it made it even more tempting to check to see if I was missing out on anything. Additionally, part of my FOMO was guilt because I felt bad that I couldn’t go on Instagram and “like” my friends’ posts or see their Snapchat Stories. I felt like I had no idea what my friends were doing when we weren’t together, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It forced me to-
Limiting my social media use has really helped me to come to terms with the world. It has helped me to realize that life isn’t about spending hours scrolling through feeds, checking on what your friends and favorite celebrities are doing at every second of the day, or even sharing your spectacular brunch with the world. Life is about living in the moment and enjoying every second. Social media can help us to capture the moments of our lives in videos and photographs, but it can also limit our lives to a phone screen. We need to find balance between life and our phones, and we can do so by breaking the addiction of social media. We need to take time to communicate face to face, connect with each other beyond our phone screens, and live our own lives instead of everyone else’s. We control social media, it doesn’t control us. E
We control social media, it doesn’t control us.
empowher – 9
ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN KEEFFER
pop culture
10 - learn
Millie Bobby Brown Honors Parkland Victims at the KCAs Written by Kaylee Shields Millie Bobby Brown, who has become a household name in the past year, made a major fashion statement recently at the 2018 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Brown, who was being awarded Favorite TV Actress for her role in Stranger Things, took the stage in an all denim ensemble honoring the victims of the Parkland, Florida shooting. Brown’s button-down shirt had the names of the 17 Parkland victims embroidered in white on the back. The denim piece also had “March for our lives” written across her shoulder blades, and “Never again” on a pocket on the front of the shirt.
make a positive difference and help influence change.” Near the end of her speech, Brown even dedicated her award to the Parkland victims, referring to them as “angels among us.” The Stranger Things actress has been very vocal on social media, speaking out about the #TimesUp and the March for Our Lives movements on Instagram. The day before the Kids’ Choice Awards, Brown posted a photo online with the caption:
“this world needs to be filled with love, kindness and support of one another.”
The Kids’ Choice Awards took place on March 24, the same day as the March for Our Lives rally that took place in Washington D.C. and in major cities all across the country. Brown’s denim outfit spoke volumes, but she took things a step more in her acceptance speech. She used this opportunity in front of millions of fans and viewers as a platform for promoting gun legislation and boosting the March for Our Lives agenda. “The March for Our Lives demonstrations that took place all over the world today have inspired me and impacted us all in one way or another,” Millie stated. “I get to be up here, and I’m privileged to have a voice that can be heard. One that I can use to hopefully
“March for Our Lives is an opportunity for us all to stand in solidarity against gun violence. No child, teen, parent or teacher should be afraid to walk into their school or classroom. This is our chance to be HEARD! This is our chance to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. This world needs to be filled with love, kindness and support of one another. No more fear, no more hurt, no more shootings, no more GUNS. To everyone participating in tomorrow’s March all over the country, you have my love, support, strength and encouragement!” Celebrities using their power at award shows to fight for issues of social justice is nothing new, but the Kids’ Choice Awards typically tends to have a lighter and more upbeat feel. Brown sending her message through her actions show that young people are truly the future of our country. This young actress is making waves, and there’s no end in sight to her vocalization of important issues. E
empowher – 11
pop culture
Why Black Panther is More Than Just a Superhero Movie Printed in the clover letter on march 15, 2018
Written by NyKhi Garrett It’s impossible to miss the excitement and the pride that African-American and black communities have for Black Panther. It’s one of only 13 movies that have made $1 billion at the box office—ever—and that’s mostly thanks to these audiences. But some people don’t quite understand why this movie is so important for us. So let me explain. Black Panther, the fictional superhero, first surfaced in the Fantastic Four comic number 52 in July of 1966. He is the first black superhero to ever appear in American mainstream comic books. It’s historic! That is one of the reasons why this movie is such a massive success today. Another reason? Wakanda. Wakanda is a technologically advanced African society where the story takes place, and the movie did an exceptional job of displaying cultural accuracy and African representation.
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But arguably the biggest reason why this film is *so* important is the cast. Sure, there have been movies with a majority black cast before. It’s not really anything new. But when was the last time a movie with a black cast was depicted in this manner? The movies with black casts are often about drugs, gangs, or slavery. As much as people hate to admit that, it’s true. While there were plenty of epic characters in Black Panther, the ones I loved the most were the women. The female characters were depicted as strong and independent. The Dora Miljae were the best of the best in the film; T’Challa literally had an army of women. I fell in love with all of them. In the comics, there were hundreds of them, and though there were only a handful in the movie, they were just as powerful. Even better, they weren’t dressed as the “ideal woman.” They were dressed in armor from head to toe and their heads were
shaved bald with tribal markings. These women were total badasses on the inside and out. General Okoye gets all my applause, and so does Nakia, who was played by the beautiful Lupita Nyong’o. She’s a female spy who refused to be held down and took matters into her own hands. That’s what I’m talking about, sis! And we can’t forget about T’Challa’s little sister, Princess Shuri. Though young, that girl was the real genius of the story. I don’t care what anyone else says. In this movie, the women took charge of everything and I loved it. So, if you still don’t understand why Black Panther had such an mark of the black and African-American communities, then I suggest you see if for yourself. E CLOVER LETTER cloverletter.com @cloverletter Clover Letter
Girl Power Playlist This is Me / Keala Settle Wings / Little Mix Moonlight / Grace VanderWaal BO$$ / Fifth Harmony Who Run the World / Beyonce How Far I’ll Go / Alessia Cara This is for my Girls / Missy Elliot Most Girls / Hailee Steinfield I Will Survive / Gloria Gaynor Sit Still, Look Pretty / Daya Never Give Up / Sia Respect / Aretha Frankilin
empowher – 13
pop culture
A Wonder(ful) Woman Role Model Written by elyse keeffer Illustration by jaime anderson Wonder Woman is a strong, caring, and powerful hero that all girls can look up to for 10 super reasons:
1 2 3 4 5
She is bold. She isn’t afraid to go against the opinion of others to do what she knows is right.
She is smart.
6
She has determination.
7
She is humble.
8
She is selfless.
9
She is honest and true.
She can speak countless languages and she’s great at figuring out how to take down villains with strategy.
She is beautiful. Beyond her physical appearance, she is compassionate, kind, caring, and willing to make sacrifices for others.
She never gives up easily.
She doesn’t use her powers for her own glory, she uses them to help others.
She puts the safety of others above her own.
She literally has a lasso of truth, do I need to say anything else?
She is brave. She runs into battle with strength and courage.
She has a good attitude.
10
She is a warrior. She fights injustice with her lasso of truth, sword, shield, indestructible bracelets, and a smile.
She is optimistic and encourages other people. JAIME ANDERSON jaimeanderson.com @jaimeillos
14 - learn
empowher – 15
current events
I’m 10. And I Want Girls to Raise Their Hands. Written by alice paul tapper Last year on a fourth-grade field trip, I noticed that all the boys stood in the front and raised their hands while most of the girls politely stayed in the back and were quiet. It made me upset. On the car ride home I told my mom about what happened. We talked about how it seemed unfair and how boys and girls should be equal. My mom talks to me a lot about women’s rights and how women are treated differently. I told my mom that I thought girls weren’t raising their hands because they were afraid that the answer was going to be wrong and that they would be embarrassed. I also think they were being quiet because the boys already had the teacher’s attention, and they worried they might not be able to get it. My mom and I decided that we should take the experience to my Girl Scout troop. We talked about it as a troop. All 12 girls in our troop said this was a problem they also noticed and we talked about how we could improve it. I suggested that we create a Girl Scout patch
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Printed in the new york times on October 31, 2017 that would encourage girls to raise their hands in class and be more confident about using our voices. The other girls loved the idea, and they had other suggestions. As a troop we decided to go the local council, Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, which represents more than 62,000 girls in the Greater Washington, D.C., region, to present our idea. We decided to call it the Raise Your Hand patch. Its message is that girls should have confidence, step up and become leaders by raising our hands. As with every patch in Girl Scouts, you have to earn this one. To get it, a scout needs to pledge to raise her hand in class and recruit at least three other girls who promise to do the same. As of this week, troops across the country can order the Raise Your Hand patch. I’m proudly wearing mine. People say girls have to be 90 percent confident before we raise
“Its message is that girls should have confidence, step up and become leaders by raising our hands.”
our hands, but boys just raise their hands. I tell girls that we should take the risk and try anyway, just like the boys do. If the answer is wrong, it’s not the end of the world. It’s not like answering a trivia question to win a million dollars on live TV. Since our patch launched, Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital has received phone calls from troops all over the country who want to get involved. I’m so excited that girls in other troops that I don’t even know will soon sew the patches onto their vests or sashes. On their first date, when my mom found out that my dad’s middle name was Paul, she instantly knew that if she married my dad and had a baby girl she would call me Alice Paul. Alice Paul was one of the women who led the movement for women to have the right to vote. Having Alice Paul’s name makes me feel special. For women to be equal to men, we have to fight for it. Alice Paul Tapper is a fifth-grade student and girl scout in Washington, D.C. E
Rising role model:
Kelly Marie Tran Written by erin keeffer
You may recognize Kelly as the new kid on the Star Wars block, Rose Tico. This past year, she rocked the galaxy with her amazing performance as the bold, lovable rebel mechanic in The Last Jedi (who single-handedly set Finn straight and defined the entire movie with one line, “That’s how we’re gonna win...not fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.”), becoming the first Asian-American woman to play a leading role in a Star Wars film. During the publicity tour for the film, she also became the first Asian women to appear on the cover of Vanity Fair. How is that for paving new paths? But what is truly inspiring about Tran is how incredibly honest, down-to-earth, and real she is. Her parents, refugees from Vietnam, “essentially gave up their whole live” to live in a community with good public schools for her and her sisters to attend. When she was in high school, she worked at a frozen yogurt shop to earn money for her actor headshots. A quick search on Youtube and you will see her crying tears of joy on the Star Wars red carpet, thanking the producers and embracing co-star Daisy Ridley. She is blazing her trail with humbleness and gratitude.
“I think people can forget that it’s a luxury to have a dream,” said Tran. She is using her new-found international fame to share her story, lift up others, and liveout her own dream of doing so through storytelling, even in the midst of being torn down by haters who have insulted her for her appearance, gender, and cultural background. Nevertheless, she has risen above gracefully, being an advocate for a positive self-image and equal representation in media across races, cultures, socio-economic classes, gender identities, body types, and abilities. She recently announced that she will be speaking at The United State of Women Summit this May. A long scroll through her Instagram profile and you will laugh, nod your head in agreement, and instantly want to be best friends with Tran. I mean, she dressed up like a Porg for Halloween and made the #LauraFern (a Laura Dern Christmas tree) Do yourself a favor, and add her contagious enthusiasm to your Instagram feed. E
KELLY MARIE TRAN @kellymarietran
empowher – 17
PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN KEEFFER
current events
18 - learn
17 Ways to Make a Difference Written by Michelle ludwig I am a senior at the University of Illinois at Chicago. My major is urban education and with my Illinois elementary school teaching license, I will be able to teach 1st - 6th grade, starting next school year. Since pursuing a career in education, I have come to realize the enormous impact my teachers have had on me. In many ways, the project that I am working on with my students is inspired by my third grade teacher who believed in the goodness of all her students and encouraged all her students to believe in themselves. On February 14, 2018, while many Americans were celebrating Valentine’s Day, high school students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida were huddled together in classroom corners, fearing for their lives. They were in the midst of a school shooting. In the hours after the shooting, it was determined 17 lives had been lost, students and adults alike. Calling for change and awareness, student survivors organized a national school walk out to be held at 10 a.m. on March 14, 2018, a month after the horrific event. The walk out would be 17 minutes long, one minute for each victim. Knowing my fourth and fifth grade students would be completing standardized tests on March 14, I wanted to create an activistic activity since we would not be able to walk out. After reading an article on ways to honor people, I came up with a solution. My students would write 17 ways how to make a difference (in someone else’s life or the world), one way in honor of each victim.
The book project The day after the students completed the activity my mentor teacher approached me with an idea. She wanted to turn the student responses into a book with me leading the project. I was thrilled to say the least. I couldn’t wait to get started. The students wrote down their 17 ways how to make a difference and drew a picture that reflected their words. The students’ work was then sent into the book published to be published. Most students took great pride in their work, thinking deeply about their 17 ways how to make a difference. The project was meaningful, engaging students in their work. E
17 ways to make a difference: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 empowher – 19
Beauty
before
after
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Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow Written by Elyse keeffer Photography by Erin Keeffer Every once in awhile, I get the obsessive urge to do something insane with my hair. Whether it’s inspired by the latest celebrity trends, the changing of the seasons, or the idea that I am just tired of my hair looking the same way every day, I have obsessed over pretty much every hair color and style out there. However, I have always been too afraid to really follow through with any of them until I decided to pursue my latest obsession to get a pixie. Going to the salon for the haircut was actually really fun and easy. I simply walked in, showed my stylist pictures of Anne Hathaway and Ginnifer Goodwin, and talked to her about what I wanted. She got started and within an hour, the majority of my hair had been chopped off and an unrecognizable girl stared back at me in the mirror *cues Mulan music*. However, adapting to my new hair and learning to style it was a lot more difficult than I imagined it would be. To quote Jean Valjean from Les Miserables, my thought while trying to style it for the first time was, “What have I done, sweet Jesus, what have I done?” Because I was going from a blunt, chin-length bob to a pixie, I thought that my hair wouldn’t be that different because I was already used to it being pretty short. However, I now had to face the difficulty of maintaining bangs and controlling my
naturally wavy (now very short and layered) hair. It took me about two weeks until I discovered the magic of straighteners, hairspray, and hair gel. I also learned about texturizing dry shampoo and moose, which have both been lifesavers.
“Your hair doesn’t define you, but it can be a fabulous addition to your style.”
Although it took a little while to learn how to make my hair cooperate as a pixie, I absolutely love it and have no regrets. Also, the experience of going out of my comfort zone and changing my hair has taught me so much about self confidence and self expression. I feel more like myself through my hair and I don’t really care what people think of it because I love it. If you want to do something totally crazy with your hair I suggest that you shouldn’t hold back from doing it, but make sure you do research and preparation beforehand so that it doesn’t go all wrong (lol it can happen). Make sure you go to someone that you trust with your hair, and make sure that they understand exactly what you want; don’t settle. Once you are confident and ready to make the change, do it! Have fun and embrace your beautiful unique self! E
empowher – 21
fashion
Summertime Dresses Written by stephanie mccoy Summer is my favorite time of year. I live for sticky nights around a bonfire and humid afternoons spent swimming and lounging lake side. But more than anything, I look forward to dresses, vintage dresses to be specific. As a lover of thrift stores and estate sales, I live for the hunt. Drop me into any thrift store and I practically hear ocean waves in my mind. I can’t get enough of the poor lighting, piles of stuff and 50% off days. A thrift store is the perfect place to find a vintage dress, or two. Finding a previously loved dress that fits me in all the right places makes me feel I was born in the wrong era. While baking scones in a 1950’s sundress and heels sounds like a dream, being meekly obedient to my husband does not. Really, I’m the luckiest: I live in 2018 and can wear 1950’s dresses without the woman-hating mumbo-jumbo of that era. Score! What I love about vintage dresses is the silhouette, quality of material, and uniqueness. The way they hug your waist and cascade to your knees feels like a sweet old song. Plus, rocking a vintage dress is a guaranteed way to avoid the moment when you’re meeting up with your friends, swoop in for a hug, and–*record scratch*–you’re wearing the same dress! Avoid looking like another H&M devotee by opting for vintage. Over coffee, a friend of mine blurted out that she cannot pull off the vintage dress look. “I end up looking like a frumpy weirdo,” she admitted. I wanted to splash my iced chai in her face and say, “Wake up, babe! With that attitude, you will.” As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” It’s all in your attitude. Confidence is your best accessory. Whatever you decide to wear, own it. I hope you have fun hunting for and wearing your perfect summertime dress. Just remember all of the women who have worn the dress before you and imagine each one trying to make it their own. Previously loved pieces of clothing carry stories in them. Enjoy creating your style story! E
22 - learn
empowher – 23
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC SORENSEN
fashion
Here are seven tips for wearing a vintage dress in 2018:
1
2 3
4
Shoes, shoes, shoes! If you wear shoes from the 1950’s, you will look and feel like you’re time traveling. Don’t get me wrong, this is a rad look, but most of us prefer to update the outfit a bit. Pair your dress with fringed or strappy heels, fun flats, or a great pair of wedges.
5
If you’re a make-up person, a current lipstick shade or gloss helps add a modern feel.
6
Play around with sunglasses, hats or scarf head wraps for a modern day Jackie O look. When you find yourself dancing in front of the mirror, you’ve found your sweet spot.
7
Get to know a good tailor who can make adjustments to the dress if needed. They can cut and hem to your liking! Don’t be afraid to get creative.
Consider your clutch or purse carefully. A modern leopard print or metallic clutch will add a current edge to your outfit.
If the dress print is loud or the percentage of lace is high, be wary of pushing the outfit into the “gaudy zone.” Delicate, simple jewelry can save the day! Many vintage dresses are statements themselves.
Complete your modern-meets-vintage look by pairing the dress with a leather jacket or oversized jean jacket when the sun goes down.
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“Just remember all of the women who have worn the dress before you and imagine each one trying to make it their own.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BERNADETTE POLLARD
26 - grow
ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK
Grow
“
“Let us make our future now. And let us make our dreams tomorrow’s reality.”
Malala Yousafzai
empowher – 27
28 - grow
A Love Letter To Your Period Written by Sofia Sanchez Almost every female in the world experiences periods approximately every 28 days. Some girls do not mind the monthly visit from Aunt Flo. Others, however, dread the menses due to the painful cramps that come along with continuing mankind. I remember that girls in high school notoriously tucked a pad or tampon into their sleeve, or elsewhere, to avoid visibility. Some might ask, “Why does admitting that you are on your period by carrying around a pad suggest stigma?” Well, it doesn’t necessarily suggest shame. It is their personal business. On account of sexist jokes and lines like “It must be that time of the month,” it is likely that they would like to maintain accountability for their emotions. Still, there is subtle embarrassment within the subject of menstruation that is rarely discussed. Menstruation is a natural part of life. The sooner the subject is treated as nature, the sooner it will be rejected as a hush-hush topic by society. Even more, creating open dialogue about the reproductive cycle and other body systems within the country can affect change around the world as well. After all, shame pales in comparison to banishing menstruating women to huts, which happens in India, out of fear that they will contaminate homes, devastate crops or sicken livestock. In fact, the isolation often extends to education. Indeed, there are places in today’s world that restrict girls from reading, writing or touching books--simply because they are biologically functioning.
ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN KEEFFER
Although some girls may feel repulsed regarding the subject of menstruation, others do not. Anne Frank, for example, carried pride in her period. In her diary, she wrote of it as a sacred, “sweet secret.” Additionally, women should not be reduced to baby-makers, but it is during menstruation that I am reminded of my capability to continue mankind. [Insert Kim Kardashian meme, “Not bad for a girl with no talent.”] That’s pretty special. In a world where places like the Middle East and Africa still consider the menstruation cycle taboo or simply lack resources for distribution, a tampon or pad should communicate the taken-for-granted privilege of infrastructure and hygiene. Nature is not something a woman should feel pressured to hide under their sleeve. Whether you choose to maintain privacy or openly carry a tampon down the hallway, make sure it is you who is deciding. E
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Wellness
Using Research to Develop a Positive Perspective Written by julia starr Developing contentment with your past: Let’s be honest, some days we wake up and don’t have that Beyonce “woke up like this” glow about us. Because some days we just… don’t feel that fabulous. No matter how lucky, privileged or #blessed we are in our lives, there seems to be an endless barrage of messaging, images and expectations that can get in the way of our ability to see our worlds (and ourselves) through a positive lens. While I will refrain from calling out all negative impacts of social media in this article, I must mention that in the Social Media Era it has become even harder to wake up on the bright side of the bed. Especially when our first waking activity is scrolling through images of others’ perfectly airbrushed (and likely very, very filtered) highlight reel. First, accepting that we simply can’t feel our best every single day of our lives will help us to gain perspective and potentially even improve our quality of lives. Second, utilizing research from the up-and-coming field of Positive Psychology can help us to actively combat the negative stimulus in our lives to build a positive lens. To summarize, the field of Positive Psychology tells us that positive emotions are influenced by three major areas: contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future.
ILLUSTRATION BY CAMI CAMI
This insight can be applied to our own lives through a simple exercise that I hope you will work through yourself or in a small group of peers. It goes like this: Journal your way through these three question categories. Give yourself at least 30 minutes for this exercise, and ideally you would have an hour or two. Create a sacred and comfortable space for the activity which can include finding a well-lit spot, lighting a candle or two and bringing your favorite beverage along, whether coffee, tea or a cup of fresh water.
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What are the three biggest lessons I’ve learned from both my past successes and failures? By applying these lessons in my current life, what positive changes will result?
Happiness in the present: What am I looking forward to in the next month? Where do I plan to be one year from today (location, career, relationships, personal wellbeing)?
Hope for the future: What am I looking forward to in the next month? Where do I plan to be one year from today (location, career, relationships, personal wellbeing)?
Keep these responses somewhere special so you will be able to check in on your progress every month or so. Redo this exercise as often as you like, and be sure to share with anyone else who you think would benefit. And remember, some days you are going to feel like a stubborn raincloud and that’s OK – on those days put away the phone, find your coziest blanket, grab a journal and let yourself feel what is being presented to you. Comparison is the thief of all joy and you are right where you need to be. I promise. E
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wellness
Embracing Growth as Your True Self Written by julia starr
ILLUSTRATION BY CAMI CAMI
In my life, and in yours as well, there are innumerable things that have required a “not yet”. In fact, anything you’ve ever done for the first time was at one point a “not yet”. As young women, you are still largely in the “not yet” territory. People expect you to employ “not yet” when you step into a new role, a new relationship or a new identity. However, as you become older, you will move past the stage where people expect you to be trying things for the first time and you move into a stage where, whether right or wrong, your identities will be based on what it is you do and what you are good at, in the present moment. Not only does this limit your potential, it also ignores the true nature of human beings. At its core, “not yet” is about embracing your true self. And your true self is an ever-evolving, ever-changing, ever-growing, ever-learning, human being. The sooner you recognize that you are always changing, the sooner you will be able to embrace Who You Are. Because who you were yesterday, who you will be tomorrow - those are both different things from who you are today. Let me give you a personal example. If somebody had asked me a year-and-a-half ago if
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I were an entrepreneur, I could easily have said no. At that point I had never started a business, I had never launched something that would earn me money independently, I had never done anything that would really qualify me as an entrepreneur. So if somebody asked me that I could say, “No, I’m not”, and I wouldn’t have been lying. That would have been a representation of the truth in that moment. However, me saying no to that question would have created an imprint in my mind that reinforced that answer to me about my identity, my ability and frankly, not only who I was in that moment, but also who I would be in the future. Answering “no” would have created a boundary on my own life, pres-
“This game of life is not about being perfect. It’s about learning.” ent and future. And who was building that boundary? Me. This game of life is not about being perfect. It’s about learning. What I have learned is that answering a question about my identity or potential with “no” does not serve my true self, and my true self’s potential. If I had answered the question about being an entrepreneur with “not yet”, how would that have changed me? How would that have changed my understanding of myself? And how would that have changed the other person’s understanding of me, my ambition, potential and identity? Just by changing a few words. Just by using the phrase ‘not yet’. I can claim power for myself. It’s not about someone else taking power away from me, it’s about me recognizing the power that I inherently have in my words and my beliefs.
ways, work in new ways, love in new ways, create change in new ways? What are your “not yet’s”? I can’t wait to see all that is to be done, created, changed, loved. And all the power that is yet to be uncovered in each of your lives. E
What are your “not yets”? What ways do you want to grow? What would it feel like to give yourself permission to be in new ways, work in new ways, love in new ways, create change in new ways?
“Not yet” gives you the power to determine your future. It gives you permission to be a different person from the moment a question is asked to the moment a question is answered – you have that much power. You have the power to decide who you are, what you do, what you know, and what you want. You are not bound to who you were. This is a revolutionary approach to self determination. When we fail to recognize we have the power to determine our life’s outcome, we lose the most. And we also stand the most to gain when we take that power back. So let me ask you – what are your “not yet’s”? What questions would you LOVE to answer “not yet” to? What ways do you want to grow? What would it feel like to give yourself permission to be in new
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beautiful unique smart confident determined
Girls Are Powerful Written by Erin Keeffer Photography by Erin Keeffer Girls are incredibly powerful. This is what Girls Are Powerful, an organization based in St. Paul, MN with a social mission to empower girls builds its purpose on. What began as a conversation between founder, Shawntan Howell, and her daughter on self-esteem and self-worth, has transformed into a personal transformation movement to celebrate the power of being beautiful, unique, smart, confident and determined. The organization’s vision is to help support and create a generation of girls and young women, who are confident, maintain positive relationships, make positive decisions and exhibit responsible behaviors by embracing their power. They do so by hosting events and workshops for girls that align with their values, and aid girls in exploring different topics, such as career fields and self-empowerment, with creative tools such as art projects, role-playing, brainstorming, team collaboration and problem solving activities. Their current workshop series, Ignite Your Imagination and Power, allows girls to explore career fields, including computer technology, construction, cabinetry, carpentry, health and medical skills, and art, design and communication, by gaining insight from professionals in the field. Girls Are Powerful also has community pop-up events, and social outings. E GIRLS ARE POWERFUL girlsarepowerful.com @girlsarepowerful
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leadership
Meet Noelle What do you like to do? Sports, hockey What is your dream? To get a sport scholarship for hockey. Why do you believe it is important for girls to know that they are powerful? It helps them be confident in themselves. Who is your role model? My family.
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Meet Kaliyah What do you like to do? Art What is your dream? To go to Paris. Why do you believe it is important for girls to know that they are powerful? Because it used to be boys doing things. Who is your role model? My family.
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leadership
Meet Jalyn What do you like to do? Drawing and writing. Creating screenplays. What is your dream? I want to make a movie, and travel all over the world. Why do you believe it is important for girls to know that they are powerful? To let them know they can do anything they desire. They can be happy because they know they made the right choice. Who is your role model? Ava DuVernay (the director of A Wrinkle in Time).
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“To let them know they can do anything they desire. They can be happy because they know they made the right choice.”
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leadership
PHOTO BY ERIN KEEFFER AND CONTRIBUTED
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When Life Gives You Lemons... Written by Erin Keeffer Students in Minneapolis are changing the way we think about vegetables by bringing them to a new course: dessert. Long gone are the days of pushing those steamed bland vegetables to the side, dreading the fact you have to eat them. With creative recipes such as beet brownies, lemon zucchini muffins, carrot pumpkin bread, green tomato cake and jalapeño chocolate chip cookies, Green Garden Bakery (GGB) will have you sneaking seconds, and even thirds.
It all began when Leensa Ahmend (CEO/ CFO of GGB) and her friend Jasmine were walking past an Active Chefs cooking class and their neighborhood and were drawn to the delicious smell of fresh pancakes. They began taking the classes, which taught them and other community members about cooking, gardening, and nutrition. One of girls’ favorite recipe utilized excess tomatoes from the community garden by transforming them into green tomato cake. After years of cooking classes, the girls put their skills to the test, organizing a bake sale to sell their famous hidden vegetable treat at a local festival, with the proceeds going to a friend who had been paralyzed in a bad car accident. In one day, the cakes raised over $1,500. “From there, we spent the next two years growing and formalizing our new business.” Green Garden Bakery is a business led by 8 youth executive leaders, and in addition to serving the community with their tasty treats, they also serve over 100 k-12th
grade students in their neighborhood by offering out-of-school programming that highlights gardening, baking, business, entrepreneurship, Eco-art, environmentalism, marketing and workforce training skills. It has become the most highly attended program in their neighborhood. Their recipes are originally unique, created and tested by students in the Active Chefs cooking course. Each week they chose a vegetable from their community garden and test it out in a baked good of their choice. “If it tastes good, we send it to the workforce and the executive team to test and perfect,” explained Leensa. From there, it is in the hands of the customers. If a recipe goes over well at market, it is added to the menu. Students involved in Green Garden Bakery have become quite the gardeners and vegetable experts, as well bakers. Many of the teens admit that they stayed far away from vegetables before serving on the executive board, but now they enjoy eat-
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leadership
ing healthy. “I couldn’t stand zucchini, but now the lemon zucchini muffins are my favorite,” said Arafat Ahmed. In the warmer months, they grow carrots, zucchini, beets, jalapenos, tomatoes, and kale. Jasmine Salter, the Urban Agriculture specialist for GGB says that tomatoes are the easiest to grow, while carrots are the hardest. They are looking into adding a hoop house to extend the growing season for their tomatoes, with their ultimate goal of eventually adding a greenhouse. Community is at the core of GGB’s mission. They leave a bed in their garden for community members to grow their own plants and vegetables, and each quarter, the organization makes a community-based donation. Past donations have financed purchasing security systems for families in need, buying meals for families in need, funding adult exercise classes and donating to a women’s shelter. 2018 is an exciting year for GGB, as 2017 brought exciting change. In addition to drastically increasing their revenue, GGB created a leadership structure that helped them secure ownership of their business, and further their leadership skills. They recently won the 2017 MN Cup, a statewide entrepreneurship competition, and are using the funds to renovate their community kitchen. They plan to increase online and catering orders, expand their menu, and launch new merchandise.
GGB has made a very powerful impact on each of the board members, as well as the Heritage Park neighborhood. Each teen is able to use their skills, talents, and interests to serve the business. For Leensa, being the CEO of GGB has taught her many meaningful life skills. “From helping build this business I have learned entrepreneurship skills, public speaking and how to advocate and speak up for myself and what I believe in. I want to create a legacy so that other youth, like my four younger siblings, have the opportunity to gain these experiences. One customer said “You guys are SO unstoppable, super mature, motivated and wildly creative. You guys are more buttoned-up than most adults I know”. As a young black, Muslim, women all the odds are against me but I am proving I am a kickass boss.” Other board members shared that running and being apart of GGB has taught them time management, accountability, the importance of making everyone feel welcome, and how to receive constructive criticism.They have met and networked with many individuals, and witness first hand the difference that they make in their community. “We learn from each other and incorporate different viewpoints into our business,” Leensa said. Their baked goods, garden, and classes bring neighbors together, fostering meaningful relationships.
GREEN GARDEN BAKERY greengardenbakery.org @greengardenbakerympls Green Garden Bakery
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“Within society, we are the minority, but our diversity is what defines us and our community.”
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leadership
Written by Kirby goodman
Building Confidence Through Experience The Ann Bancroft Foundation inspires and encourages girls to imagine something bigger. Founded in 1997 by wilderness explorer and St. Paul native Ann Bancroft, the first woman in history to reach both the North and South Poles, ABF strives to build confidence and offer tools that allow a girl to go after her dreams and feel supported along the way. Through grants, mentorship, and ongoing development opportunities, the Ann Bancroft Foundation gives Minnesota girls of all backgrounds strength to achieve their full potential.
ABF provides two types of grants: Let Me Play and Dare to Dream. Let Me Play grants are awarded girls in grades K-12 applying for to play sports and athletic activities, whereas Dare to Dream girls in grades 4-12, apply to participate in any activity to which their passions lead them to. From dance classes to service trips, the activities ABF funds are as unique as the girls behind them.
I reached out to the Ann Bancroft Foundation last summer when I decided to take a gap year before college to take a break from the stress of school. I spent much of my childhood a competitive figure skater, and have pursued my dream of skating in professional shows since turning 18, so ABF’s mission of empowering girls through pursuing their unique passions hits me close to home.
grams for the foundation, which makes my job incredibly fun and fulfilling, and the all-female office is a space for me to learn about nonprofit work surrounded by women I look up to. Yet despite my experience, I can’t forget the reality that so many women, especially those of color, aren’t able to pursue leadership positions and are subject to discrimination and unequal pay within their workplace.
Going into the first day of my internship with ABF, my reservations of working in an office full of adults as an 18-year-old quickly turned to excitement for the real-world impact of the work I do. The Ann Bancroft Foundation is led by an all-female staff of three full-time and one part-time employee, so although necessary, my job isn’t limited to the busywork of sorting and filing paperwork like a typical office intern.
Pursuing my passion of figure skating gave me confidence to ask questions when I don’t understand, seek out leadership opportunities, and stand up when something isn’t right. Interning at the Ann Bancroft Foundation not only gave me an invaluable skills and work experience, it also allowed me to help girls like myself pursue passions that will empower them to make impactful contributions to their communities and the world at-large.
Most of what I do involves researching, writing, and designing new posts or pro-
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CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Kirby’s story
Yoko’s story Yoko was awarded a Dare to Dream grant in Spring 2016 to participate in a 3-week summer writing program at Carleton College. While she went into the experience hoping to gain the writing skills she would need to be successful in college, she left with so much more. “I will always remember the people I met, the academic skills I need to improve on, and the conversations we had. It has been the absolute best 3 weeks of my life,” Yoko said in the journal she kept throughout her time at Carleton. Now in her first year of studies at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Yoko plans to graduate with a BA in Journalism and a double-minor in Hmong and Social Justice. She is actively involved in many student groups and organizations, including the Hmong Minnesota Student Association, the Asian-American Student Union, and a Freshman Research and Creative Scholars Program. “The Ann Bancroft Foundation scholarship allowed me to learn about writing and critical thinking skills at the Carleton Summer Writing Program. This in the long-term has set me up to be a better college student. As I am in my first year, I am adjusting to the changes that include multiple papers per semester, complex readings, and more. I have had a smoother transition because I am able to refer back to my writing program experience along with other experiences.”
“This trip changed my life. I discovered that I can be independent.” Theresa’s story Inspired by Ann from an early age when the prominent wilderness explorer visited her elementary school, Theresa received a Dare to Dream grant in 2016 to participate in a two-week field study program through her high school in the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. “This trip changed my life,” Teresa said. “I discovered that I can be independent and take care of myself. I can travel to foreign countries and speak Spanish to native speakers. This trip also taught me to be more aware of how special our planet is. Thousands of years ago the fragile process of evolution began to change the organisms on the Galapagos. Evolution is why our world is so diverse and beautiful, and I saw that if we (humans) are not careful, we are going to wreck things beyond repair. I think about this experience almost every day. Not only did I make new friends, but I also saw how perfect the world can work— without human interference.”
Theresa is now a high school senior with plans to begin college in Fall 2018. “In part thanks to this field study I am planning to major in Environmental Engineering. After traveling to Ecuador, I realized how fragile our relationship with our environment is, and I saw the grave consequences that come when we ignore this balance. I knew that I wanted to do something with the rest of my life that will find practical solutions to how we can preserve the natural world yet still have growth and expansion as a human race. Environmental engineering was not really on my radar before going on this trip, but now I see that it is a way I do something good in the world. I think about this field study every day of my life. It truly was a life-changing experience that never could have happened without the support of the Ann Bancroft Foundation.” ANN BANCROFT FOUNDATION annbancroftfoundation.org @abfdreamers Ann Bancroft Foundation
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art & design
Designer profile:
Rose Noble Written by erin keeffer
“I am obsessed with creativity.” Ever since Rose Noble was a young girl, she was creating. She recalls always being into art, whether that be in the form of music, drawing, painting or digitally designing on her computer. Today, Rose brings her creative spirit and talents to her position as Director of Marketing for Tourism and Interim Director at Visit Galena in Galena, Illinois. She infuses her passion for art and her design skills into the community through her design work. While in school, Rose enjoyed music and French class, as well as really getting into math in junior high. As a younger student in elementary school, she remembers loving the time that she and her classmates spent in the school library--taking in the environment, looking at the variety of books and observing her surroundings. It was in high school when she took her artistic skills to the digital realm of computers, taking her first Photoshop class. It was then that realized that she could use her skills and interests to provide for herself through graphic arts and design. She took all of the art classes that were offered at her school and has a great appreciation for the organic arts as well as digital. She went on to college to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Communications, with an emphasis in PR and Design. In her current position as Director of Marketing and Interim Director at Visit Galena, she is designing every single day, and she gets the final say on the designs.
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Creativity plays a very important role in Rose’s life. “It is who I am. I have always been able to escape through art and I am able to identify with that. It is like my meditation.” But she remembers a time when she used to be embarrassed when people would ask her if she was an artist. Now she wears the title of an artist with confidence and has found it to open many doors. She is able to meet new people, and be inspired by their stories and experiences. She is also able to use her skills as an artist and designer to serve causes that she is passionate about, such as animal rights, human rights, and women’s rights. A recent project Rose worked on was designing the branding and graphics for Broad Ideas, a collaborative community art show at the Galena Center for the Arts that empowers women and gives them a platform to share their stories. The experience of working with women to plan and showcase the event was very fulfilling to Rose, as she was able to meet other women, admiring their skills and stories. Her advice to aspiring artists and designers is simple: “Do it. Absolutely do it. Have confidence, and walk into a room like you own it. You got to go for it, girls. Practice your organic art skills, and keep drawing.”
What advice do you have for your younger self? Although you want to be independent and have your own style, do not be stubborn. Share your work, ideas, and process. Nothing has ever not been done before. You become what you are studying. E
Rose’s Inspiration
Artists Ameddio modigliani pablo picasso andy warhol banksy erica parrott petra collins anna bond jean jullien emily mcdowell ashley goldberg
Music breeders rring bikini kill go sailor jenny lewis esme patterson sylvan esso no name
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art & design
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHY ROTH, ARTWORK BY HANNAH BIRKHOLZ
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Student spotlight:
Hannah Birkholz Written by hannah birkholz
Every time I open Photoshop or Illustrator a blank square stares back at me. I love this blank square. I love this square because it offers me a WORLD of possibility(ies?). I can create + design anything I want to. I have the freedom to let every inspiration be fulfilled. Design offers me a meaningful way to use my time and invest in my future as a graphic designer. I’ve always been driven to create better art and this year has led to fearless experimentation largely due to the unconditional support from my art teacher Mrs. Siese. Trying out new programs has led me to discover new mediums of expression that have me to better communicate with others. Learning new editing skills has helped me branch out and do more portraits. Connecting with classmates that I really did know and building friendships with them really helped me to see how art brings people together. Being able to express my creativity and artistic passions has empowered me to strike up conversations with people I would have never talked to/met (in this way it acts as a bridge, a connector to new things, places, people, opportunities). In the simplest terms, Graphic Design is a ladder that I can climb into the clouds and reach my dreams. I can rise above negativity and reach towards the light by creating designs that serve a purpose and inspire. E
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH BIRKHOLZ
art & design
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ARTWORK BY HANNAH BIRKHOLZ
art & design
Check it out:
100 Days of Badass Babes Illustrations by julie van grol Julie Van Grol is an illustrator and teacher from Minneapolis, MN, and recently published a book full of her amazing illustrations featuring inspiring women. The book, Badass Babe Workbook: Creative Exercises, Drawing Activities, Empowering Stories, and Fuel for Your Personal Revolution, Inspired by Over 100 Trailblazing Women began as a illustration project that was featured on Instagram. For 100 days, Grol illustrated inspirational woman and told her story through the social media platform.
Corita Kent
Misty Copeland
Ilhan Omar
Corita Kent, also known as Sister Mary Corita Kent, was an American Roman Catholic religious sister, artist and teacher. She screen printed designs and messages of love and peace during the 1960s and 1970s. She has been a large contributor to the pop art movement, and used her art as activism.
Misty Copeland is a ballet dancer for the American Ballet Theatre. In 2015, she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT history. She is a public speaker, writer, and stage performer, and was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2015.
Ilhan Omar is a Somali-American politician from Minnesota. In 2016, she became the first Somali-American Muslim legislator elected to office in the United States. She serves as a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY JULIE VAN GROL
JULIE VAN GROL julievangrol.com @julievangrol
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Science & engineering
Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field How I found beauty in difference. Written by Abigail F.
I decided I wanted to pursue programming in high school because I admired my aunt, an independent consultant who makes applications for small businesses. Volunteering at a local nonprofit, teaching kids about computer science, confirmed my resolve. I’m the sort of person who, once I decide on something, will stick with it to the end, so being practically the only girl in CSCI (I felt) wasn’t going to discourage me. People told me it was hard for a wom-
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an to find her place in computer science, but that’s not what I found. My other CSCI classes had more promising ratios (maybe ⅕ female). One class that I was a TA for had 10 women out of 30 students! I usually wasn’t that fortunate, but it was okay. I made friends with the other women and, yes, even with the guys (*gasp*). I soon learned that guys liked to tease me, usually less because of my gender and more because of my height (I’m 5’1”) and my innocence (I was home-schooled). On one
ILLUSTRATION BY VECTEEZY
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up about 25% of computer-related professionals. It definitely doesn’t feel like that. Walk into a typical college computer science lecture, and you will find a bunch of male nerds who haven’t washed their hair in a month and whose preferred form of social interaction is online gaming. Okay, I’m stereotyping, but when I walked into my first computer science class at Normandale Community College, that’s pretty much what I was expecting. Some of the students definitely fit the bill. Most didn’t, but they were mostly male. Out of a class of 45, there were only 3 girls, including me.
“You’re you, and it’s precisely because you’re different that you can add to the world.”
occasion, the guys took bets as to whether or not I’d ever had a boyfriend. Ouch. However, most of the people I met at community college were supportive. My favorite CSCI professor was a middle-aged woman with a motorcycle and an attitude. On Pi Day, 3/14/15, she came in with a mask and cape as “Pi-Woman.” I decided to play along and joined her as her arch-nemesis, “Division-by-Zero,” whose wickedness is so profound it can’t even be defined. Ah, nerds! My junior year, I transferred to a 4-year college, the University of Minnesota. I’m happy to say I haven’t encountered prejudice against women—or short people—in my CSCI classes. My time at the U of M (go
Gophers!) has been full of amazing opportunities. I fell in love with the subfield of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and took classes in web and app development, human factors, and social computing. I joined a research lab led by the most awesome female CSCI professor in the world and investigated the use of wearable technology to track the progress of people recovering from substance abuse. I helped turn an unofficial Friday gathering of people interested in Arduinos and other mini electronics into an official student group, the Internet of Things Collaborative (IoT Collab for short). Now I’m graduating in two months and starting at a real-life software engineering job! I’m excited and nervous, but I know I’ll do great.
friends in my field. In all seriousness, however, I don’t care as much as I used to. If more women would rather be teachers or nurses, then kudos to them. I could never do it. On the other hand, there is something beautiful about men and women collaborating, sharing their unique gifts. “Co-ed” software teams tend to do better than those of all one gender, and I think it’s because women bring something singular to the table: a focus on the people who will use the software, an eye for design, and an ability to see the big picture. My advice to all girls is this: don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re just like men, or that you’re better or worse. You’re you, and it’s precisely because you’re different that you can add to the world—no matter what major you choose. E
Would I like to see more women in computer programming? Yes—mostly for selfish reasons, so that I can have more girl
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art & design
one of the most powerful ways of improving my skills as an engineer has been the same thing that brought me to science in the first place - music. Elisah VandenBussche 58 - grow
Music & Engineering
ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK
Written by elisah vandenbussche
For most of my life, I thought I wanted to be a professional violinist. I poured in years of practice, of calloused fingers and frustrating lessons. I did well enough in school, but I only saw a future for myself in music. Then a high school chemistry teacher came along and changed that. Through creative and open-ended lab assignments, I discovered that the skills I'd learned through playing the violin were applicable in more than just music lessons. The discipline required to learn all of the boring, basic dexterity exercises before putting all of the skills together to play a beautiful concerto, was the same as the discipline required to memorize equations and learn thermodynamics, so that these basic principles could be applied to a new and interesting problem in the lab. The collaboration of a string quartet, where each member must contribute their own part in order to create a cohesive piece of music, was the same as the collaboration required of each member of a lab group in order to ensure the success of the experiment and the safety of the experimenters. My passion for music never left me, but during that time I discovered two new life goals: to use the skills I had
earned both in school and in music to keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep innovating, and to pay forward the effect of one very enthusiastic and creative chemistry teacher by helping other young people discover their passion for science. When I went to college, I learned very quickly that university professors fill both the roles of cutting-edge researcher and life-changing mentor. I was lucky enough to start doing research early in college, which allowed me to become familiar with the fascinating ways academic researchers build on the discoveries of their colleagues to collaboratively solve some of the world’s biggest problems. The independence required of me in the lab bolstered my confidence in my work and cultivated a strong work ethic. Even the less exciting parts of research taught me a lot, and I learned quickly that every part of the job was equally valuable and necessary, whether I was fabricating a new type of supercapacitor or changing the oil in the vacuum pump. Humility is a virtue I learned in the lab; no one is too cool to clean the glassware. Now, as a PhD student working towards becoming a professor, I’ve learned the power of collaborative research to study questions whose answers can advance and even redefine current fields of study. One of the most powerful ways of improving my skills as an engineer has been the same thing that brought me to enjoy science in the first place - music. In addition to the collaboration and discipline I’ve continued to foster in my ongoing music education, I’ve also discovered one important truth: connection takes practice. A musician hoping to stir emotions with a performance has to do more than learn the notes on the page. That’s only the beginning; the notes and rhythms must provide a solid foundation for more nuanced musical ideas. Then, she has to practice communicating the emotions of a piece, collaborating with others of different instruments and backgrounds to share her passion for the music with the audience. In the same way, creating the kind of impact that I want to create as a researcher and a mentor requires more than just memorization of journal articles and passion about innovation. It requires a strong technical basis and effective communication of that passion. E
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ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK
be
“
“You attract the right things when you have a sense of who you are.”
Amy Poehler
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student artwork
Student Artwork
Clarice Vrambout, Femininity This piece represents unrealistic beauty standards for women. Women are expected to be fragile and beautiful much like a flower. The woman in this piece is in a seductive pose representing the societal pressures of sex put on women, even at a young age.
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Mazzi Childers, Digital Art In this piece I was pretty inspired by the movie maleficent and the game dungeons and dragons that my aunt plays. You can see where the inspiration comes from with her horns sort of giving her a more mystical look. The way I created this look is that I sketched out the figure. I then sectioned out the places where the different coolers where going to go to give it a more of a blocky but put together look. I then colored the piece. I went with very funky coolers for the skin, hair and eyes because I wanted my piece to have some color that stood out. I put mushrooms by her feet because it helped with the mystical look and kind of added a more mysterious feel to it. The figure in the piece is seen fighting something that can’t be seen, I want people to have their own take on what she is fighting. This is because we are all fighting something and maybe people can relate to her as they are fighting for something too. No matter how small of the thing they’re fighting it is still a battle, Maybe they are fighting for a place in the world, independence, or freedom. They might be able to relate to her as she is fighting for something too. In this piece I was inspired by the game dungeons and dragons that my aunt plays as well as the movie Harry Potter which is where the magical theme came from. For the process of drawing said piece I first sketched out the subject matter and then sectioned off where certain colors were to go. In this piece I blended a lot more than I usually do ,thus giving her hair and torso a more finished look. I drew her smiling because she has discovered her self and what she can do as a person. In other words she found her inner fire. I want people to see a powerful women that can do anything that she puts her mind to. All women should believe in themselves and that they can do anything, and I really wanted to betray this in my art because I believe it’s very important for all women to believe in themselves and have the confidence to take the world by storm.
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student artwork
Lucas Young, Roses
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“ I plead with you
NEVERnot
ever give up on hope, doubt,
tire, and become discouraged.
Be
afraid.
“
- Pope John Paul II JunFen Freihammer, JPII Quote
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Grace Wirkkala, Summer
Personal essays
A Season Abroad in America Interview with Carolina Ignacia Villarroel Muñoz Interview by ERin Keeffer 20-year old Carolina Ignacia Villarroel Muñoz is a nursing student in Santiago, Chile, who recently spent a winter as a rotary foreign exchange student in America. I met Carolina while I was home for winter break, and was instantly inspired by her kindness, knowledge, and insightful views on the world. While she was in my hometown of Galena, IL, we went on many ‘American’ adventures together, including a trip to McDonalds for an American Big Mac (which she was extremely excited to try, but the verdicts out, and Big Macs are better in Chile). My family and I introduced her to bacon on deep-dish pizza, and Star Wars, a classic family Friday night. What was seemingly normal to me and my family was a brand new cultural experience for Carolina. In return, she captured us with her incredible life stories and wisdom. Her excitement and open-mindedness struck me, as well as her bravery and sense of adventure. I am very excited to share some of her wisdom.
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We can do all the things that we want. No one can say that you can’t. We need to believe more in ourselves.
Hometown and Country: Santiago, Chile University: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Area of Study: Nursing What is your background? I live with my sister Valentina, she is 25 years old and with my mom, her name is Maria Elena and she is 48. My dad died when I was only 15 years old, he was the best father for me. Now I have a beautiful dog and his name is Facundo.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Growing up, what classes did you take in high school? In Chile in high school you can’t choose all your classes, we have a lot of classes that are obligatory. We can only decide if we want to have art or music, and I choose art. Also, you can choose if you want to have more hours of class about science or history and I chose science. What inspired you to be a Rotary exchange student? I think if every person meets someone from a different country, the wars would never exist because finally, you see that it doesn’t matter your country or your religion, we are people and we are the same. That inspired me and also I want to meet
so many different people and rotary offered me that. What areas of the United States did you visit? I visited Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan. What did you do while you were in America? I visited different hospitals, schools, universities and different places for tourism. What cultural differences did you notice while you were in America? We eat differently. In the USA you eat more fast food. In the USA the people are more cold and in Chile, we hug more and laugh more. In the USA there’s more violence and in Chile there is not so much. In the USA, the people are more clean and more respectful with the environment and in Chile, that doesn’t happen too much.
(in Chile, breakfast is very important) and then I go to the university. My class finishes at 5:00 pm, so I go to my home and I study a lot because we have homework and tests all of the time. At 18:30, I go to sport. Then at 22:00 I eat dinner (that is another difference from the USA. They eat dinner more early) and 00:00 I go to sleep. Who are your role models and why? I don’t have a role model. I believe that every person is unique and we can achieve whatever we want. What advice do you have for teenage girls? We can do all the things that we want. No one can say that you can’t. We need to believe more in ourselves. We are born women, and we have disadvantages in different aspects, but we can overcome. If you want something, working hard is the only way! E
How are women treated differently in Chile than they are in the US? I think it is the same, but in Chile, we are a little more advanced in equality. We have a president who is a woman. Now in Chile women fight because we want more equality. What does a day in your life look like? I wake up at 6:30 am. I take a breakfast
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Personal Essays
I’m 18 and Proud to Be an Imperfect Feminist Written by Siena Iwasaki Milbauer
I am a feminist. I can rattle off sexual assault statistics like Ms. Lauryn Hill rattles off a rhyme. I use phrases like “micro-aggressions” regularly. And if someone tells me I’m making a fuss over nothing I’ll happily quote Audre Lorde at them. I’ve always been like this, but I haven’t always been willing to identify myself as a feminist. For someone of my generation, it’s a loaded term. There are ridiculous stereotypes cooked up by misogynists. More importantly, there are massive faults of the movements — for example, ignoring the voices of the racially diverse, the socio-economically disadvantaged, and the non-heteronormative. I wasn’t sure if calling myself ‘feminist’ was worth it. Hadn’t mistakes killed feminism as a legitimate movement? Couldn’t I simply fight for equality without calling myself a feminist? To answer these questions, I went on a feminist literature bender and somewhere between “The Feminine Mystique” and “We Should All Be Feminists,” I found what I was looking for. If movements died every time they messed up, there would be no movements. Civil Rights movements tended to be sexist, anti-war movements tended to be disrespectful to Vietnam vets. All of this is inevitable because movements are made out of people, and
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people are mistake-making machines that catch the prejudices of their times with the same frequency that kindergartners catch the common cold. Movements come with mistakes. I choose to join this movement. For the opportunity to work with like-minded humans for something genuinely important, and for the chance to help make feminism a better, more inclusive movement, I can handle some complex history. Besides, I don’t have a choice about whether or not I’m a feminist. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a feminist is a person who believes in “the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.” That’s me. So that’s that, and I wouldn’t have it any other way because, for all its flaws, feminism is a movement that fights for a world of inclusivity and equality — a world that would be freaking fabulous. I’m excited and proud to be a part of that work. So here I am: a young, biracial, cisgender female, heterosexual, multi-cultural human. I am a feminist. E
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay Hilarious and vulnerable essays by a very good feminist.
Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates Compulsively readable snapshot of women’s rights today.
Ain’t I A Woman By bell hooks Eye-opening look at the cost of the schism between Civil Rights and Women’s Rights.
Six books that made me a feminist
We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie A brilliant 50-page pitch for universal feminism.
Against Our Will by Susan Brownmiller Though marred by its era’s racism and classism, it remains an electrifying treatise.
When Everything Changed by Gail Collins A truly intersectional history of U.S. feminism in the last 50 years. ILLUSTRATION AND PHOTO BY ERIN KEEFFER
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Personal essays
Citizen of the World Written by karine Bihova Zohoun
So where are you from?
First and foremost, I would tell that young beautiful girl that it is okay to be different. You do not have to fit in. How boring would be this would be if everyone were the same? Like my new favorite movie, The Greatest Showman so well said: “No one ever made a difference by being the same.” Whatever makes you “YOU” is so valuable. There is a Beninese proverb that says that all the fingers on our hands aren’t made equal yet they each serve a specific purpose. Like those fingers, people come in all shapes and sizes and shades and that is the beauty of this world. Secondly, I would tell her not to be afraid to step out of her comfort zone. The world is so big and there is so much beauty in it.
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PHOTO BY ERIN KEEFFER
That is a question I get very often and in case you are wondering let me give you a little background information on me. I am originally from Benin a small country in West Africa and over the last five years I have moved from one continent to the other and lived in three different states and went to four different schools. I moved to the US right after my high school graduation and if I could go back I would give my teenage self and any teenagers for that matter three pieces of advice.
You were uniquely and beautifully made; celebrate that!
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
I was fortunate enough in my life to travel a lot and if you can 100% do it! Explore the world, discover new cultures. If you can’t travel internationally at the moment, go visit your neighboring states, open your eyes and your horizons to new people and new experiences. Try a new food, try learning a new language, talk to that kid in your school who is from that country you might or might not have heard of. With that, always be humble, respectful and willing to learn because believe me you have so much to learn from every single person you encounter and there is something invaluable that you get by being culturally aware.
Lastly, wherever life takes you and when things get hard because *spoiler alert* it will, one thing that remains and that I have personally held onto are my roots. I like to think that as long as a tree is deeply rooted in good soil it can withstand the harshest storms. Are you rooted in good soil? Are you surrounding yourself with the right people? Who or what are the roots that keep you grounded? That might be some key people in your life or your family; and if you are a believer that might also be your faith. It could also be a place, like me and the country where I was born. Wherever or whatever it is, hold onto them. Whenever I lose track of things and lose hope, I remember my roots and they keep me going. Just because some branches fall of a tree doesn’t mean it’s dead, its roots are still well and alive. The people that constitute my roots believe in me after I stopped believing in myself; they keep me going and I am so thankful for them. So, where am I from? Well, yes! I am originally from Benin but I also like to think of myself as a citizen of the world and whoever you are reading this, I would like to end with this quote by St Catherine of Siena: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” E
Road tripping: Explore a Little Written by elisabeth bockleman We’ve all been there. Caught up in routine that sometimes we forget that there’s a world waiting outside the bubble we’ve been living in. Monday, Tuesday...Sunday-another week gone by. The next thing you know you’re sixty-four, sitting on a sofa and thinking about retirement. But what stories will you tell your grandchildren? People aren’t meant to work everyday of their lives. Try something new. Use your spring break, vacation days, and go somewhere. And it doesn’t have to be a luxurious trip to Europe because it is possible to travel inexpensively. It can be as simple as visiting a new neighborhood in your city or a road trip to Nashville, Tennessee. The “Music City,” Nashville, Tennessee. The city filled with fried food, entertainment, and vintage clothing. My friend, Devyn and I own an Etsy shop selling vintage clothing, so we decided it would be the perfect city to visit. I was on spring break and Devyn was craving adventure, so we decided to go. So there we were--driving along the highway in her white Volkswagen Beetle with no sense of time, just enjoying ourselves. We were both okay with the “go with the flow” way of travel, but that may not be the method for everyone. Throughout the time we had, we met so many different people, heard new bands, tried new food, and made hilarious memories. That’s the beauty of traveling--you never know what to expect. There is so much to explore in a city. From the city filled with fried food, Nashville had it’s specialties, and so does every city. Each place has its style, it’s feel, the way people interact--it’s overall culture. Nashville was filled with live entertainment. Just walking down Broadway Street, every few feet you would hear a different band playing. That’s what makes traveling so special. You never know who you will run into or what new things you will see, no matter how much you study “things to do” on Trip Advisor. So I’m not here to tell you you’re wrong if you don’t like to travel, but I highly encourage it. It’s a good way to clear your mind and escape, so you can get back to your routine recharged. You make memories for a lifetime. Memories that turn into stories. The road is open, your schedule is clear, go explore a little. E
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Personal essays
Embracing Multiracial Identity Written by emma saks Growing up, I was proud to be Mexican from my dad’s side and Greek from my mom’s side. Both sides of my family had unique histories, cultures, and traditions. Within my own family, we embraced our uniqueness and made space for all parts of our identities. However, this changed as I got older and felt invalidation coming from other people. Many people did not understand what it meant to be mixed or pressured me to choose just one side of myself. This caused me to feel alone and confused about my identity like I was the only one, and my identity was something to be ashamed of. Can you relate to feeling this way? You are not alone. Here are some tips for embracing your multiracial identity! Remember that you get to define your identity. The first step to embracing your identity is determining how you want to describe yourself. There are tons of terms people use: multiracial, multiethnic, biracial, biethnic, mixed. However, you don’t have to let other people choose this – you know yourself and your experiences best, so you are one that gets to choose! Research some terms to find out what you feel like fits you best or come up with a different way that best describes you! Practice saying it out loud to yourself to feel comfortable understanding your own identity. I
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define myself as mixed, and both Latina and Greek–how do you define yourself? Find people who accept you. It is so important to find friends who accept you, whether they identify in the same ways or not. Try having a conversation with them, or sharing with them why your identity is important to you. If they ignore you or don’t try to understand the importance of your identity, they may not be the kind of person you want to be around. Remember, it is normal to feel confused or upset when people try to label you, so finding people to talk about this with can help you build community and feel more comfortable with your multiracial identity.
Find an outlet. Sometimes even if you have friends that are accepting of you, they may not identify in the same way. It is normal and valid to want to find a community where you feel safe and welcome to talk about your experiences with people who can relate! You could write about it in a journal, research books or articles to read about people
“What matters is that you are always doing your best to love all parts of yourself, your multiracial identity included.”
ILLUSTRATION BY SHUTTERSTOCK // CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
with similar experiences, or get together a group of friends with similar identities and support one another. How you find support is up to you! Avoid thinking of yourself in fractions. It can be easy to try to explain your identity as parts or fractions by saying things starting with “I’m half…” or “I’m 50%...”. However, using language that implies you are fractions, rather than a whole person, can be harmful to you! Instead, try using language that affirms you as a full person with complex identities. Try using statements like: “I am both” or “I am all”. Celebrate! Be proud of who you are and embrace the intersections of your identity rather than feeling ashamed or confused. One way
to do this might be embracing your family’s unique traditions. For example, in my family, we traditionally eat tamales and Mexican rice on Christmas and Vasilopita (Greek new years cake) to kick-off the new year. Think of ways you can celebrate all aspects of your identity, and share this with the people around you! You never have to apologize for celebrating yourself. Embrace your identity every day. Remember–your identity as multiracial is only one aspect of you as a whole, amazing person! Be open to growing in your identity over time, and having your own understanding of yourself change. Some days you might feel more confident than others. Some days you’ll feel confused. Maybe you’ll find an author or artist that inspires you to think even more about your identity.
Changing, growing, and learning is okay! What matters is that you are always doing your best to love all parts of yourself, your multiracial identity included. Overall, your identity is valid. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, people with multiracial and multiethnic identities exist all around you–you may just not know it. By embracing yourself, you can resist the limiting boxes society forces us into and inspire others to do the same! E
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Personal essays
Senior Reflection Written by lisi ludwig I’d like to apply the same precursor to this piece of writing as Baz Luhrmann in his song, “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen).” In his seven-minute and six-second lyrical ballad, Luhrmann asserts only one absolutely true idea. Wear sunscreen. Its long-term benefits have been scientifically proven unlike the rest of his advice dispersed throughout the song. In the same fashion, I have no statistical algorithm that assures the validity of my advice either. So, I would agree. Wear sunscreen. Don’t smoke. And always wear your seatbelt. Now, for the rest of my advice which “has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience” as a high school student two months from graduation. High school is high school is high school is high school is high school. Everyone thinks they will forever remember their first prom, their first homecoming or first football game. I did too. But looking back, you know what I remember? I remember stealing milkshake cups from Steak & Shake with the journalism team. I remember almost overdosing on cheese curds from our favorite restaurant hangout after every volleyball or basketball game. And I don’t remember winter formal, but I remember nearly dying while driving in a blizzard eating a cold chicken sandwich I had to get to go in order to make it to the winter formal on time. I think a lot of kids have such high expectations for the experiences of high school that are supposed to be so great. But remember high school for the experiences you never saw coming. The ones that will keep you genuinely smiling and laughing. No ragrets Regret isn’t what is so awful. It’s the idea of having a notion of regret and doing nothing. Regret is a two-part process: remorse and refine. Don’t forget the second step. Kindness is beautiful. There’s a single secret I have kept pretty well hidden from the entirety of the high school. In fact, a fairly simple process of fist-bumping rather than high-fiving and arm locking versus hand holding has kept my unusually small and undoubtedly sweaty hands out of public view. Thankfully, I have found methods to cope, but my moist palms are a subtle reminder of a bigger picture. Be kind. The
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problems any students face can be masked in a school day. Kindness is deserved by all for the benefit of their situations- known and unknown. Don’t spend too many moments thinking about other moments. There are so many times I wish I would’ve known what I know now. It’s an unfortunate, repeating cycle. If I would’ve known a cop was waiting there, I would’ve driven slower. If I would’ve known how hard the test was, I would’ve studied more. But that’s the point. You live for the moment, not the moment after the moment. Every kid lives to be 16, but once they are 16 the countdown has already started to become 21. We spend so much of your life wanting to grow up. Only to grow up and wish we were younger again. Every minute comes at the same pace as the minute; enjoy every second of it.
thinking the next 4 years were going to take forever. In the end, I was unequivocally wrong. So close to finishing, I have reached the tipping point where my previous art of getting by will have to be replaced with an untarnished canvas. It is a change of scenery I’m not sure I am totally prepared for. Age has taught me that some people appreciate their eyebrows because they keep the sweat out of their eyes. Others use it as a tool to express themselves in appearance. I value my high school experiences for their boundless insight- good and bad. As a result, I hope my preceding advice rings with a little, relatable truth. See you in another four years. E
Watch The Office. Self-explanatory. 76 days from graduation, I am verging on the next part of my life. But I walked into high school on the first day of freshman year
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advice to your younger self
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PHOTO BY ERIN KEEFFER
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