10 Questions with Morgan Popma

10 Qs with MORGAN POPMA

LIBRARIAN

Reporting by Sydney Gleason Photos courtesy of Morgan Popma

1

How did you end up at McLean High School?

I was looking for a school with a strong, research-based program, along with a robust and diverse book collection. It’s a complete bonus that I enjoy working with Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Kong.

2If you could have one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be? 4

Crème brûlée.

Dream vacation?

Basically, a big ol’ world tour with no need to stress about the return date.

8

Something you couldn’t live without?

My mom will tell you that I am never without my phone, so apparently my millennial traits are strong.

3

What do you like about being a librarian compared to teaching?

I get to interact with a wide variety of students of differing ages and interests. I also get to meet more of my colleagues, and even teach in a variety of disciplines.

5What is your favorite thing

A lack of snow and the oncoming warmth, but about spring? 9 it’s not too hot.

6

Best part of 2022 so far?

I checked off another state on the list of states I’ve visited (actually visited, not just hung out in the airport). I popped over to West Virginia for a weekend.

7

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Beginning and continuing to better my mental and physical health to be the best me, mom, educator and more that I can be.

10

What is one thing people don’t know about you?

Most folks think I’m an extrovert. I’m 100 percent a gal who loves her alone time to recharge. I suppose the best definition, in this context, for me is ambivert. Still a surprise for most folks who know me!

If you could ask anybody in the world a question, who would it be?

I suppose I’d want to talk to a widely published and respected author, see their path and maybe get some pointers.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

Celebrating influential female-oriented clubs at McLean in honor of Women’s History Month

madelyn fredrick & sANDRA CHENG REPORTErs

Even in this day and age, women are subjected to comments dismissing their accomplishments or making them feel inferior to their male counterparts. From backhanded remarks like being told “women belong in the kitchen,” or that they need learn to “take a joke and stop being so sensitive,” the marginalization of women in school and in the workplace persists.

March is National Women’s History Month, and McLean has multiple clubs whose contributions help create a more inclusive environment at McLean, where women take on leadership roles to create change.

Unified girl empowerment clubs around the school such as the Girls Leadership Committee (GLC), Girls Who Code and the Feminist Club use this month to empower women while acting on issues that matter to them.

“Women’s rights are human rights, and half of the planet is female. You can’t really celebrate humanity [when in] so many countries around the world, women are treated like second class citizens,” Feminist Club sponsor Karen Wolpert said.

Taking a stand against the oppression women face in today’s society is a goal shared by the female-led organizations at McLean.

McLean’s GLC is a club focused on spreading awareness about the problems faced by girls in the community while providing a support system for them.

“It’s really important to be able to highlight women’s accomplishments and consider their actions in the world and how we reflect upon them, just like we have months to highlight different types of minorities,” said junior Vidya Suri, the GLC co-president. “We need to improve our way of looking at the world, and through Women’s History Month we can expose some of these problems and look at them more.” The purpose of GLC is to encourage all generations of women to feel free to pursue any career path, even if they are maledominated.

“There’s a huge stigma against women within science fields,” Suri said. “For example, when we get into high sciences and mathematics, you’re going to notice a huge drop in the number of women who are actually within these fields. Over time, we’ve kind of built up, as a society, a belief that women can’t do these jobs.”

Suri is dedicated to fostering an environment where female activism is pursued and women are recognized all the time, not just in the month of March.

“I think that every month should be considered a women’s month, because we can’t just set aside a single month for women’s activism, or else nothing gets done,” Suri said.

In honor of National Women’s History Month, the club is holding a menstrual product drive for local women’s shelters. Menstrual products are often overlooked as a luxury but they are just as necessary as any other hygiene products. Last year, the club collected over 64,000 menstrual products.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS, AND HALF THE PLANET IS FEMALE.”

- KAREN WOLPERT - KAREN WOLPERT - KAREN WOLPERT FEMINIST CLUB SPONSOR

GIRLS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE GIRLS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE GIRLS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

“We were able to reach out to many women in our community in need,” Suri said.

The publicity of the drive has led to an increase in interest in GLC.

“I think a lot of the work we do has led to the club growing and expanding really significantly,” Suri said.

Community members are able to donate menstrual products at any of the drop-off bins throughout McLean, including at the front of the school.

GIRLS WHO CODE GIRLS WHO CODE GIRLS WHO CODE

Members of Girls Who Code are given strong female role models and the ability to explore their interests in coding, while meeting others who share the same passion.

In Girls Who Code, girls are taught how to program through Java and Python workshops in order to encourage them to venture into male-dominated fields.

“There’s a deficit of women in the [science and technology] field,” Girls Who Code sponsor Karyn Kolly said. “I think girls and women always have a creative side that they want to show, and what people don’t realize is that computer science has a lot to do with creativity.”

Girls Who Code empowers its members in a variety of ways.

“The main purpose of Girls Who Code is to build female leadership, because we offer multiple leadership positions, and then also to have girls be able to come together in a fun place to learn,” Kolly said.

In addition to equipping girls with the skills necessary to pursue a wide range of career options, the club recognizes women who have excelled in the computer sciences.

“It is important to focus more on women in the technology field, as they are still the minority,” Kolly said.

During National Women’s History Month, women at McLean believe it is important focus on empowering future generations of females.

“Female empowerment is super important, which is why a lot of our leadership team is primarily women,” said junior Olivia Zhang, president of the nonprofit organization Cancer Kids First. “I want to give other girls the chance to step up in a leadership role.” Zhang’s organization raises money for children with cancer, and her role in it has accumulated numerous awards for her such as the World’s Top Patient Leader award, given to her by WEGO Health. “Passionate young girls may want to start a non-profit, be part of one or just take on a leadership role in general,” Zhang said. “I hope that by seeing how most of our contributors are female, these girls will understand that a strong group of women, like us, is capable of creating change,” Zhang said. “It is important for them to see there is a place for women in leadership roles.”

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR [YOUNG WOMEN] TO SEE THERE IS A PLACE FOR WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES.”

- OLIVIA ZHANG - OLIVIA ZHANG - OLIVIA ZHANG CEO OF CANCER KIDS FIRST

FEMALE EMPOWERMENT & LEADERSHIP FEMALE EMPOWERMENT & LEADERSHIP FEMALE EMPOWERMENT & LEADERSHIP

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