Over the course of history, women did not always have the freedom to leave their mark on the world but had to fight hard to make their mark. Many strong women dared to dream, had the conviction to question the status quo and the courage to make waves and fight for change.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme boldly declares “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” At Canutillo Independent School District we recognize that our strong female student leaders are the ones primed to keep the torch burning that so many women before them lit and kept fueling throughout generations. They are the key to sustaining tomorrow.
Canutillo High School (CHS) junior Lily Garcia, grew up witnessing the hardships her mother had to endure and was inspired by her strength and determination to persevere. She grasped all the opportunities she had access to tightly and propelled herself into many leadership roles on campus.
Garcia is the drum major for the Eagle Pride Marching Band, class president, student ambassador, part of the CHS Mariachi and Choir group, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), National Technical Honor Society (NTHS), and National Honor Society (NHS).
“It is important for me to take on these leadership roles because as women we are America’s future,” Garcia said. “I think it is important for young girls to see strong female leaders because it inspires them to do so much more for themselves and those around them.”
Dafne Arreola, senior at Northwest Early College High School (NWECHS), aspired to be a leader when she was younger and poised herself to become one as she grew older in order to be a positive role model to all those who come after her. She is part of Business Professionals of America, NHS, Student Council, National Computer Science Honor Society (NCSHS), NWECHS Yearbook Committee, No Place for Hate and Mexican American Studies Student Association.
Arreola knows how important representation is and how it is crucial for girls to have strong female leaders to look up to and see themselves in those roles when they grow up.
“When girls are young, typically they see these big people up there and they happen to be male,” Arreola said. “But when they see a woman like for example here, my principal Ms. Arellano, they can see themselves in that position and that they can do that as well.”
Happy International Women’s Day!