The Women of High Jump

March is Women’s History Month, and to celebrate we are highlighting three of the many strong women behind High Jump’s mission. We are grateful to ALL the women who are working hard to create a better future for girls.

Who is a woman in history you admire?

Marva Collins. She started out as a substitute teacher and founded the Westside Preparatory School in 1975. I was in first or second grade I knew who she was already, and I wanted to go to that school. She started it in her own home with just two students because she wasn’t satisfied with the standards of learning in Chicago Public Schools. I think she’s such an exalted educator, and it’s my biggest dream to start my own school too.

Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Women’s History Month?

It’s important to celebrate history in general, but it’s especially important to celebrate women’s history for the sake of our young girls and future girls so they can see that there were women who have come before them and that they’re walking in the steps of greatness. I want them to be inspired just like I was inspired by Marva Collins and know that their potential is limitless.

What is an issue you think should be addressed during women’s history month?

Equity in pay for women. The fact that it’s well-known enough and yet we’re still not able to have equal pay for men and women. And that concerns me, as a teacher and as a woman, but also for the girls growing up. But I’m hopeful because we have so many women who are in government, so perhaps these laws will change.

Is there a female role model in your life you’d like to thank?

My mom, absolutely. She was actually my first teacher. She taught me to read when I was about three years old. She’s always been my inspiration for learning and everything I do, she’s always made me feel safe and comfortable and secure that I can do anything. We have a really close relationship to this day, and she’s a really kind person and I hope she’s proud of me as her daughter.

Do you have any advice for girls today?

It’s very important that we teach our young girls early on to celebrate themselves, so something such as International Women’s Day or Women’s History Month won’t even seem like a big deal because they’re already so comfortable in their own skin as they’re growing. I don’t want them to get older and think I have to be accomplished to be celebrated – celebrate yourself as you are, with your flaws, as you make mistakes, as you grow.

Who is a female mentor or role model in your life who inspires you?

My biggest inspiration would have to be my older sister. She went through so much and throughout the entire time I’ve never seen someone not hate the world when they have every reason to. She really makes sure that my brother and I were doing okay and happy. She’s just the strongest person during the toughest times but can still be happy even with the huge burden on her shoulders of being the oldest and she’s always looking out for us.

What is an issue you think should be addressed for Women’s History Month?

Feminism, and not because it’s necessarily an issue, but I think people should address the negative connotations that it’s gained over time. Because now when you say “I’m a feminist” everyone kind of looks at you like there’s something wrong with you because of those negative connotations and how it’s seen more as a “female superiority” because of what extremists and radicals have turned it into, when in reality it’s equality for both genders. It’s a thing that should be honored as a positive subject and not be about superiority because that just goes against the entire movement.

Who is your favorite female fictional character?

I like Velma from Scooby Doo. She’s my favorite because she’s smart and she shows it, it’s very obvious. Growing up all I ever saw in cartoons were, like, Barbie and stuff, and they’re not shown to be very intelligent. I like that Velma is smart and everyone always asks her to solve something.

Do you have any advice for girls today?

Girls should look out for themselves and not care so much about what people say about them because I think nowadays people in general, but especially younger girls, put a lot of weight on another person’s words and they try to change themselves to appeal to everyone else. They should appeal to themselves and make themselves happy and create an inner sort of happiness rather than just changing who they are to get a person’s attention.

What do you think is the importance of celebrating women’s history month?

I think it is important to celebrate women’s history month because women are powerful.  There is so much to learn from women in history, women today, and the girls we are raising to be women in our future.  We need to keep talking about women and their power to keep widening the space for us.

Who is a woman in history you admire?

Dr. Halima Bashir is a women that I admire greatly. She is a hero for many girls, families, and Sudanese people. She wrote the book Tears of the Desert.  It is about her effort to support victims in Darfur and surrounding areas in Sudan.  She is one of the strongest women I have met through a book. I thank her for all her help working with girls and their families in Darfur, Sudan.  I send her strength and support as she continues to do great work in the medical field while raising her family.
She is a real life hero.

Who is a female mentor in your life who inspires you?

I have a few female mentors that have made a huge difference in my life. Nikki and Beth, life partners, have been a great inspiration to me over the last 8 years.  They are my go to example of how a respectful, flourishing relationship should be. They have both transformed their lives based on their passions and have helped me grasp my passions and work towards achieving them.  Thank you Beth and Nikki for walking with me, standing by me, and guiding me on my journey.

What is an issue you think should be addressed during women’s history month?

I think an important issue that should be addressed during women’s history month is how we support and encourage each other in all spaces.  I wish women would see how much we can accomplish by coming together- across races, across class, across professions, across gender expressions/ identity- to share our determination, our strength, our love, our passion, and our self-awareness.

Do you have any advice for girls today?

My advice for girls today  is to believe in the power of women.  We are strong, resilient, and capable.  Read as many books of women in history from many different walks of life to gain the wisdom to keep moving your generation forward.