Growing Up in Today’s World

by Nia Shetty

Women have grown by overcoming and enduring all the struggles that have come their way in the history of mankind. With each problem that comes our way, we became stronger and smarter. As a young woman, I feel we have a fighting spirit in us, a desire, which we can all find by searching for it. Living today has its unique challenges, each of us facing different obstacles.  Although, living in a modern world also has its advantages. For we have great inspirations, women who are working hard each day to tell us that our dreams are possible. These women are inspiring, because they show us the true desire to achieve our dreams.

I feel like being a young woman/girl today, in the privileged society that I live in, there are still tiny everyday struggles. Small comments directed at us like “Girls just being girls.” I’ve heard this countless times, and when I think about it, I realize that there is no need to resent the phrase. Girls are persistent and creative and it’s a compliment: make it uplift you.

There are many women who are inspirations in this world, like Madam Vice President Kamala Harris and Dr. Swati Mohan, the Guidance, Navigation and Controls Operations Lead (the ‘eyes and ears’) on the NASA Mars Perseverance landing. They’ve all had to deal with the same hurdles, and they have been able to soar past the gender discrimination barriers to get to where they are now. 

Today’s society gives us opportunities and inspirations, but not without hurdles to jump through. We can be driven and willing to accept rejection and hardships. The tiny things people say that are intended to hurt you should not be forgotten, but remembered, as a force to push us girls. Most importantly, we are all as strong and able as we think we are. Here’s my advice: Believe in yourself, set no limitations on yourself, shoot for the moon, have a blast, and see where you can go. And remember that as girls, we need to uplift each other, too.